Countries That Have Eaten Their Prime Minister

The map above shows which countries have and have not eaten their Prime Minister at some point in their history. At this stage you may be wondering what?

The map above refers to the rather greusom death of Johan de Witt:

Johan de Witt was a key political leader in the Dutch Republic during the mid-17th century. He served as the Grand Pensionary of Holland (equivalent to a modern Prime Minister), and was effectively the most powerful political figure in the Dutch Republic, from 1653 to 1672.

De Witt was a brilliant statesman and a leading advocate for the republican form of government, which opposed the influence of the House of Orange, a powerful royal family that had strong ties to the military.

During his time in power, Johan de Witt guided the Dutch Republic through a period of economic and naval success, often called the “Dutch Golden Age.” However, his tenure coincided with significant tensions, both domestically and internationally.

The Dutch Republic faced several military threats, notably from France, England, and the German states during the “Rampjaar” (Disaster Year) of 1672. The country was invaded, and its defense crumbled quickly, leading to widespread panic and anger among the Dutch population.

Blamed for the country’s failures and weakened defenses, de Witt became increasingly unpopular. Supporters of the House of Orange, who favored Prince William III (later King William III of England), grew more powerful. Johan de Witt’s brother, Cornelis de Witt, was also involved in politics and similarly opposed the Orangist faction.

On August 20, 1672, Johan de Witt and Cornelis de Witt were brutally murdered by an enraged mob in The Hague. Cornelis had been falsely accused of treason, tortured, and sentenced to exile.

When Johan went to visit him in prison, the brothers were seized by the mob, dragged out of the building, and lynched. The violence was extreme: the brothers were beaten, mutilated, and their bodies were hung in public.

In a shocking and grotesque turn, some members of the mob reportedly cannibalized parts of their bodies, consuming them as a symbolic act of hatred and revenge.

This tragic and horrifying event marked a turning point in Dutch history, leading to the rise of William III and the decline of republican power in the Dutch Republic.