Historical Relations Between Spain and Flanders

HISTORICAL RELATIONS BETWEEN SPAIN AND FLANDERS

I. PROLOGUE

In this brief study that we present, we treat to show the key facts succession and the main historical characters that had started years of relations between both countries and it will be analyzed under the different aspects like cultural, political, social, commercial and religious, offering a picture of the historical situation before.

II. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

POLITICAL STRUCTURE

At the end of 15th Century, Netherlands was a conglomeration of small counties, duchies and diocese which belonged to the Holy Roman Empire, ruled by the count of Holland, the Duke of Güeldres, the Duke of Brabante and the Bishop of Utrecht. Nevertheless, other territories had been kept independent and were ruled by the low nobility.

All of them were consolidated in the 16th Century, and even Belgium was included in just one state by the Habsburg dynasty.

THE DYNASTIC EVOLUTION

To understand the complex dynasty evolution, it is summarizes the origin of the dynasties that joined Spain and Flanders under the same Crown along two centuries.

Joanna “the mad” from Trastámara (Royal House of Castile) and Philip I “the Handsome” from Habsburg (Royal House of Austria) were the parents of Charles V. Therefore, Charles V was

Catholic Kings’ grandson, and Maximilian archduke of Austria and his wife Mary, Duchess of Burgundy too.

Ferdinand V the Catholic died in 1516, Maximilian I of Austria died in 1519 and Philip I the handsome had already died, so that, when Charles V is just six-year-old inherited the Holy Roman Empire (which is known by Germany nowadays). He inherited the French county in France and Netherlands.

Charles V was born in the Ten Walle Palace, Ghent, in February of 1500. He grew up in Netherlands, almost without meeting his parents. The person on charge of his education was his intelligent and energetic aunt Margaret, daughter of Emperor Maximilian I who ruled Netherlands since 1507 till Charles V adulthood.

His religious education was drove by Adrian of Utrecht (later Pope Adrian VI), It was characterized by the ideal of practical piety from devotion moderna.

Charles married when he was twenty-six with Princess Isabella of Portugal. Their children, apart from Philip II, two

of them had quite relevance:

Margaret, duchess of Florence and Parma (1522-1586), who showed her ability as a governor of Netherlands, and John of Austria (1547-1578) who achieved his fame due to the of victory over Turkish fleet in the Lepanto battle.

During the first period of Charles V, which ended in 1555 when he abdicated in Brussels, Flemish nobility had a large presence in the highest positions of the Spanish court.

In the second period, he assigned the crown to his son Philip II, who married four times, the first time with Maria Manuela of Portugal. And finally, Philip II yields to his daughter Isabella Clara Eugenia the Netherlands ripping from the Spanish Monarchy.

THE SPANISH FOREIGN POLICY

At this time, the Spanish foreign policy was chaired by the sign of reaching the supremacy in Western Europe. It is a bound that one is achieved, nobody wants to lose it. It is a privilege which is justified with some religious obligations (It is linked to Roma) and Europeans (It means Turkish defence). Along one century and a half these formula, if it is well attended with a skilful diplomatic corps and a militia of first order, it will work quite satisfactory.

Actually, since 1516 when Charles V became king of Spain until 1714 when the peace of Utrecht transmitted the southern Netherlands to the Vienne Court, the matter of Flanders always have utmost importance in the foreign policy to the Spanish crown.

III. FLEMISH SOCIETY AND ECONOMIC FLEMISH MODEL

The abdication of Charles V on favour of his son Philip II, let him Flanders which was a magnificent present for Spain, due to the fact that it was the richest European country. Its main city, Antwerp, was an important financial centre and the biggest and commercial lace of the continent among the expansive economies of North Germany, England, France and Spain.

NETHERLANDS, BOURGEOISIE SOCIETY

On Flanders territories, it is developed a process of social change very important: consolidation and growth of the enterprising bourgeoisie, it allows completing successfully all the process of previous experiences in middle 15th century. It originates the development of its economic model which is based on the contribution of added value by the manipulation of existing raw materials. It starts from the technology to the use and the human resource

disposition.

THE RELIGIUM AND ITS INFLUENCE

Moreover, the Evangelical reform, which submitted religious forms to the social, it expanded quickly and it developed the vision and attitudes of the society. In that way, they release the ballast representing the “divinity power” of the monarch and Lutherans doctrines take strength and social dominance: “market and generation of wealth came God and realize the Salvation”.

Society from that period was the most peculiar of the continent. Once feudalism disappears, service and donation are replaced with salary and purchase-sale. Local economic substituted the international one. And also, the social position is set in relation with economical power of each one.

