R. B. Ronald Boudewijn Prud homme van Reine Books

"Was Michiel de Ruyter the greatest sea commander who ever lived? Or simply the greatest sea-commander of the 17th century? Some people see him as the man who saved the Dutch Republic, and ensured its independence. He knew how to fight a sea-battle on the grandest scale. He could also haggle like a canny Dutch merchant, achieving the release of Hungarian clergymen from Spanish captivity and that of Dutch sailors from barbarian imprisonment. Louis XIV, often his opponent, called him 'a man who did honour to humanity'. In this book, nine leading historical authorities, from seven different countries, examine his astonishing career."--Book jacket.

Geschiedenis van de opkomst, de successen en de teloorgang van de Nederlandse pprlogsvloot in de zeventiende eeuw, mede aan de hand van de schilderijen en tekeningen van Willem van de Velde de Oude (1611-1693) en de Jonge (1633-1707).