Frans Banninck Cocq (sometimes incorrectly spelled as Banning), ''lord of
Purmerland and Ilpendam'' (1605–1655) was a
burgemeester
Burgomaster (alternatively spelled burgermeister, literally "master of the town, master of the borough, master of the fortress, master of the citizens") is the English form of various terms in or derived from Germanic languages for the chief m ...
(mayor), knight and military person of
Amsterdam
Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the Capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population ...
in the mid-17th century. He belonged to the wealthy and powerful Dutch
patriciate of the
Dutch Golden Age
The Dutch Golden Age ( nl, Gouden Eeuw ) was a period in the history of the Netherlands, roughly spanning the era from 1588 (the birth of the Dutch Republic) to 1672 (the Rampjaar, "Disaster Year"), in which Dutch trade, science, and Dutch art, ...
. Banninck Cocq is best known as the central figure in
Rembrandt
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (, ; 15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669), usually simply known as Rembrandt, was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker and draughtsman. An innovative and prolific master in three media, he is generally consid ...
's masterpiece ''
The Night Watch
''Militia Company of District II under the Command of Captain Frans Banninck Cocq'', also known as ''The Shooting Company of Frans Banning Cocq and Willem van Ruytenburch'', but commonly referred to as ''The Night Watch'' ( nl, De Nachtwacht), i ...
''.
Biography
Background and Family
![Sing140](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/Sing140.jpg)
Frans was the son of Jan Jansz Cock, a local pharmacist of German descendant in the
Warmoesstraat
Warmoesstraat ('Chard Street') is one of the oldest streets in Amsterdam, running parallel to Damrak from Nieuwebrugsteeg to Dam Square. Its origins are in the 13th century. In the 16th and 17th century it was the shopping street. During the Dut ...
and Lysbeth Frans Banninck from an upper class family of the city's patriciate. He was baptized on 27 February 1605 in the nearby Old Church. As his parents were not married, it caused a scandal, but on 17 September of the same year they went to the townhall to notice the marriage. Both were related to
Cornelis Hooft. Frans, who seems to have had one deaf brother studied law in
Poitiers
Poitiers (, , , ; Poitevin: ''Poetàe'') is a city on the River Clain in west-central France. It is a commune and the capital of the Vienne department and the historical centre of Poitou. In 2017 it had a population of 88,291. Its agglomerat ...
and
Bourges
Bourges () is a commune in central France on the river Yèvre. It is the capital of the department of Cher, and also was the capital city of the former province of Berry.
History
The name of the commune derives either from the Bituriges, t ...
between 1625 and 1627.
In 1630 Banninck Cocq married
Maria Overlander van Purmerland
Maria Overlander van Purmerland (Amsterdam, 24 June 1603 – 27 January 1678) was a noble from the Dutch Golden Age.
Life
Maria Overlander was the daughter of Volkert Overlander and Geertruid Hooft. Her sister Geertruid Overlander (1609–1634) w ...
, daughter of
Volkert Overlander
Volkert Overlander (also ''Volcker'' and ''Volckert Overlander''; 7 October 1570 – 18 October 1630) was a Dutch Nobility, noble, jurist, ship-owner, merchant and an Amsterdam Regenten, regent from the Dutch Golden Age.
Biography
Volkert was born ...
(her sister Geertruid Overlander (1609–1634) was married to
Cornelis de Graeff
Cornelis de Graeff, also Cornelis de Graeff van (Zuid-)Polsbroek (15 October 1599 – 4 May 1664) was the most illustrious member of the De Graeff family. He was a mayor of Amsterdam from the Dutch Golden Age and a powerful Amsterdam regent after ...
), merchant and one of the founders of the
Dutch East Trading Company, and a few times burgemeester of Amsterdam. Through his marriage he get linked by marriage with the powerful
Bicker and
De Graeff
De Graeff (; also: '' De Graef, Graef, Graeff, Graaff'', Graaf and ''De Graeff van Polsbroek'') is an old Dutch patrician and noble family,
The Amsterdam line of the family played an important role during the Dutch Golden Age. They were at the ...
families and also to
Johan de Witt
Johan de Witt (; 24 September 1625 – 20 August 1672), ''lord of Zuid- en Noord-Linschoten, Snelrewaard, Hekendorp en IJsselvere'', was a Dutch statesman and a major political figure in the Dutch Republic in the mid-17th century, the Fi ...
