During the Dutch Golden Age, the De Graeff family were very critical of the Orange family's influence in the Netherlands. Together with the Republican-minded family Bicker, the De Graeffs strived for the abolition of stadtholdership. They desired the full sovereignty of the individual regions in which the Republic of the United Seven Netherlands were not ruled by a single person. Instead of a sovereign (or stadtholder) the political and military power was lodged with the States General and with the regents of the cities in Holland. Diederik Jansz. Graeffs parents were Jan Pietersz Graeff, a rich cloth merchant and advisor of Amsterdam, and "Stein Braseman". His older brother was Lenaert Jansz de Graeff, perhaps ident with "Monseigneur de Graeff", a captain of the Sea Beggars in the Capture of Brielle.