Therefore, we can find Netherlands polarized between noble class and the ecclesiastic with huge properties and going with a group of big bourgeoisie engaged in trade, in industry and in finance against a mass of proletarians in the cities and small field cultivators.

THE COMMERCIAL DYNAMISM

But in cities existed opportunities for middle groups, which increase with strength. On the other hand, the social-economical evolution of the land tent to divide men into two classes: one was the large landowners and the other small landowners, tenants and day-laborers.

They devoted to open new markets, new seaways to Asia avoiding going through the Mediterranean Sea, and as a needed, they also developed the maritime transport industry.

With these ways already opened, new industries were born in Antwerp like

shipbuilding industry and refined sugar industry. In addition, Antwerp stands in a reference market where publicly traded global prices of the pepper of the Moluccas are.

On the contrary, for example, the appreciated silk from Granada and Béjar, which was leader on the markets till then. It had to face the Chinese competency.

This difference between social position and development model what better explains the lack of leadership of Spain in favour of Flemish territories, among others.

THE AXIS OF DEVELOPMENT, ANTWERP

Amberes is the most Spanish city of all north European cities. In that time, the Antwerp people referred to themselves as “sinjoren”, that means señores in Spanish (mister, in English) as a reference to their proud past linked to Spaniards uses socially. Moreover, Amberes had a population of a hundred thousand inhabitants.

Hispanic business colony was the most nourished of the city, and Spaniard workers became to represent more than 60% of the population. It is just yielded in importance to Paris.

Its international harbour, where all the economical activities were in, was also the main commercial platform with Spain.

IV. SPANISH SOCIETY AND ITS ECONOMICAL MODEL

SPAIN: A POLARIZED SOCIETY

The society of the 16th century remains an estates society founded in the privilege; so that the integration into the nobility represents the consecration of social success and the goal to which aspire all the conquerors, lawyers or merchants, who came from the lower layers that have achieved a certain level of fortune. The rest was just part of the low social extract. There was no middle class.

The first consecuence, which it is likely the most important from a social point of view, is the growing contempt in which productive activities fall and manual work, as a vile trade, improper of a gentleman.

RELIGION AND SOCIETY

In parallel, the Catholic religion, whose reform had medieval roots and develops slowly and using social structures for their own benefit, preached: «God sent the rich man that he may act and not told that work, this belongs to the poor», the phrase is by Francisco de Osuna and is written in the first third of the 16th century. On the other hand, it is

reaffirmed therein with the message: "the exercise of trade and marketing let away you from God".

The consolidation of these thoughts in society, determines a non-existent bourgeois class with the consequent loss of productive capacities and demanding: the monarchy exercised powerfully his mastery of "divine".

THE USE OF WEALTH

However, at the stage of Philip II, the generation of wealth was not aimed at the productive economy, rather consumed in the financing of armed conflicts to maintain the defense of religion and hegemony in Europe, and this was what worn out the economic capacity of the Kingdom.

Suffice it to recall that in his reign, the Royal Treasury declared bankruptcy three times 1557, 1575 and 1596. In 1590, the courts approved a tax that collects eight million ducats a year for the next six years, which were devoted to the construction of a new Navy and to finance bloody military policy, where spending in the war against the

Netherlands takes on special significance in the courts.

This ended with the ruining the Castilian cities and strike that already weak industrialization attempts remaining.

V. TRADE: COMMERCIAL EXCHANGE

BEGINNING OF THE TRADE

Relations between Flemish and Hispanics are dated as possible in the early days of mankind, because both populations have their origin in Africa from where the migratory flow was moving into northern Europe, leaving after Yes settlements and routes that were the basis of the communication and the seed already in medieval timesIt germinated with trade that there is significant historical records.

THE INFLUENCE OF COMMERCIAL EXCHANGE

Spanish traders settled in Bruges, terminal point on "the route of wool", came to be several "Nations" or "colonies" commercial independent, led by their respective consuls.

In the course of time, the development of trade that came to consider the need to unify measures of accounting of goods, of the monetary law with patterns of the exchange value with legal validity to facilitate pricing and payments was so strong. So, it was promulgated a decree which regulated all these aspects and signed in Brussels on 23 January 1516.

