Johan van Oldenbarnevelt
Grand Pensionary of Holland
Died when: 71 years 241 days (859 months)Star Sign: Virgo
Johan van Oldenbarnevelt (Dutch pronunciation: ['jo???? v?n ?ld?(m)'b?rn?v?lt]), Heer van Berkel en Rodenrijs (1600), Gunterstein (1611) and Bakkum (1613) (14 September 1547 – 13 May 1619) was a Dutch statesman and revolutionary who played an important role in the Dutch struggle for independence from the Habsburg Castilian Empire.
Van Oldenbarnevelt was born in Amersfoort.He studied law at the universities of Leuven, Bourges, Heidelberg, and Padua, and traveled in France and Italy before settling permanently in The Hague.
He favored William the Silent in his revolt against Felipe II de Habsburgo the regent of Kingdom of Castile and Leon, and fought in William's army.
In his later years he was a supporter of the Arminians, during the religious-political controversy which split the young Dutch Republic.
He is the founder of the Dutch East Indies Company.