, Grand Pensionary of Holland. When Frans' father-in-law died, Banninck Cocq inherited his properties, including a canal house, the
castle of Ilpenstein north of Amsterdam along with the title Lord of
Purmerland
Purmerland () is a village of 395 (January 2007) in the municipality of Landsmeer, North Holland, the Netherlands. It is located just north of Den Ilp and just south of the housing estate of Weidevenne, part of the city of Purmerend. It is direct ...
and
Ilpendam
Ilpendam is a village in the province of North Holland, Netherlands. It is a part of the municipality of Waterland, and lies about 4 km south of Purmerend. It covers an area of 2.46 km2 (0.95 sq mi) and had 1,780 inhabitants in 2008. Ilp ...
. Banninck Cocq decorated the main hall with portraits of his wife's ancestors. The couple had no children.
Political Career
Around 1630 Banninck Cocq became
schepen A schepen (Dutch; . ') or échevin (French) or Schöffe (German) is a municipal officer in Belgium and formerly the Netherlands. It has been replaced by the ' in the Netherlands (a municipal executive).
In modern Belgium, the ''schepen'' or ''éch ...
and in 1634 he succeeded his father-in-law as a member of the
city council
A municipal council is the legislative body of a municipality or local government area. Depending on the location and classification of the municipality it may be known as a city council, town council, town board, community council, rural counc ...
. In 1650 he was appointed
burgemeester (mayor) of Amsterdam. In 1651, 1653 and 1654 he was re-elected. He worked with his brother-in-law
Cornelis de Graeff
Cornelis de Graeff, also Cornelis de Graeff van (Zuid-)Polsbroek (15 October 1599 – 4 May 1664) was the most illustrious member of the De Graeff family. He was a mayor of Amsterdam from the Dutch Golden Age and a powerful Amsterdam regent after ...
and
Johan Huydecoper van Maarsseveen.
Banninck Cocq is also depicted in the
Bartholomeus van der Helst
Bartholomeus van der Helst (1613 – buried 16 December 1670) was a Dutch painter. Considered to be one of the leading portrait painters of the Dutch Golden Age, his elegant portraits gained him the patronage of Amsterdam's elite as well as t ...
portrait of The Governors of the Longbow Civic Guards, 1653, now in the
Amsterdam Museum
The Amsterdam Museum, known until 2010 as the Amsterdam Historical Museum, is an Amsterdam-based museum dedicated to the city's past and present. Due to the renovation of its main location, the museum is temporarily located in the building the Amst ...
.
Military career, Night watch
In 1635 Banninck Cocq was a lieutenant of the Amsterdam
civil guard (
militia
A militia () is generally an army or some other fighting organization of non-professional soldiers, citizens of a country, or subjects of a state, who may perform military service during a time of need, as opposed to a professional force of r ...
) of Wijk I and captain of that of Wijk II from about 1635 to about 1646. From about 1646 to 1650 he was a
colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...
.
Banninck Cocq is primarily known today for being depicted in a painting by
Rembrandt van Rijn
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (, ; 15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669), usually simply known as Rembrandt, was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker and draughtsman. An innovative and prolific master in three media, he is generally consi ...
commissioned in 1638, which shows Cocq and his company of civil guards. Although known as ''
The Night Watch
''Militia Company of District II under the Command of Captain Frans Banninck Cocq'', also known as ''The Shooting Company of Frans Banning Cocq and Willem van Ruytenburch'', but commonly referred to as ''The Night Watch'' ( nl, De Nachtwacht), i ...
'' (1642), this is not the original title; at that time it was in fact unusual to title paintings but if indeed it had a name, the more correct one would be "The Company of Captain Frans Banning Cocq and Lieutenant
Willem van Ruytenburch
Willem van Ruytenburch, ''lord of Vlaardingen and Vlaardinger-Ambacht, Vlaardingen-Ambacht'' (1600–1652) was a member of the Dutch gentry and Amsterdam Patrician (post-Roman Europe), patriciate of the Dutch Golden Age. He became an alderman of ...
". The painting is notable, among other things, for its huge size: approximately 3.35 m x 4.26 m (11 ft by 14 ft).
Death
Frans Banninck Cocq was buried on 6 January 1655; his tomb chapel is located in the
Oude Kerk.
[Stadsarchief Amsterda]
/ref>
References
External links
*
Marriage portraits of Frans Banning Cocq and his wife Maria Overlander by an unknown painter
Succession template
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cocq, Frans Banning
1605 births
1650s deaths
Nobility from Amsterdam
Lords of Purmerland and Ilpendam
Mayors of Amsterdam
Burials at the Oude Kerk, Amsterdam