28
August 1645 A.D. Hugo Grotius
Dies—Arminianism, Calvinism, Government & 30-Years War
Graves, Dan. “Hugo
Grotius.” Christianity.com. Apr 2007.
http://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1601-1700/hugo-grotius-11630111.html. Accessed 19 May 2014.
Some men are not able to judge the value of their
own work. Hugo Grotius was one such. On his deathbed he lamented the
worthlessness of all he had done. He died on this day, August 28, 1645, convinced he
was a failure.
Born Huig de Groot, he had
latinized his name. He proved to be a precocious lad. At ten he won accolades
for his Latin. When eleven he was called "a second Erasmus." At 14 he
completely revised Martianus Capella's encyclopedia, having read all the
ancient authorities for himself. He followed this with translations of Simon
Stevin and Aratus. At 15 he held public disputations and was made attaché to
the great John van Barneveld on a crucial peace mission. By 17 he had argued
his first legal case and at 22 had written a book (not published) which
embodied his legal ideas in embryonic form.
Grotius' first venture into
international law was his book Mare Liberum. As its title implies, it
argued for freedom of the seas. He took his stand firmly on the rights of man.
Grotius' work as a whole is notable for its tendency to escape pedantry.
Although he cited massive sources, he also exhibited a great deal of
originality and common sense. Mare Liberum was no exception.
The Netherlands entered a period
of severe theological disputation. Arminians and Calvinists were at odds. The
States General issued an Edict of Pacification to cool tempers on both sides.
This failed. Barneveld, Grotius and others saw Prince Maurice of Orange
becoming a dictator. They supported the States General in negotiating a twelve
year truce with Spain. This infuriated Maurice. When Barneveld and Grotius
suggested a peace formula, he had Barneveld executed and Grotius imprisoned for
life.
With the help of his faithful
wife, Grotius escaped. He was lionized in other European countries. In exile he
wrote his most famous book: The Law of War and Peace.
This book was badly needed.
Christian Europe was in a tragic flux. Wars of great cruelty ravaged the land.
No mercy was shown anyone except by a few enlightened leaders such as Adolphus
Gustavus (who admired Grotius' work). To break oath with "heretical"
enemies was the norm.
Although a Christian, Grotius
relied far less on Biblical arguments than was common for the time. Instead, he
showed from Christian and heathen history how the best men of all ages had been
merciful and kept faith in international affairs. Three years after his death
the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 embodied many of the principles set forth by
Grotius. Two hundred years later his work was recognized as the basis of
international law. Grotius' greatest efforts were aimed at establishing peace
between Christians, but he also wrote
an apologetic, Truth of Christianity.
Bibliography:
1. Copleston, Frederick Charles. A History of Philosophy. London: Burns,
Oates, & Washbourne, 1951.
2. Edwards, Paul, editor. The Encyclopedia of Philosophy. New
York, Macmillan, 1967.
3. Morris, Clarence. Great Legal Philosophers; selected readings in
jurisprudence. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania, 1981,
1959.
4. Runes, Dagobert D. A Treasury of Philosophy. New York:
Philosophical Library, 1945; p.445.
5. White, Andrew Dickson. Seven Great Statesmen in the Warfare of Humanity
with Unreason. New York: The Century Co., 1919, 1910.
6. Vreeland, Hamilton. Hugo Grotius; the father of the modern science of
international law. New York: Oxford University, 1917. Source of the
image.
7. Various Encyclopedia and internet articles.
Last updated April,
2007.
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