Savoy Fury

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Savoy Fury

Introduction to the Dutch and Spanish history 1550-1650

Introduction

In answering the question "Why Why Spain loses the Netherlands? is important not only to focus on the situation in the Netherlands in 1566 years – 1648, but also the conditions in Spain and in fact a lesser extent in Europe. Also the straitjacket of the war the term "Eighty years' must be released for years the 1559-1566 Voorspel have to be combined if the explanation should be done. When Philip left the Netherlands in 1559, his sister Margaret Duchess of Parma was appointed regent. Governors were appointed to the independent provinces, including Prince William of Orange Nassau. Margaret had told it to use only one query of these men, among them Cardinal Granvelle. Felipe has left the nobility of the creation of the query and its refusal to convene the States General have made it seem like he was trying to increase their power at their expense. Most significantly, but also in relation to this, the major source of tension was the religious politics. Philip wanted the reorganization of the bishoprics in the Netherlands and the elimination of heresy.

Religion

Officials the Inquisition as Titelmans Lindanus in Holland and Flanders were hated not only for humanitarian reasons, but also by the judges resented the intrusion of authority ecclesiastical jurisdiction in the municipal and feared that the effects of persecution in the economic life of cities. Determination of Felipe II to clean our heresy wound on the privileges of judges. The right "not recalling" where locals could not be cited before the ecclesiastical courts and civil outside their place of residence was violated as well as the privilege was impounded in cases of heresy. The edicts dealing with heresy "deitet privilege du cas and the defendant could not recall the privileges that would have spared the torture. Above all, the legal principle used in the edicts and the methods used to condemn heretics were considered to infringe on traditional views of justice, because they left out a preliminary investigation or 'Precedent and inquisitors infomati not even have to indicate the cause of arrest someone. This may explain the opposition of the cities and the influence of Philip II, but not everyone opposed it.

The old rivalries example, Croy-Nassau family rivalry divided the nobles. More importantly – how ordinary people was the influence of religion? Calvinism was a very strong force for the leveling of society in theory. However, while the Calvinist theologians were not democrats, magnified the contrast between the elect and the damned and access for all people of the Scriptures that undermined the old social hierarchy. The fight to break the image in 1566 was not unique, but quickly spread. A movement was much more widespread hedgepreaching led by Calvinist ministers. The success of the allowed hedgepreaching iconoclastic reformers to introduce practices Calvinism in many cities and towns. Many listened important as Jean Calvin Leseur, Guy de Bris, Pilgrim of the Grange and outdated Herman, and articulates their own hopes and fears. These preachers may have offered his audience a sense of authority restored in the absence of effective government. Was a microcosm prechosen peaceful, communal society and preaching many believed was legitimate because the government and the nobility did nothing to stop it. The nobles wanted to protect their privileges, legislate religious affairs and distribute patronage and prechosen was a statement of collective solidarity against the Inquisition and the foreign government, but this was more implicit than explicit. However, the arrival of Alva in 1567 changed all that and then renewed persecution of the inactivity of Philip in suppressing hedgepreaching had been taken as an acceptance led to the acceptance of Calvinism as a revolutionary doctrine.

Propaganda

Thus we have explored one of the causes of the Dutch revolt, and finally one of the reasons why Spain lost the Netherlands. The suppression of heresy could only accompanied by an increase in the power of Philip and loss of privileges to many who made both Catholics and Protestants. Calvinism justified in disobeying the king. A combination of socio-religious reasons was a major reason for the defeat of Spain. Religious disputes were not helped by the smear campaign conducted against the Inquisition for printers and propaganda experts, two notable examples that "the articles of the Inquisition" and the "Council of the Inquisition ". In fact, the avalanche of propaganda against Spain was probably a contributing factor to the loss of the Spanish Netherlands. The attacks were made in the after 1580 by King William of Orange in his "Apology" and Marnix de San Aldegarde actively creating myths about the Spanish. Alva was denounced as a "bulldog, tigerbeast, rogue of all rogues" and the cruelty of the Spanish was attacked in a series of loose-leaf publication of Las Casas treatise on the destruction of the peoples of the West Indies with a group of drawings of barbarism at the hands of Joost de Winghe. It is true that the Spanish were able to commit acts of great cruelty and Alva massacred the inhabitants of Mechler, Zutphen and Naarden, but many of the facts may have been exaggerated and the armies of William could not pretend to be as pure as snow.

