Western Civilization

Most Catholic King. Philip’s attempt to strengthen his

control in the Netherlands, which consisted of seven-

teen provinces (modern Netherlands, Belgium, and

Luxembourg), soon led to a revolt. The nobles, who

stood to lose the most politically if their jealously

guarded privileges and freedoms were weakened,

strongly opposed Philip’s efforts. Resentment against

Philip was also aroused by his use of taxes collected in

the Netherlands to fur-

ther Spanish interests.

Finally, religion became

a major catalyst for

rebellion when Philip

attempted to crush Cal-

vinism.

Violence erupted in

1566 when Calvinists—

many of them nobles—

began to smash statues

and stained-glass win-

dows in Catholic churches. Philip responded by sending

the duke of Alva with 10,000 veteran Spanish and Italian

troops to crush the rebellion. But the revolt became

organized, especially in the seven northern provinces,

where the Dutch, under the leadership of William of

Nassau,theprinceofOrange,offered growing resistance.

The struggle dragged on until 1609, when a twelve-year

truce ended the war, virtuallyrecognizing the independ-

ence of the northern provinces. These seven northern

provinces, which began to call themselves the United

Provinces of the Netherlands in 1581, soon emerged as

the Dutch Republic, although the Spanish did not for-

mally recognize them as independent until 1648. The ten

southern provinces remained a Spanish possession.

The England of Elizabeth

After the death of Queen Mary in 1558, her half-sister

Elizabeth, the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne

Boleyn, ascended the throne of England. During Eliza-

beth’s reign, England rose to prominence as the rela-

tively small island kingdom became the leader of the

Protestant nations of Europe and laid the foundations

for a world empire (see the Film & History feature

on p. 323).

Amsterdam

Rotterdam Utrecht

Boundary

of 1579 Antwerp

Brussels Cologne

Ghent

UNITED

PROVINCES

LUXEMBOURG

FLANDERS

SPANISH

NETHERLANDS

Rh

ine

(^) R.
Em
s (^) R
.
Meuse^ R.
The Netherlands
CHRONOLOGYWars of Religion in the Sixteenth
Century
The French Wars of Religion 1562–1598
Outbreak of revolt in the Netherlands 1566
Battle of Lepanto 1571
Spanish armada 1588
Twelve-year truce (Spain and Netherlands) 1609
Independence of the United Provinces 1648
Philip of Spain.This portrait by Titian depicts Philip II of
Spain. The king’s attempts to make Spain a great power led to
large debts and crushing taxes, and his military actions in
defense of Catholicism ended in failure and misfortune in both
France and the Netherlands.
Galleria Palatina, Palazzo Pitti, Florence//Scala/Art Resource, NY
Politics and the Wars of Religion in the Sixteenth Century 321
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