The Netherlands

The Netherlands

• Group of 17 provinces ruled by Philip II, the King of Spain

• 1559 Philip left the Netherlands and put his half-sister Margaret of Parma in charge with help from a special council

End of the Dutch Revolt

Cardinal Granvelle

• 1561 headed the council to control Netherlands

• Hoped to check Protestant gains through internal church reforms

• Wanted to break the local autonomy of the 17 stadtholders of each province

• Wanted to establish a strong centralized gov’t from Madrid

Calvinism in the Netherlands

• Netherlands had many merchant cities—Antwerp, most magnificent and independent and a Calvinist stronghold

• By 1560, cities housed many Calvinists, some who fled from France

• William of Orange (“the Silent”) – opposed Phillip II’s and Cardinal Greenville’s persecution of Dutch Calvinists– Returns from exile in Germany to lead

the Dutch

• Due to the rising tide of Calvinism, Cardinal Granvelle was removed from office in 1564

• Philip II began to insist the decrees of the Council of Trent be enforced in Netherlands

• Compromise of 1564—agreement between Dutch nobles to resist Spain – led to rebellion

Duke of Alba• The “sea beggars” revolt is

violently put down by Philip II ‘s , Duke of Alba who executes thousands of suspected heretics

• Alba established the “Council of Blood” (Troubles) to execute Calvinists

• Spanish levied new taxes against the Dutch to pay for suppressing the revolt

• Tens of thousands fled the Netherlands during Alba’s cruel six year rule.

William of Orange Returns

• Orange was in exile during Alba’s reign

• He returned to set up his movement in his three provinces of Holland, Zeeland, and Utrecht

• The “sea beggars” sparked rebellions against Alba and his successor, Don Luis de Requesens (1573)

Pacification of Ghent

• Spanish Fury – After Requesen’s death, Spanish mercenaries leave 7,000 people dead in Antwerp on November 4, 1576

• Nov. 8, 1576--the massacre unites Protestant and Catholic Netherlands versus Spain under the Pacification of Ghent

Union of Arras and Union of Utrecht

• Two groups: Union of Utrecht (Calvinists) in the north and Union of Arras (Catholic) in the south

• 1577 Spain signs humiliating Perpetual Edict calling for the removal of all Spanish troops from the Netherlands

• William of Orange becomes leader of the country• Union of Arras (southern Catholic) makes peace with

Spain fearing Protestant domination—will be called the Spanish Netherlands

• Union of Utrecht (northern Protestant) formed to oppose Union of Arras

Netherlands Independence

• Philip II declared William of Orange an outlaw and placed a 25,000 crown bounty on his head

• Orange responded with publicly denouncing Philip as a heathen tyrant in his Apology

• William of Orange is assassinated and replaced by his son Maurice who with the help of England and France finally defeat Spain– The Union of Utrecht becomes the United Netherlands

• Spain first signs truce in 1609 and recognizes full independence of the Netherlands in 1648 with the Peace of Westphalia

Summation: Revolt in the Netherlands

• Throughout the conflict, the Dutch received naval assistance from Elizabeth I’s “sea dogs” against the Spanish Armada

• When England defeats the Spanish Armada, Spain, exhausted, is forced to concede control of the Northern provinces, but the Southern provinces settle with Spain for protection

• What was the role of religion in the Dutch Revolt?

• Discuss the causes of the Dutch revolt against Spain.

• What were William Of Orange's aims and methods during the Dutch Revolt?

• What were the consequences for the emerging power of England?

• Was the 16th century Dutch revolt successful?• What were its outcomes?