I have always been amazed that the Dutch were able to pull the Chatham raid off. I refer to the Dutch Republic often as the "oxymoron's" of Europe. Instead of one unified navy, there were 5 separate admiralty colleges which were often at odds with one another. Some controlled by Princgezinde, some by Staatgezinde. Two provinces had no naval representation and the Frisian admiralty spoke a different language. The later fact had no real bearing on the raid because the Frisian fleet got a tooth ache and stayed home. deRuyter must have been one great strategist.
Comments
Second Reading
About Friday 20 July 1666
Pat Aalfs • Link
I have always been amazed that the Dutch were able to pull the Chatham raid off. I refer to the Dutch Republic often as the "oxymoron's" of Europe. Instead of one unified navy, there were 5 separate admiralty colleges which were often at odds with one another. Some controlled by Princgezinde, some by Staatgezinde. Two provinces had no naval representation and the Frisian admiralty spoke a different language. The later fact had no real bearing on the raid because the Frisian fleet got a tooth ache and stayed home. deRuyter must have been one great strategist.