Special mention deserves the initiative of Basque industrialists who learned to smelt iron from the mine discovered on the Bank of the Nervión estuary and undertook commercial actions managing contracts from the Rochar you to Bruges and Antwerp in the 14th and 15th centuries by sailors and specializing its shipbuilding industry. These events allowed them to be present in the trade and navigation of Northern Europe and especially in Bruges where their judge granted privileges in favour of the consuls of "nation of Biscay". The judge in Bruges promised to give them the House of Mareminne and thus was born the "Biscay House" that was place of deposit and purchase.

To the pier of the Spaniards (Spaanske Loskai) came from the sea by channels Wools of Castile, Biscayan iron, Canary Islands sugar or rice and alum of Aragon and Catalonia-

THE WOOL

FLEMISH DEMAND

As a result of the sharp increase in domestic consumption of wool in England, in the early 15th century, Flanders was deprived of a very significant part of the best quality raw that came from that country. As a result, Spain is becoming a major supplier of large amounts of

the Merino Wool; the Census of the bovine cabin in Spain in 1563, was 2.303.027 head of cattle, that while their wool was not of a high quality, he came to a serious problem of supply had Flanders, reached to export 60% of the production.

COMPETITIVENESS AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY

However, these advantageous circumstances, Spanish wool fleece, took time to impose, because the improvement in its quality required of decades. It is not until the mid-15th century, when the count of Flanders, Duke of Burgundy, grant letter of privilege to Castilian of witches markets, Spanish wool appear in Flemish documentation.

The development of the textile industry, particularly in Flanders, and the lack of territories and grass sufficient in this region as to produce wool that supply this industry and more quality Spanish wool, with no competition until the 19th century, contributed to the absorption of this precious raw material in this part of the northern country. The profitability of this exporting activity, it would stimulate the expansion of the sheep meat.

These improvements, in the livestock sector, were extended also to other activities: trade in Burgos, the fleet of the Cantabrian Sea, etc., and therefore, because it is also a supply of quality, cloth flemish industry saw benefit and could cope with the problems that were causing the Court of supplies of raw materials for the English market.

The opening of the market in Flanders solved a problem of supply and also stimulates the sector in Spain, with growth in sales and improvement in the quality of the product in order to compete.

Nevertheless, this flow of trade in its inception represented an important source of income, came to constitute also, by the extreme degree of dependency generated in the Spanish economy, one of the main reasons registered in Castile in 1575 recession, when the path to the Netherlands was interrupted during the armed conflict with Flanders.

TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY

The iron foundry in small blast furnace, is originally from Flanders, specifically of Liège. From the beginning of the 16th century, this technology passes to other European countries, and also Spain, entering by Galicia and marking concrete as Biscay areas as it has been mentioned before.

The large amount of firewood needed to melt the guns of the artillery of the armed prepared in A Coruña to reach the Moluccas and Cathay in the East, suggests obtaining of cast iron. The Gunners

and lombarderos of certain expeditions were mostly Flemish. The presence of this nationality smelters hired by the Town Council of La Coruña, indicates this technological communication.

VI. THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA AND ITS INFLUENCE

Spain opts to seek out what was denied or not able to find inside. In the wake of the discovery of America, the port of Seville, together with Lisbon, became the central place of the world economy. This was the basis of a very important source of richness for Spain, in the 15th century, placed in an unbeatable position in the economic context of Europe at the time. The revenue from the new world, came to assume the

annual 20% of the wealth of the Crown.

THE VOLUME, ITS IMPACT AND UTILIZATION

That commercial traffic, called the race of the Indies, it has its influence in Philip III reign. From 1500 to 1650, the volume recorded was extraordinary: between 40,000 and 50,000 trips, the value of the gold and silver brought it, was equivalent to 35 times the wheat production in the Mediterranean during 100 years however, this was not properly used as engine for the

further development and consolidation of the economic model: the wealth that came was not used for the reform and expansion of the productive structure; It was being expended (armies, payment of debts, Sumptuary expenses, etc.).

In addition, this situation of strong entries of gold and silver (cash) led to the rise in prices and the inability of the population to meet the costs of everyday life: the population supported a brutal inflation, e.g. the price of cereals rose to 50% in the last four years of the century, and left much of the business in the hands of foreign merchants.

FREIGHT TRAFFIC

RAW MATERIALS

On the first voyage of Columbus return brought with it a huge amount of plants to grow (tomatoes, peppers, pumpkins, etc.), which helped improve the vitaminic contribution in the European diet, but not revolutionized subsistence agriculture. But what was really relevant was the introduction of a cereal (corn) and a tuber (potato) with which Europeans could deal with hunger and, definitely incorporate them into your diet.

