Summary

Hugo Grotius

Hugo Grotius (/ˈɡroʊʃiəs/; 10 April 1583 – 28 August 1645), also known as Hugo de Groot was a jurist in the Dutch Republic. With Francisco de Vitoria and Alberico Gentili he laid the foundations for international law, based on natural law. He was also a philosopher, theologian, Christian apologist, playwright, historiographer, poet, statesman and diplomat.

As a supporter of Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, he was arrested in 1618 and was sentenced to life imprisonment at Castle Loevestien. He escaped by being carried out of the castle in a book chest and fled to Paris.

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Sources

Austin Dobson footnote.
Wikipedia for background and portrait