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Philosopher · Lawyer · Writer
Dutch jurist and thinker. Known for arguments about natural law and international law, he wrote On the Law of War and Peace. He helped form a modern framework for thinking about war and commerce between states in legal terms.
View in catalogDelft
Birth
De jure belli ac pacis
1625
Book
Map: Natural Earth (PD)
Born in Delft, he displayed exceptional learning at a young age. He also held public office amid political and religious conflicts in the Dutch Republic.
He wrote on the freedom of the seas and the law of war, seeking to explain relations among states through law. On the Law of War and Peace is considered a classic of modern international legal thought.
He was imprisoned after becoming entangled in political conflict but is famous for escaping while hidden in a book chest. He continued writing and diplomatic activity in exile.
Grotius is often called one of the fathers of international law. He is important for considering the formation of early modern European order around war, sovereignty, and commerce. Studying him also shows how institutions, belief, war, and trade could combine with individual decisions to move history.