Another commodity that Spain introduced in Europe, was the sugar cane, whose cultivation was authorized in 1478. Its production in 1494, was already of 8,500 arrobas1

ANTWERP: DISTRIBUTION CENTER

, of which most were already sent to Flanders, where the sugar industry, her refinaba and was preparing to sell in markets.

As mentioned previously, in the 16th century, the port of Antwerp functioned as a knot of traffic between southern Europe and Northern Europe. It was imported from Spain: oil, wine raisins, wool, etc. Along with imports of Italy and Portugal, they accounted for between 42 and 48 of the goods passing through its customs. And it mainly exported towards Spain, lead, Tin, herring and cloths.

In this set of exchanges, include exports of wine, leather, olive oil and iron from Galicia to Flanders, and cloths, metal tools and shields of gold, from Flanders to Galicia.

1 Spanish unit of weight and of liquid measure, varying according to region

As relevant data, note that Spain consumed between 1663 and 1669, 104.265 pieces of "new draperies".

The effect of this massive influx of finished product was the demographic decline of cities, like Toledo or Cuenca that went from 15,000 inhabitants (58% working in textile) in 1561 to have 8,000 at 1750.

SPAIN LOST THE MONOPOLY OF AMERICA

Ultimately, in the course of the 17TH century, the growth of direct trade from the Netherlands, among others, with the territories of the American colonies, which increasingly were more self-sufficient and to get the goods which were demanded they did not reject whatever the way of entry was. This was configuring a drop and a strong deterioration of the position and the economy of the Kingdom of Spain.

THE WORLD MARKET OF SPECIES

A CORUÑA IN THE TRAFFIC BETWEEN AMERICA AND EUROPE

On December 24th 1522, the House of Hiring of Species is created to facilitate the commercialization of these products from Middle East to the European markets, whose most important distribution centres were in Flanders.

Given the special geographical situation of A Coruña, for maritime communication with Europe, stood in this city the hub, constituting, therefore the basis of maritime traffic both expeditions that came towards the East, where there was a large number of Flemish sailors enrolled, of which departed, with goods for sale, to European markets.

The House of hiring of species for the month of August 1528 closed its activities because of the failure of the armed who saw truncated his travels by subsidence or failures to reach destination. The rights of the Spanish Crown on the Moluccan Islands were ceded to the Portuguese.

TRANSPORT, DISTRIBUTION, THE ECONOMIC DOMAIN

In the course of 1515 to 1565, more than a half of the products reached ports of Seville and Portugal, were distributed throughout Europe, from Antwerp. On the other hand, the industrial products of Flanders were considered "fundamental and without the possibility of supply of any other party if they were missing" (sic), in shipments of goods to the new world.

Clear was that, following the discovery of America, the world was widening and that trade was expanding its borders and, therefore, becoming much more complex and globalized: had many more goods of value, they were no longer only the gold and silver, they had appeared at more advantageous prices in distant countries, raw materials, species, etc.

Thus, it seemed clear that the country that could lead the transport, it would have a very important strategic asset, not only to make its economy grow in a more sustainable manner, but also to gain dominance in the international arena.

VII. COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC IN THE WAR

THE STRATEGIC INTERESTS

The distant Spain was interesting only for the trade and as a protector against the desires of the immediate France, and to Spain, the real interest derived from its containment of

Protestants and Turks line, because the relationship did not require political Union. And Flanders, with its geostrategic position, it was favouring the most European opponents of Spain.

There was not a full coincidence in the prioritization of interests, and therefore were not sufficient to maintain the Union. The prosperity of those regions not produced a fiscal contribution at

the same level, and was Spain who should attend their defence spending.

THE COST OF THE WAR

To obtain subsidies, Charles I of Spain (Charles V)had to rid irritating disputes with the regional nobility and its States General, and in the reign of Philip II, the Duke of Alba, Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, was commissioned to ensure that Flanders run with most of its defense spending.

Thus, the Duke of Alba, who arrived in 1567, increased the Flemish fiscal contribution through a tax similar to the "Spanish alcabala"2

Even so, between 1571 and 1573 the thirds were not paid or only once, explains that, inter alia, acts of plunder and violence that occurred.

who came to aggravate existing social rejection being branded foreign imposition, but that, for a time, he came to reduce the high cost that Spain was supposed to maintain military excellence of thirds during prolonged campaigns in Flanderswhich meant a huge waste of money.

2 Alcabala, It was the most important sale tax during the Antiguo Regimen in the Crown of Castile and certainly the more income producing real finance.

