AimsSummarise the chronology of eventsUnderstand the key arguments why the Dutch succeededEvaluate the importance of key reasons - debate

Chronology

1566-1568 1566 – Iconoclastic Fury 1567 Alva sent to Netherlands 1568 failure of Williams uprising 1572-1576 1572 2nd Dutch revolt 1576-1609 1576 Pacification of Ghent following Spanish Fury 1579 Union of Arras – Southern Provinces return to

Spanish fold, Union of Utrecht alliance of Northern/rebel provinces

1584 Assassination of WWO 1585 Treaty of Nonsuch 1588 Armada 1596 Southern Provinces granted to ‘atchdukes’

Albert and Isabella 1609 Truce of Antwerp

Why did the Spanish fail to crush theDutch revolt?

Dutch Leadership

Economic growthAnd

trading

Role ofCalvinism

Failure ofSpanish

Leadership

Foreign Intervention

Money, troops,Mutinies andmassacres

Other Factors

Historians Views

J.L. Motley – morality tale – Dutch represented forces of democracy, liberty and Protestantism, triumphed over forces of tyranny and Catholicism.

Peter Geyl – Dutch success – great surprise against greatest power on earth.

Peter Geyl – Alva most responsible for Spanish failure

Wedgewood – stressed early failings and unheroic character of Dutch leader WOO, who’s compatriots nonetheless went on to triumph at Spain’s expense.

Overview Points

Spanish control was always precarious Revolt contained nobility, merchant

elites and large number of fortified towns

Motivated by deep hostility to Spain Following PoG encompassed all

provinces Most urbanised area of Europe – war

therefore became series of slow sieges against fiercely independent towns and cities

Overview Points Elites were well educated and at the centre of

new ideas – Erasmus (Dutch) Logistical difficulties – distance from home –

food, weapons and pay. Difficult terrain Lack of pitched battles Civilian population hostile to Spain Dutch aided and abetted by Spanish enemies Dutch revolt only part of Spain’s military and

financial commitments Difficulties of a large empire – e.g. would lose

Portugal in 1640

Why did the Spanish fail to crush theDutch revolt?

Dutch Leadership

Economic growthAnd

trading

Role ofCalvinism

Failure ofSpanish

Leadership

Foreign Intervention

Money, troops,Mutinies andmassacres

Other Factors

Spanish Weaknesses

1) Failure of leadership 2) Foreign intervention 3) Money, troops, mutinies and

massacres

Failure of Leadership

View point of Protestant historians MOP – weak and feeble Granvelle – insensitive and high handed Reliant on decisions from Philip Granvelle an unpopular appointment MOP relaxing heresy laws after CoN

lead to increased Calvinist preaching resulting in Iconoclastic fury 1566.

Alva sent – Philip unhappy with MoP flexibile approach.

Failure of Leadership

Alva Geyl – the man who did more than anyone else to

prevent Spanish victory Council of troubles / execution of Egmont and Hornes Tenth Penny – 10% sales tax – by passed States

General Antagonised ruling classes – opposition universal Sieges – Haarlem – 2000 executed Provided Propaganda gift ‘ all market places are blaze

with fires in which the simple people are burnt alive, all the canals are filled with dead corpses’

Did defeat WOO in 1568 Alva 1573 sacked Philip must take some responsibly

Failure of Leadership Don Luis de Requesens 1573-1576 Moderate General pardon and Tenth penny

abolished 1575 Philip bankrupt and Philip would

make no religious concessions 1576 Death – Spanish Fury at Antwerp –

leading to States General signing Pacification of Ghent – alliance against Spain.

Failure of Leadership

Don John 1576-1578 Lack of money and instruction from

Philip Tore up Perpetual Edict of 1577 (Truce

removing Spanish troops) Drove States General back to Holland

and Zeeland Confirmed Dutch suspicions Reckless action – it was only a matter of

time for differences between hard-line provinces of Holland and Zeeland would have spilt Low Countries

Failure of Leadership

Duke of Parma 1578-92 Great diplomat, strategist and military genius Divided rebels into 3 groups – Union of Arras

– 3 most southerly states wanted Spanish protection against French, Union of Utrecht hard-line 6 Northern provinces - safeguard religious liberty. States General – remaining middle states

Reconquests 1578-89 – successes for DOP Other considerations- P2 ordered attentions

against France / England Died 1592 Failure of leadership – Philip not DoP

Post 1592

Confused leadership – Mansfelt and Count of Fuentes

1599 – Isabella and Archduke Albert appointed regent by Philip III

Stalemate Bankrupt 1607 Truce of Antwerp 1609

Philip

Appointments Strategy Other commitments Did not visit – a little personal

monarch needed Lack of religious toleration

Why did the Spanish fail to crush theDutch revolt?