Economic factors

But perhaps too much emphasis has been placed on religion to exclusion of other factors. It is a fact that the most violent of several stages of the revolt, and the severance of image 1567 and the riots of 1572 came from workers in the occupations of unemployment and poverty and the owner feared for their economic welfare of Antwerp for example, thought that the activities of the local bishop that the port is inaccessible German merchants for Lutherans. Economic factors contributed to the exasperation of a general way, but in 1566 food prices in the Netherlands did not were particularly high and there is no reason to assume that it was widespread financial ruin, but it was the fear of ruin that caused the nervous middle and lower classes – the economy was loosening after a message Cateau-Cambrésis boom. Although we are in dangerous places of the psycho-economics these fears may explain why class half did not try to stop the iconoclastic movement, because they do not feel much loyalty to a church and the government was unable to control development. However, this example shows that religion sustains most of the problems and their strength is emphasized when one considers that the iconoclasts destroyed only images and not resort to looting. Religion continues to play an important role throughout the struggle, for example, one of the stimulants of the Union of Arras and Utrecht 1579 were religious differences between north and south after the Calvinists had invaded more than the limits of the Pacification of Ghent before.

Military factors

Now I want to give back to the problems of religion, for two reasons. First, by placing too much emphasis on religion that are in danger of a crude kind of determinism that is, that religion was responsible for the loss of the Netherlands and that it should be noted that the old family rivalries, The antagonism between Flemings and Walloons and economic interests often determines the side to be followed. Many Catholics objected to the excesses of Alva, some were between the Sea Beggars, and not all Protestants automatically by William of Orange. Secondly I want to concentrate on military and strategic aspects of the struggle. In the final analysis of the Netherlands lost because Spain did not have the military capacity to fight the Dutch keep their vast overseas empire and protect against the Turks. Specific examples may be helpful. Philip II had undergone replacement forces against the Ottoman Sultan in Djerba and concentrated its resources to rebuild its fleet and the capture of the fortress of the Rock. This coincides with the memory of the hated Philip Granvelle. He was hampered further from enforce laws against the heresy of a Turkish offensive in Malta, but after the iconoclastic fury began Suleiman the Magnificent died and Philip had the hands free to send many veterans of the Mediterranean campaign in the Netherlands in Alva in 1567.

Even the decisive victory of the Holy League at Lepanto in 1571 does not really help to Philip, which the Netherlands were concerned about the total cost and the fact that he was fighting on two fronts. The repudiation of the debts of the crown in 1567 led to riots in the Netherlands and the initiative to be captured by his enemies. The seizure of the Portuguese crown and the intervention of the Spanish Armada and Philip in the religious wars of France in the side of the Catholics helped to divert human resources and the Dutch Revolt. After the death of Philip II, the problem continued and were successful because of the peace Spinola previous Vervins signed in London in 1598 and 1604. The advent of the Thirty Years War was fought on many Spain fronts, once again, especially in northern Italy, but the threat worse by internal revolts in Portugal and Catalonia, which undoubtedly contributed to the breakdown of the legend of the invincibility of Spanish at Rocroi and Lens. You can clearly see that this type of war diverted the war effort outside the Netherlands. Fear of France and Spanish evidenced by the succession of Mantua and the wars of religion was perhaps the main concern followed by the defense of the Mediterranean and Italy

Others issues – Resources and Geography

But there are other factors to consider besides the diversion of resources. First one's own resources were not inexhaustible. Spain relied heavily on funding and human resources of Castile, and American silver, which had important consequences. This is what is believed the vicissitudes of Spanish policy in the Netherlands could be explained by the cyclical fluctuations of trade between Spain and the New World, but this is not necessarily true because the amount sent to support troops in the Netherlands has not changed in direct proportion to the income of the Spanish trade in America. In addition, the amount of money sent to the Netherlands does not necessarily guarantee the success or failure of the army. For example in the army of Parma in 1580 was the conquest of a very limited budget. Castilla's influence was also important in other respects. Many Italian families of age for example, were very loyal Colonna, Pescara, Doria Spinola and Farnese, but wary of Castile, which in turn influence the king. Even if we finance the war on one hand there are complex logistical problems in the fight against the Dutch. Here geography plays an important role and represents, to some extent by the loss of the Spanish Netherlands. The sea was particularly important because it was from there that William was able to seize Brill in 1572 with the help of the Sea Beggars and ultimately dominate the Netherlands and New Zealand. The threat of flooding usually stopped the Spanish army but they were amazing successes in the sea itself. In 1572 a fleet of Spanish recruits 1200 transport was crushed and the Beggars Sea based in Dover and La Rochelle harry Spanish vessels.