THE NORTHERN NETHERLANDS AND SUPPLIES

In the history of trade relations between Spain and Netherlands, it must mention the era in which the northern provinces already had constituted in Republic and they did not recognize the authority of King Philip II, who remained, however, intact their ability to supply Spain of war (cables, candles, wooden, artillery, copper), etc.; In addition to wheat for feeding of the army.

The paradox of that, it was that with these supplies, the Spanish armies fought against the English, when they were paying their forces to defend the Republic emerging in the process of independence of Spain. So it did, it was the own Queen of England, Elizabeth I, who had to take direct action on the matter and prohibit the

independent provinces of the North to make this trade.

VIII. CULTURAL RELATIONS

As it is written in the prologue of this study, the two hundred years together by the same Crown left deep traces. It includes hundred years of wars, but also of cultural and commercial exchanges magnified to both countries.

It is fair to highlight the Regency of Margaret of Austria by her Government of great tact and success in which sciences, arts and guilds reached a happy time.

ARCHITECTURE

On the way from Antwerp to Bruges is likely to meet with numerous vestiges of Hispanic names of professionals, diplomats or humanists as Luis Vives, who has his own Monument near the wonderful Gothic church of Our Lady.

There is a “Spanjaardstraat” or street of the Spaniards with traditional buildings that even conserved original facades and doors.

The evocations of Charles V in Mechelen are constant. The splendid Town Hall are effigies and heraldic shields the monarch rebuilt and a large tapestry with scenes of the Spanish conquest of Tunisia.

In the halls of this great Palace met the Grand Council of the Netherlands, which was attended by Philip II in 1559.

Another notable place is the Manor House of Jerome of Busleyden, judge of the great Council and friend of Luis Vives and Erasmus, among other many illustrious characters of the era.

In the Centre of the magnificent facade of the consistory, it abounds in the place of honor at the Grote Markt or Plaza Mayor, the coat of arms of Philip II, King of Spain and ruler of the Netherlands.

It is emphasized the work of the General Military Hospital, which managed to become health emblem in Europe. It counted with 330 Beds available to attend to wounded or ill soldiers and worked on an ongoing basis since the end of the 16th century, funded by a fixed contribution granted pro rata salary of each soldier. In this building, located near the Plaza Mayor and the Palace of the Grand Council,

nothing is standing (a part of the site is private property and another is dedicated to technical school).

In the Museum of the ancient Franconato (Brugse Vrije) there is a formidable monumental fireplace made in 1531 to commemorate the victory of Pavia, on which stands out the statue of Charles V surrounded by the effigies of his grandparents, Maximilian I of Austria, Mary of Burgundy, Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile; and that of his parents, Philip and Joanna. Figures are also reproduced in the niches of the old town hall, one of the oldest and most impressive Gothic edificios of Flanders.

THE RENAISSANCE PHILOSOPHY, HUMANISM

Along with the communication of interests moved from Flanders to Spain and from Spain to Flanders, cultural, esthetic and religious ideals. Christian humanism of Flemish origin was enthusiastically participated by the Spaniards. Some characters to emphasize in this regard would be:

Juan Luis Vives: Valencian who studied in Paris and Leuven, where he was Professor at the University. He married in Bruges into the family of a merchant Valencian but established in that city.

Charles of Antwerp Foundation: Created by the Flemish of the same name, native of that city who gave part of his possessions to create a Hospital that would host the Netherlands people in Madrid in 1594.

Pedro de Soto: a member of the Entourage of the Emperor, assisted in the restoration of Catholicism in the South of Germany, as well as the reorganization of the University of Dillingen with the participation of other Spanish theologians and the University of Leuven.

Martín Pérez de Ayala: student in Leuven, Adviser of the Emperor and a citizen of Antwerp where he studied and explained the Bible. His knowledge gained in Flanders about the Evangelical reform was very useful in the Council of Trent.

Benito Arias Montano or his partners as Francisco Raphenlegius and the brothers Le Febvre from the Borderie, who directed the publication of the Bible Regia, the Antwerp polyglot, publishing their comments and Leiden.

Erasmus of Rotterdam (1469) He was a cleric but, however, uncomfortable in the religious life. Course studies in Paris, after two short stays in the Netherlands decides to lead an independent life. With a hugely controversial and annoying personality in his time and at the crossroads between the Protestant Reformation and the traditionalist orthodoxy of the Christian Church, the cautious Erasmus earned the enmity of both sides. In Leuven, he met his friend Luis Vives humanist who had to leave Spain due to his Jewish ancestry.

