Spain, Netherlands, England

Philip II of Spain ( ) Goals: consolidate & Secure lands he inherited from Charles V Wanted strict uniformity in religion Use of Spanish Inquisition Strong monarchial authority Monarchy became less dependent upon landed aristocracy Became center of government: administered all departments, but could not delegate authority—became ineffective

Philip’s Economy Importation of gold/silver from New World Agriculture, industry: textiles, silk, leather goods, commerce BUT inflation from influx of money disrupted Spanish economy—hurt textiles and agriculture Expense of wars after 1580 devastated economy

American gold/silver never more than 20% of royal revenue Forced to impose crushing direct and indirect taxes on citizens Gov’t still had to borrow Philip repudiated his debts 7 times: yet 2/3 of state income went to interest payments on debt Attempt to make Spain great power led to its decline

Catholicism to Spanish People most important aspect of Spanish heritage Saw themselves as saviors of Catholic Christianity (from Protestant heretics) Philip II “Most Catholic King” 1571—Battle of Lepanto: Spanish, led by Philip II’s half-brother Don Jon, sent forth a holy league against Turks, led by Ali Pasha (Ottoman ruler)

Result of battle in Mediterranean: 1/3 Turkish fleet sunk 30,000 Turks died Portugal annexed in 1580 But Spain less successful in Northern Europe, especially in regards to the Netherlands

Netherlands were pivot point of European diplomacy and war. Movement to reform church became struggle for Dutch independence Charles V (HRE) sees 17 provinces and Flanders as very important for trade w/in the empire Antwerp: intersection of trade routes International commerce and finance

The Netherlands: The “Low Country”

English: wool Portuguese: spices Baltic: wheat, fur, timber German states: iron Antwerp harbor could hold 2500 vessels All Dutch cities wealthy: Historical liberties Self-governing—own laws Collected own taxes Recognized Charles V as common ruler; he gave unity to provinces

17c Dutch Global Commerce

Netherlands held a States General: delegates from all provinces gathered, but decisions were made in the provinces themselves. Religion in Netherlands: Same story: corruption in Catholic church; Spirit of Renaissance—reform movement Lutheran tracts spread; Dutch Bible flooded the provinces; ’s: many become Protestant

Charles V response: Condemnation and mild repression of Protestants Not effective policy, but worked for him b/c he was born in Ghent and raised in the Netherlands; this stopped the spread of Lutheranism; Dutch were loyal to Charles V. 1556—Charles V abdicates the HRE throne; splits his empire: Bro Ferdinand I gets Austria & Germany; son Philip II gets Spain, Netherlands, Milan, Sicily, New World

The Spanish Hapsburgs & Europe (1556) Philip II consolidated Hapsburg lands at the end of the 16c.

Revolt of the Netherlands Calvinism threat to Spain By 1560’s: most cities had strong militant minority members: Large middle class— Calvinism appealed to them: –Intellectual seriousness –Moral gravity –Emphasis on any labor well done –Working class –Encouraged opposition to ‘illegal civil authority’

Philip II aroused resentment when people of Netherlands realized that taxes they paid went to Spain to support Spanish interests Philip II tried to crush Calvinism 1566: violence erupted when Calvinist esp. nobles, began the destruction of statues, stained glass windows in Catholic churches

1559: Margaret, Philip II’s half-sister, made regent of the Netherlands * : pushed Philip’s orders to wipe out Protestantism via the Inquisition *Raised taxes to finance government despite opposition of the States General (Netherlands’ taxes higher than Spain’s) This move unites repressed Calvinists w/those opposed to government fiscal policies

Repressive policies alienated many people; Special tribunal: Council of Troubles, established a reign of terror in the north Powerful aristocrats executed Revolt became organized, especially In the northern provinces William the Silent and Sea beggars met growing resistance

1566 High grain prices Popular preaching incite violent destruction aimed at: Images of false doctrines, not people Cathedral of Notre Dame—Antwerp 1 st target Preaching spread to Brussels, Ghent, Holland, Zeeland

Philip II Reacts Duke of Alva, accompanied by 20,000 troops sent from Madrid to pacify the Low Countries Alva: Ruthless extermination of political and religious dissidents Between Inquisition and Alva’s Council of Blood, 1500 men executed on March 3, 1568 Margaret sickened by this and resigned the regency

Duke of Alva remained –Solved financial crisis: 10% sales tax on all transactions – : Civil War between Catholics and Protestants in Low Countries and also between Low Countries and Spain –1576: 17 Provinces of the Netherlands united under Prince William of Orange (William the Silent)

Philip II sends his nephew, Alexander Farnese (Duke of Parma) to crush the revolt for good. Farnese: –Superb sense of timing –Knowledge of lowland geography –Perfect plan –German mercenaries in army –Fought by sieges

Result All cities in South fall; finally Antwerp Calvinism forbidden in South; Protestants convert or leave Antwerp—most northern city under Spanish jurisdiction Religious division of Netherlands 10 southern provinces: controlled by Spanish Hapsburgs (future Belgium) Union of Arras—1579—Catholic union 7 Northern provinces, led by Holland, form Union of Utrecht

The Spanish Netherlands: Union of Utrecht, 1579 The United Provinces still recognized Spanish rule, but, in 1581, they declared their independence.

1581: United Provinces of Netherlands Union of Utrecht declares independence from Spain to form United Provinces of Netherlands North and South very different: NorthSouth DefensibleArdennes mts. Interrupt canals & sluices flat terrain Broke dikes & Flooded countryside To halt Farnese

NorthSouth Commercial aristocracy held power Protestant Landed nobility held power Catholic Geographical division not acceptable to Philip II or Farnese Struggle continued after 1581 United Provinces got help from Elizabeth I of England

Holland’s Dikes

Amsterdam’s Canals

Patrician Houses Along the Canal in Leiden

Holland: The “Dagger” The “Dagger” Pointing at the Heart of Britain!

England 1558: Mary Tudor died/Elizabeth I becomes queen Intelligent, cautious, self-confident Moved to solve religious division in England (Mary had returned to Catholicism and killed protestants) Elizabeth: moderation and compromise 1559: Catholic legislation repealed New Act of Supremacy/Act of Uniformity revised to be more acceptable to Catholics

Catholics and Puritans continued to oppose Elizabeth’s settlement Mary, queen of Scots, next in line to throne, challenged Elizabeth Calvinists ousted her from Scotland in 1568; she fled for her life to England Elizabeth placed her under house arrest for 14 years/tolerated her involvement in plots on Elizabeth’s life Beheads her to end threat to Queen’s life

Foreign Policy: Officially, Elizabeth knew that war would devastate England Unofficially, she encouraged SEA Dogs: Drake and company, to raid Spanish ships and colonies English piracy encouraged If she failed to help the Dutch, Farnese would crush them and then try to invade England so she sends covert aid to French Huguenots and Dutch Calvinists trying to weaken those countries

3 things forced her hand 1) English economy badly hurt (no wool exports) 2) Murder of William the Silent (July 1584) (no military check on Farnese) 3) Collapse of Antwerp: signal of Catholic sweep through the Netherlands—England next?!! Result—Elizabeth sent 250,000 pounds and 2,000 troops to Protestant cause in Low Countries

Philip II then encouraged to invade England Spanish Armada sent—was a disaster from the beginning: not enough ships, or troops English ships battered the fleet Ships sailed back to Spain by northward route around Scotland Battered by storms, and most of fleet destroyed.

The Netherlands (1609)