Post on 13-Dec-2014
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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