With erasmismo,It refers to the influence that the ideas of Erasmus of Rotterdam took in Spain, especially in the first half of the 16th

century, with the support of the Emperor Charles V.

The erasmismo had great predicament throughout Europe, and specifically in Spain until the rise to the throne of Philip II in 1559 who, four years later, at the end of the Council of Trent will begin to persecute his followers. The period of greatest influence of the Spanish Erasmismo lies between 1527 and 1532, and it can be considered as a binder of ideas (literary, political, scientific, legal, etc.) that arose from the Spanish society of the 16th century, resulting later in the gold Spanish century.

Erasmus was invited by Cardinal Cisneros to teach at the University of Alcalá, but declined the invitation with a famous Non plácet Hispania (Spain tells me nothing).

At the end of the Council of Trent, the "index" of prohibited books was published, in which contained some by Erasmus. The erasmismo was also overshadowed by other reformist lines (Juan Celaya). However, it is at this time when the Erasmus was more present in court thanks to Juan Calvete de Estrella, instructor of Prince Philip.

The end of the Erasmus in Spain finishes with the publication by Arias Montano of the “Index expurgatorius librorum”, which increases the number of works by Erasmus banned after the Council of Trent.

MEDICINE

Another character of great interest is ANDREAS VESALIUS (1514-1564 Brussels). Doctor and pioneer of Anatomy ,he was born into a family of pharmaceutical tradition. He studied

medicine at the University of Leuven (1529). He moved to Paris in 1533, and even as a student was famous for its public dissections. He spent a brief stay in Leuven and travelled to Padua Centre research medical European, in 1537 was appointed Professor of Anatomy, among his students figure, Gabriele Falopio.

In 1540 he began his own treatise on anatomy and to

have the best illustrators he went to Vienna, he commissioned the task of workshop to the artist Titian. The drawings were recorded on several wooden blocks that led to Basel where his work on the Structure of the Human Body (De Humani corporis fabrica) was printed in 1543. His work is considered the first modern Treaty of Anatomy, by its clarity and its exhibition rigour about its contents.

Emperor Charles V, impressed by his work, named him his personal physician. After the resignation of the Emperor on the throne of Spain, Vesalius moved to Madrid and was doctor at the Court of Philip II. In 1564 he began a pilgrimage to holy land, died on his return journey.

Another great character to highlight is MICHAEL SERVETUS:

He was a theologian unorthodox and Spanish doctor who discovered the pulmonary circulation of the blood (Villanueva de la Serena, Huesca 1511- Genève 1553).

He traveled with the Entourage of Charles V as Secretary of the teacher and friend Juan de Quintana who was confessor of the King, which earned him to have contact with the Reformation. He abandoned the Catholic faith to face all the Christian churches and defining his own religious beliefs. He was denounced by Calvin and burned at the stake by the Inquisition.

THE PRINTING PRESS AND THE BOOK INDUSTRY

From times of Charles V, in addition to the large investments that occurred by the enabling environment, it was printing.

At this point, it is made relevance on the considerable importance which took Antwerp as a centre of Edition in Castilian.

The best editor was Christopher Plantin, advised by Arias Montano (belonging both to a spiritual movement called family of charity) they undertook the largest print company of the 16th century: the Bible was in five languages (Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Syriac and Aramaic) and eight volumes. Plantin was appointed Architipógrafo of Philip II, and obtained the exclusive privilege of printing all the missals and breviaries intended for the New World. Without error, it can be said that American Indians were Christianised with Catechisms made in Antwerp.

The book industry had international sphere and, therefore, with their publications they spread the works of Spanish authors. There were editions of el Lazarillo de Tormes, La Celestina, etc of the Quixote. Today retains the House Plantin printing press in the Vrijdagmarkt square happened to be a Museum of printing.

Plantin, related to Gabriel de Zayas, Secretary of Philip II, succeeded with his mediation, real protection and privileged to edit the liturgical books exclusively for Spain and their domains responsible for its dissemination and sale, the Augustinian monks of el Escorial.

THE BOOK AND THE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Largely cultural development called the Renaissance; it is due to the lowering of the books by the printing and the paper, which has social consequences and economic revolutionary which allows the transmission and accumulation of knowledge. Until then, only the clergy had access to large libraries and they were hired by the Governments to act as secretaries, chroniclers or accountants. Knowledge is accessible to the citizen. The reformation of Luther is related to this great event as a promotional method.

On the other hand, that traders and craftsmen had access to an economic environment of outreach, it enables economic expansion to them and it gives a different productive system and higher level to their business activities. It comes the so-called bourgeoisie, a new social class, cultured, not priestly, not aristocratic, but from the work that applies its knowledge and innovative.

