Monday 16 March 2009

Dutch Revolt Questions

In what way did the revolt damage Philip II?
 - Loss of Northern Provinces, Bankruptcy

Why was the Netherlands difficult to rule?
 - Philip had many titles in each province individually (Duke, Count, Stadtholder etc)
 - He was often absent and governed through a regent
 - Spoke no Dutch

How did Philips treatment of the Netherlands differ from his fathers?
 - Charles treated bodies with care but Philip lost patience with this method.
 - Charles had good relations with his Dutch subjects, yet Philip spoke no Dutch.

Areas of conflict/dispute between Philip and the Dutch People
 - Returned to Spain in 1559 and distance made it difficult to communicate
 - Philip wanted to establish Spanish military garrisons but the states general opposed the proposal.

Areas of conflict/dispute between Philip and the Grandees
 - Forced Philip to scrap the plan and reassign Granvelle.

How did Philip back down to the Grandees before 1566?
 - Scrapped the plan and reassigned Granvelle away from the Netherlands.

Why did the revolt flare up again in 1572?
 - 'Hundredth Penny' - one off poll tax by Duke of Alva
 - Twentieth and Tenth Pennies - sale tax
 - Trade Depression.

How did Alvas approach differ from Requesens?
 - Alvas approach was seen as a brutal treatment of surrendered towns during the Dutch Revolt. Requesens later replaced Alva with a policy of moderation.

What was the Spanish Fury? When was it? And what were its consequences?
 - Soldiers were not paid due to the lack of money, which lead to the sack of Antwerp. In 1576, soldiers rebelled and decided to pay themselves by looting Antwerp, the centre of trade.

Key Events Timeline

1566 - Iconoclastic rioting - Catholic churches targeted
1567 - Alva dispatched with 10,000 troops to the Netherlands
1568 - William of Orange attempted uprising fails
1572 - Rebellion upsurge
1576 - 'Spanish Fury' - Spanish Mercenaries sacked Antwerp - results in the Pacification of Ghent where the provinces united against the Spanish.
1579 - Union of Arras - South returns to Spanish fold to Religious differences however Union of Utrecht cements the Union of the Northern Provinces.
1581 - Act of Abjuration - United provinces depose Philip as Sovereign
1584 - William of Orange assasinated, Maurice of Orange takes up leadership
1585 - Treaty of Nonsuch - England aid Dutch Rebels
1596 - Triple Alliance - France, England and Northern Provinces united against Spain
1596 - Southern Dutch provinces granted to the Archdukes Albert and Isabella (daughter) by Philip due to the financial and economic pressure.