1568-1648: The eighty years war WIth Spain
Before I explain about the eighty year’s war with Spain, I think it’s helpful to understand how the Netehrlands became part of Spain in the first place.
How The Netherlands became part of the Spanish empire
During the middle ages, The Netherlands was governed by the Duke of Burgundy.
When Charles (the Duke of Burgundy in 1506) also became king of Spain, the 17 provinces that made up The Netherlands also became part of Spain.
This wasn’t too much of a problem at first. The Dutch provinces were basically allowed to have their own laws, rights, governments, and traditions under The Estates-General of The Netherlands. However, when Charles’ son Philip II took over, things started to change.
The Dutch revolt
The Dutch weren’t too pleased with the Spanish rule under King Philip II.
The majority of the Dutch population was Protestant at that time, whereas King Philip wanted his entire Kingdom to be Catholic. He also insisted on equal laws and rights everywhere in the kingdom. Mainly so he could tax better.
This sparked the Dutch Revolt against King Philip II of Spain in a war that lasted 80 years.
Though it wasn’t 80 years of fighting. It was more like, some periods of battles, followed by truces, and eventually ended with the Treaty of Münster on January 30th, 1648. In which the independence of the free Republic of The Seven United Provinces Netherlands was recognized.
Yeah, somehow the 17 provinces from before were reduced to only seven.
William of Orange-Nassau
One of the leaders of the war William of Orange-Nassau (also known as William The Silent), who is also the founder of the Dutch monarchy, or the Father of the Fatherland. The present Dutch royal family are descendants from William of Orange-Nassau. He was assassinated in 1581 in Delft, so his son Maurice of Nassau became prince of Orange.
The peace of the Netherlands didn’t last long, as we will see in the next part of the Dutch history timeline, Dutch colonial history brought more wars to The Netherlands.