FLEMISH DRAWING IN THE SPANISH TIME

The Flemish painters influenced by the Italian masters left a big mark with portraits of the Royal houses. At the encouragement of economic recovery in the 17TH century, arises the Baroque artistic golden age. Within a radius of 50 km away, perfectly connected by railroad, are cities which are real masterpieces; they are calls art cities in Flanders: Antwerp, Bruges, Brussels, Ghent, Leuven and Mechelen.

When the Flemish cities prospered economically during the late Mid-Ages, Flemish artists such as Jan van Eyck, Rogier van der Weyden, Hans Memling and Bosch, known as the Flemish primitive Dirk Bouts were working in Flanders and receiving orders from all over Europe.

During the Spanish influence under the rule of Charles V and Philip II, Antwerp enjoys his golden age, whose best known artists are:

Rembrandt: one of the major Baroque masters of painting and engraving.

Rubens (1577 Siegen Antwerp 1640): baroque painter of the Flemish school. Several of his disciples worked for assignment to the Spanish Court. He mastered several languages and served as skillful and coveted diplomat. In order to deliver a few gifts from the Duke of Mantua to Philip III, he moved to Spain remaining in this country for a year, time in which produced several

paintings on busts of the Apostles. The works remain today from the Prado Museum.

In 1628 he returned to Spain in order to inform King Philip IV on the situation of the Treaty of peace with England, during his stay at the Court became friendly with Diego Velázquez who

advised to complete their training in Italy.

Van Eyck, Hubert and Jan, brothers and sisters, authors of the Polyptych of the adoration of the Lamb Mystic, for the high altar of the Cathedral of Bavon of Ghent City. Its 24 panels form the work of major dimensions of Flemish painting. One of the characters is representing a pilgrim shell with reference to the Camino de Santiago.

Van Dyck, Anthony, (1599-1.641) disciple and friend of Rubens. Flemish Baroque painter, and the main painter of the Court of England and favourite portraitist of

Charles V. His origin is Antwerp.

Hieronymus Bosch, stands for representing Holy characters as common and vulnerable subjects. It has surrealism, sarcastic and brimming with dreamlike imagery. It tries to give a moralistic message. Among his works is "the garden of earthly delights".

Brueghel, the elder: founder of a true dynasty of painters, is considered one of the great masters of the 16th century, and the most important Dutch painter of that century. He is regarded as one of the four major figures of Flemish painting. Social life of Brueghel extended much beyond the intellectual circle, voluntarily attending peasant weddings which was to invite as “relative or countryman” of the spouses. He received the nickname 'Peasant Brueghel'. He loved observe habit of peasants that the painter was able to reproduce, with great sensitivity and humor, with color, either watercolor or oil, being very well versed in both techniques. Among his works are "The fall of Icarus" and "The battle between Sir Carnal and Miss Quarantine".

Jacob Jordaens: Jordaens was a maestro of the tapestries, the mythological scenes and allegories, and from 1640 - year of the death of Rubens who influenced so much in his painting - he was the most notable painter of Antwerp, and as such he received numerous commissions from courtiers, wealthy families and other patrons. Today, however, it is best known his work “in genre”, what are paintings based on genre scenes in the manner of his contemporary Jan Brueghel, the elder. His influences include Flemish not only painters such as Brueghel or the aforementioned Rubens, but also North-Italians artist. Some of his works: "The adoration of the shepherds" and "The satyr and the peasant".

Berruguete: Spanish painter, who is located in the transition from the Gothic style to Renaissance painting. He stayed in Italy and this would have allowed him to meet leading artists of the Quattrocento, and learn techniques and ways to Renaissance, as the domain of

space, Anatomy or variety and naturalness in gestures, in addition to the architectural and decorative elements of the Renaissance. Once back to Castile, he adapts the style which had learned in Italy, to the tastes of clientele Castilian, more conservative and attached to the ways of the Gothic. He was the father of one of the most prominent artists of the Spanish Renaissance, Alonso Berruguete.

John of Bourgogne, He is a Renaissance painter, introducer of the forms of the Italian «Quattrocento» in Castile. First preserved safe dating works are carried out in 1508 for the altarpiece of the Cathedral of Ávila. It was left unfinished by Pedro Berruguete, was completed by him, who painted it six of the Apostles of the Bank and five of their biggest stories: the Transfiguration of the central street and Annunciation, Nativity, presentation in the temple and descent into Limbo in the side streets. These paintings have already fully formed style of his best later Toledan works, the Italian formation and his interest in the human, even naked figure (descent into Limbo).

