Eighty Years' War, 1572–1576 in the context of "Dutch War of Independence"

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⭐ Core Definition: Eighty Years' War, 1572–1576

The period between the Capture of Brielle (1 April 1572) and the Pacification of Ghent (8 November 1576) was an early stage of the Eighty Years' War (c. 1568–1648) between the Spanish Empire and groups of rebels in the Habsburg Netherlands.

After Watergeuzen (in English known as "Sea Beggars") seized several poorly defended towns and cities in Holland and Zeeland in April 1572, the exiled stadtholder William "the Silent" of Orange launched his second invasion of the Netherlands from the east in another attempt to generate a general uprising against the repressive regime of Spanish General-Governor Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba. Acting on orders of Philip II of Spain, Alba sought to exterminate all manifestations of Protestantism and disobedience through inquisition and public executions, as well as abolishing several privileges of the Netherlandish nobility and autonomy of cities, and introducing more stringent taxes.

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Eighty Years' War, 1572–1576 in the context of Eighty Years' War

The Eighty Years' War or Dutch Revolt (c. 1566/1568–1648) was an armed conflict in the Habsburg Netherlands between disparate groups of rebels and the Spanish government. The causes of the war included the Reformation, centralisation, excessive taxation, and the rights and privileges of the Dutch nobility and cities.

After the initial stages, Philip II of Spain, the sovereign of the Netherlands, deployed his armies and regained control over most of the rebel-held territories. However, widespread mutinies in the Spanish army caused a general uprising. Under the leadership of the exiled William the Silent, the Catholic and Protestant-dominated provinces sought to establish religious peace while jointly opposing the king's regime with the Pacification of Ghent, but the general rebellion failed to sustain itself.

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LINKED FROM (PARENTS)
← Eighty Years' War ← Dutch Revolt ← Dutch revolt ← Dutch War of Independence
LINKS TO (CHILDREN)
Capture of Brielle → Anthonie Waldorp → Pacification of Ghent → Eighty Years' War → Spanish Empire → Habsburg Netherlands → Geuzen → Stadtholder → William the Silent → Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba → Philip II of Spain → Protestantism →