Dutch Leadership

Economic growthAnd

trading

Role ofCalvinism

Failure ofSpanish

Leadership

Foreign Intervention

Money, troops,Mutinies andmassacres

Other Factors

MoP

Granvelle

Philip

Alva

Requesens

Don John

DoP

Indirect rather than Direct

Turks

France

England

Foreign Intervention

The Turks France England

Foreign Intervention

Direct and indirect. Direct little impact. Unable to deal with Dutch in isolation. Ottoman Threat Under estimated Dutch 1560-1570 Lack of funds due to Turk’s Ill fated expedition in Tripoli and Djerba Fleet destroyed and attempts to rebuild 1561/62 1565 blockage of Malta Forced into conciliatory measures – e.g. Granvelle

removed. Grandees control of States Council – moderate heresy laws leading to 1566 Iconoclastic fury

Later financial drain – Spanish Fury 1576 – PoG – slow and serious revolt

Foreign Intervention

France In French interests to keep revolt going 1572 French army of 6000 sent – easily defeated Left Spanish fearful of French invasion Alva forced to move troops from Holland and

Zeeland – Sea Beggars at Brielle 1581 WOO and States General offered

Sovereignty to Duke of Anjou – younger brother of Henry II.

Anjou invaded, defeated but relieved pressure on rebels in North

Anjou’s death in 1584 made Protestant Henry of Navarre heir. Philip turned towards France with DoP.

Foreign Intervention

England Limited involvement 1585 Treaty of Nonsuch 4000 troops, 400 cavalry, financial

assistance and Earl of Leicester sent as governor general.

Limited – however Spanish convinced England main cause of continuing Dutch resistance.

Reconquest of provinces deferred for Armada Armada defeat expensive – financially and

psychologically Latter attempts in 1596, 1597 and 1601.

Why did the Spanish fail to crush theDutch revolt?

Dutch Leadership

Economic growthAnd

trading

Role ofCalvinism

Failure ofSpanish

Leadership

Foreign Intervention

Money, troops,Mutinies andmassacres

Other Factors

MoP

Granvelle

Philip

Alva

Requesens

Don John

DoP

Indirect rather than Direct

Turks

France

England

Spanish Brutality

Munities

Philip II of Spain

Length of the War

War of Sieges

Cost of the War

Alva

Terrain

Bankruptcy

Margaret of Parma

William of Orange

Geyl

Motley

Parker

Distance

SuppliesEngland

Turks

France

Calvinism

Liberties

Bishoprics

Don John

Duke of Parma

Requesens

Lack of funds = Mutinies

Requesens – ‘No treasury in the world would be equal to the cost of this war’.

Variety of mercenaries of different nationalities - difficult to keep order.

Number of mutinies – 1572-6,1589-1607 – major one Spanish Fury 1576 – sacking of Antwerp

Used as propaganda against Spanish Antwerp centre of culture – not in revolt against Spanish No where was safe? Now Pacification of Ghent – all provinces against Spain

previously only Holland and Zeeland Don John forced to accept Truce – Perpetual Edict.

Massacres - Spanish Brutality Brutality of Alva Worked in some areas South and

East Provinces However Holland and Zeeland

counter productive

Nature of the fighting

War of sieges Many towns especially along the coast

fortified under Charles Long and drawn out Debate of terrain Geyl – great rivers provided a barrier to

Spanish Discredited – more deep channels making

Zeeland a series of islands Spanish had no war fleet Dutch therefore still able to trade/supplies etc

Problems of supply

‘northern outpost’ of Monarquia Geoffrey Parker – cost before men

even started fighting Failed sea expeditions – 1572 Creation of ‘Spanish road’ longer but

less risk than sea

Dutch Leadership

WOO Motley ‘ a guiding star’ Rallying point Influential in POG Tried to bring in foreign intervention – Anjou,

Turks, Leicester Kept cause ‘a float’ Martyr following his assassination YET Little military success Seen as a populist / too tolerant Changed religion Catholic-Lutheran-calvinist

Dutch Leadership

MOO or Maurice of Nassau Guerrilla type warfare after 1584 Yet most success due to Spanish

weaknesses e.g. Parma in France and lack of Spanish finances

Economic Growth and Trading Northern provinces strong

economically New colonies and increase in trade However high taxation Dutch people suffered Holland province paid for 70% war in

1597

Role of Calvinism

Spark – iconoclastic Fury 1566 Determination/motivation/resistance

for some However Divided some provinces key to end

of 1576 POG Only 10% pop were clavinist

1. Failure of Spanish Leadership

2. Foreign Intervention

3. Money4. Spanish Brutality

and mutinies5. Terrain6. Religion7. Liberties8. Cost of the war9. The nature of the

fighting10.Dutch leadership11.Economic

strength of Northern Provinces