Jan Van Sorel (Alkmaar 1495 Utrecht 1562) he was humanist, architect, engineer.

Painter John of Flanders (Netherlands 1465 Palencia 1519) was follower of the school of Bruges and the court painter in the service of Isabella. Upon the death of the Queen is dedicated to work in large altarpieces as the chapel of the University of Salamanca and Palencia in the Church of San Lázaro and the Cathedral.

Antonio Moro (Utrecht 1519-Antwerp 1578) prominent portrait painter, he brought the Flemish tradition together with the teachings of the Italians and in particular the Venetian painting.

Verbrugghen, son of the painter Pieter Verbrugghen the elder, Hendrick also display his talent in the construction and decoration of shocking pulpits as the Church of the Augustinians in Antwerp (1697), his masterpiece.

LITERATURE

This stream of cultures also had repercussions in our literature. One of our universal writers Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616) despite not being in the territories of the Netherlands, he reflected it in several of his novels: "Don Quixote" "Persiles and Segismunda", "El licenciado Vidriera", in which he refers to Flanders and also mentioned Brussels, Ghent and Antwerp. Specifically in "The Symposium of dogs", in an explicit paragraph:

“I would like to continue that day, even thought It carried me to Italy or Flanders, because it seems to me, and even to you should look the same...Walking on land and communicate with different people makes men discrete”

IX. CONCLUSIONS

Spain and Flanders exchanged people, interests, and ideas from the earliest times. News trade and emigration are preserved from the middle ages in both directions.

The period of 200 years, which lasted the presence of Spain in Flanders, has given rise to military confrontations but also cultural and commercial exchanges, as well as times of great and fruitful cordiality which gave splendour, wealth and progress for its citizens.

The most extraordinary of all, it is perhaps the encounter between Iberian and Flemish cultures, what amounts to a clash between the monolithic ideological and tolerance or between liberalism and mercantilism and between hierarchical centralisation and equal autonomy. Two structures of social, political and economic struggle, as it could not be otherwise, it is given the enormous complexity of Europe, and the Spanish monarchy.

It could be noted as a summary, that the differentiating element in economic development observed in the two countries, it is located in the social changes promoted by the religious divergence: a Catholicism anchored in immobility and the protection of privileges, with a bad use of the riches that were administered, against to the rupture that Lutheranism preaching, which highlights the effort, productive work and the generation of wealth as key elements on which was based the organization of society.

If the Hispanic military sinks in Flanders, the history of this country and its separation from the Netherlands of the North is unthinkable, without Spain.

To conclude this pass through the common routes of Flanders and Spain in the 15th and 16th centuries with a phrase of Erasmus:

"The most disadvantageous peace is better than the most just war"

WORKGROUP:

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

History of Europe, volume I. Chapter: control of the economy. Author: Juan Eloy Gelabert González. Director Miguel Artola. Coordinator: Julio Antonio Brown Martínez. Editorial Espasa.

Virtual library Miguel De Cervantes: Carlos V, society and economy, the Census of Tomás González in the 1.477.

Brigantina Comarca in relations Spain and Flanders during the middle ages. Author: Ismael veil thought is Canónigo-Archivero of the Collegiate Church of Santa María of the field of La Coruña, Doctor in theology and history.

Pío Moa

http:blogs.libertaddigital.compresente-y-pasado (9/7/2009) Postado by Oswaldo e. da Costa Velasco.

Collaboration, as a consultant, in the section: the Flemish society and its economic model, of D. José M. Sánchez Quinzá-Torrojas, Doctor of business administration and Professor of applied economics of the University of A Coruña.

The issue of Flanders. Manuel Fernández Álvarez. Dialnet 1986

www.mcnbiografias.com

Philip the wise. 4Th Humanities students blog. Modern history of Spain. University of Alicante

Cercle Littéraire "Idea of Flanders en la obra de Miguel de Cervantes (Victor Valembois)"

The Spanish Trail in Flanders (Internet)

Flandes.NET

Henry Valdearcos Professor I.E.S. Gonzalo de Berceo (resources for the history of art)

José Luis Abellán: Spanish Erasmus (Espasa Calpe)

Hipólito Escolar: History of the book (Madrid Fundación Germán Ruipérez S.)

Virtual library Miguel de Cervantes (Internet)

ILLUSTRATIONS: Rembrandt (anatomy lesson of Dr. Tulp Nicholas)

Rubens (abduction of Europa)