ABSTRACT

Koenraad Wolter Swart was born in Rotterdam, the son of the well-known journalist P.C. Swart, who succeeded G.G. van der Hoeven as editor of the Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant (NRC) in May 1936. Swart concentrated almost exclusively on the study of the early modern Low Countries, and especially on the career of William the Silent, the most famous figure in Dutch history and one about whom an extensive literature already existed. Swart's basic point was that the universality of sale of offices in early modern Europe 'indicates that this phenomenon was caused by factors which had a more general character than is usually assumed'. One of the most striking and important features of Swart's work is his opposition to the compartmentalization of historical studies which has become so prevalent. Swart may well prove to be one of those rare historians who exert more influence after their death than in their lifetime.