If the sea was closed to Spain many of the troops would have to go by land – the most traveling along the Spanish Road Genoa, Lombardy, Piedmont, Savoy, Franche-Comte and Lorraine before coming to the Netherlands. Most the land was owned by the Spanish and formed close alliances with territories in the road. However, as a glance at a map shows the distance is large and therefore the time delay between sending the men of Spain and his arrival in the Netherlands could take months. The distance was in fact the worst enemy of Spain and one undoubtedly had to emerge unscathed from the cause of the activities of the Sea Beggars, holdings of the best Dutch and mastery shipyards could put on the market. To mercenaries to fight the problem could be applied locally and Burgundy, Germany, Great Britain, but the Walloons and the real hard core Spanish troops and individuals were becoming increasingly scarce, especially during the years 1598-1602 in the plague homeland and when demand in the Thirty Years War was absorbed by the Germans. Most important of all was the problem of feeding and maintenance of an army that could count to 80,000 in time of crisis in the Netherlands who attended thousands of minions, parasites and prostitutes. This had an effect twice, because it would have difficulty paying and provisioning the army barracks and the alternative them civilians, and did, cause untold resentment.

Leadership

The problem of distance also should be addressed through communication delays ruling Spanish high command, because Philip II could not have kept in touch with the latest developments. Governors General acting on his own initiative but perhaps the leadership in general and the King should also be examined. Philip II is perhaps one of the most enigmatic and controversial of. Its slowness in decision-making was evident and he personally did not like the war except for defensive purposes and to Lepanto was against his orders. He believed in his duty to God for the government of his subjects only which is something of a paradox and it is difficult to reconcile with the mass slaughter of the Duke Alba. But one thing I was adamant – he hid the defense of the Catholic faith against heresy and perhaps this explains in part because of its mishandling of the Netherlands, and as his own absence. After the iconoclastic fury Margaret was doing a rapprochement with the Catholic nobles, but the arrival of Alva changed all that. Any decision for the treatment of the Netherlands in this way was based on a false assessment of what had happened. Many consider Alva, methods s as despotism unjustified illegal and wrong this policy failed completely as the Conseil des Problems convened taxes 12,000 people and its 'tenth penny' in 1571 precipitated revolt. His successor Requesenes was much better than their attempts to negotiate in Breda in 1575 show. However, one could say that Philip II was not solely responsible for the actions of rulers, but has appointed first of all, and his uncompromising stance on religion fueled the problems. We must also remember that Philip inherited a situation relatively poor due to the centralizing tendencies of Burgundy and the ancient privileges enjoyed by the Netherlands since the time of Charles the Bold or even the "Joyeuse Come in. In addition reign of Philip II can not be considered a total failure because it absorbs Portugal, keeps most of his government and prevent the spread of heresy. In any case, the evidence is incomplete because Philip did not leave wills autobiography or his son and we have to mount an image of their policies instruct their viceroys and ministers.

Conclusion

Nor can the loss of the Netherlands simply attributed to incompetence Spanish. Leaving aside the Dutch military tenacity perhaps the most notable of the confusing series of events was the speed and determination with which the opposition of Holland did establish self-government. This can only be explained by the long tradition of particularism and outdated model of "state" of Burgundy, who kept his old institutions. Finally we should mention that Spain lost all of the Netherlands, which still has ten of the seventeen provinces. When one considers this fact seems to put the Dutch victory in perspective. Perhaps more emphasis could be placed on the strength of Spain in managing to cling to the south. Despite of this revolt of the Dutch was undoubtedly a defeat for Spain and a multitude of factors have contributed to this in the conditions of religion and politics military strategy and socioeconomic had occupied a prominent place.

Dr. Simon Harding

www.chronosconsulting.com

www.biblon.com

About the Author

My 1958 Plymouth Savoy (at school)