Realist teachings: a chronology of Tacitism in the northern Netherlands

Abstract

ABSTRACT The aim of this article is to present a chronological overview of the political reception of Tacitus’ works in the northern Low Countries from the early sixteenth century to the middle of the seventeenth century. Most of the types of Tacitism proposed in the introduction are represented in the Dutch context in one way or another. A characteristic of the Dutch Tacitism(s) as discussed here is that they appear to be at the heart of the connections between academia and government in the Republic, and especially in the province of Holland. Together with a fascination for reason of state (whether accepting or rejecting it), Tacitism often carries aspects of style and taste which give it a ‘risky’ fascination that is part of the explanation of its success and influence among selected (predominantly elite) readerships.