First Dutch Revolt Essay

The Spanish Netherlands following the beginning of the reformation was a place of widespread literacy, trade and progress. Through the rise of Charles V and the grand tour of his heir apparent Prince Philip of Spain, the empire which ruled over The Netherlands finally had come to grasp with the innovativeness and unique culture that the region supported, “Spanish visitors were also impressed by the political and economic strength of the Low Countries.” However, it was the eventually abdication of Charles V, during the Protestant reformation that caused difficult problems to begin to transpire within the Habsburg Empire. Due to a “deep sense of responsibility and his almost pathological anxiety,” Philip II was slow to follow up on decisions and deliver justice and attention within his empire when it was needed urgently. Due to this indecision it was not until the 1560’s in which persecution of heretics began to occur frequently within the Spanish Netherlands, and Calvinist and Protestant individuals were being sought out however, this effort came to late, as Protestantism and mainly Calvinism were already entrenched within the people of The Low Countries. Riots were frequent events against the Spanish monarch protesting the inquisitive policies being enforced within the already majority Calvinist region, and there was many attempts to free heretics from prisons both prior and during the revolt some successful and others failing to various degrees. …show more content…
All of these elements including the order of execution of 6 prominent anabaptists and the killings of other influential political figures by King Philip, led to the First Dutch Revolt, and the impact this event and future revolts would have on Calvinist individuals within the low-lying delta region is immeasurable. During the early revolt and prior, Calvinist individuals started to flock to the Low Countries as a sanctuary for those who decided to part ways with the long standing Roman Catholic Church, being described as a “nest of heretics.” The growth both prior and during the revolt of these heretical Anabaptist or Calvinist communists would eventually lead to larger groups fighting for reformation and reform within the region, eventually coming together to form direct organizations in support of the Dutch Revolt.. Overall through the actions of the Spanish monarch in terms of oppressing the people of the United Netherlands both religiously and socially through persecution of religious groups, and hunting and execution of those who oppose the Habsburg monarchy. The impact of the Dutch Revolt on Dutch, and Calvinist Individuals within the Low Countries is that of great influence. Revolution as it began to take over the Lowland countries, was causing mass violence, riots, and executions across the Benelux region. This hostile environment not only lead to a strong rise in Dutch nationalism, but also a rise in Calvinist and Protestant unification and motivation within the region to fight for religious freedom via the establishment of a free state. Jacob van Wesenbeke a former pensionary of Antwerp, described the situation of the first revolt in 1569 as that of the lowland people undergoing feelings of, “Despair [which] made those who dissented in religion more obdurate and made them prefer to oppose the government openly and confess their belief frankly, rather than to remain forever oppressed and subdued.” This commentary on the situation in the Netherlands outlines the impact of