Hugo de Groot (Grotius)

Hugo de Groot, also known as Grotius, was a 17th-century Dutch thinker and lawyer often called the "father of international law." He believed that nations should follow certain rules to interact peacefully, much like how individuals abide by laws and moral principles. Grotius argued that natural law—basic principles of justice—should guide relationships between countries, especially in war and peace. His ideas helped establish the idea that states have rights and responsibilities, laying the groundwork for modern international legal systems and diplomatic relations.