Pieter Dircksz Graeff (* 1574 in Amsterdam, † 27 July 1645 ibid) was a descendant of the Dutch regent family De Graeff. The Lord of Engelenburg was born as the third son of Dirk Jansz Graeff and Agniet Pietersdr van Neck.Biography of Dirck Jansz Graeff at "Nieuw Nederlandsch biografisch woordenboek" . Deel 2 (1912) by P.J. Blok, P.C. Molhuysen
Life Pieter Dircksz Graeff remained unmarried. In contrast to his Protestant family, he may was a follower of the catholic Religion.Stadsarchief Amsterdam, "Naar het Heilige Land" In Amsterdam he lived in a town house on the Fluweelenburgwal. In 1620 he bought the castle of Engelenburg (near Herwijnen at Gelderland) together with the associated manorBiography of Dirck Jansz Graeff at "Nieuw Nederlandsch biografisch woordenboek" . Deel 2 (1912) by P.J. Blok, P.C. Molhuysen from Jonker Willem Johansz van Gent.Engelenburg at EBIDAT - Die Burgendatenbank On December 30 of that year he was enfeoffed with this knightly court (Ridderhofstad) and seigniory.Geschiedenis van het Amsterdamsche Regentenpatriziats, p 100, by Johan Engelbert Elias (1923) After his death, the husband of his niece Christina de Graeff (1609-1679), Jacob Bicker, was bequeathed the rights to the estate.Engelenburg at History of Herwijnen, part 1
In 1613 he had made a journey to the Holy Land.Biography of Dirck Jansz Graeff at "Nieuw Nederlandsch biografisch woordenboek" . Deel 2 (1912) by P.J. Blok, P.C. Molhuysen In Jerusalem he received a document, which was prepared by the Franciscan friar Angelus a Messana, and which describes his visit to Christie's tomb. The document also includes the names of a number of the religious sites he visited there.Stadsarchief Amsterdam, "Naar het Heilige Land" Today the same is in the Amsterdam City Archives of the De Graeff family.Stadsarchief Amsterdam: Archief van de familie De Graeff He also traveled the historic caravan route from Jerusalem to Cairo with the Swiss Hans Jakob Ammann and two Italian travel companions.Reiß in das Gelobte Land, Zürich 1618 His burial place is in the Oude kerk.De Neederlandse Leeuw, 1898, Genealogie van het geslacht "De Graeff", p 132 In his book Ammann named him "Edel und Vest Herr Peter Graffe" (noble and firm lord Peter Graffe).Ammann, Hans Jakob: "Hans Jakob Amman genannt der Thalwyler Schärer und seine Reise ins Gelobte Land". P 158. Zürich: Polygraph. Institut A. G. 1919 (Faksimile of the book from 1630)
Coat of arms
Pieter Dircksz Graeff's ancient coat of arms was quartered and showed the following symbols: field 1 (left above) the silver shovel on a red background of their paternal ancestors, the Herren von Graben field 2 (right above) it shows a silver falcon on a blue background. The origin of the falcon lies in the possession of the Valckeveen estate (later the Valckenburg estate) in Gooiland field 3 (left below), same as field 2 field 4 (right below), same as field 1 helmet covers in red and silver helm adornment shows an upright silver spade with ostrich feathers (Herren von Graben) motto: MORS SCEPTRA LIGONIBUS AEQUAT (DEATH MAKES SEPTRES AND HOES EQUAL)
Since 1620, Graeff, as owner of the lordship of Engelenburg, has increased this with a blue Heart shield, charged with a silver castle, from which emerges a rising silver angel with outspread wings.
Trivia Pieter Dircksz Graeff (Pieter Dircksz de Graeff van Engelenburg) was mistakenly named as mayor of Amsterdam (as were other people in his family).Buitenplaatsen in de Gouden Eeuw: De rijkdom van het buitenleven in de Republiek, p 83, by Y. Kuiper, Ben Olde Meierink, Elyze Storms-Smeets He was not a member of the Vroedschap, the council or any other municipal government office.Beschryvinge van Amsterdam, haar eerste oorspronk uyt den huyze der heeren ... (1665) There is a painted portrait of Graeff with his coat of arms.Catalogus der tentoonstelling van portretten en voorwerpen betrekkingen ..., p 281
Notes
Literature Ammann, Hans Jakob: "Hans Jakob Amman genannt der Thalwyler Schärer und seine Reise ins Gelobte Land". Zürich: Polygraph. Institut A. G. 1919 (Faksimile of the book from 1630)