Frans van Aarsens

Aarsens (Frans van) (1572-1641). A Dutch diplomat. At twenty-six years of age he was sent to Paris as the agent of the States-General; later he became ambassador for the United Provinces, and long represented his country at the French Court, where he was highly regarded by Richelieu. He was also at different periods Ambassador to Venice, Germany, and England. Motley, who considered Aarsens one of the ablest diplomats of Europe, shows that he contributed largely to the unrighteous death of Barneveldt, 1619.