2.4 The Dutch Revolt

• Geschiedenis
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 2

Answer the following questions, using the movieclip + your textbook.

1. What was the start of the Dutch Revolt?
   
2. What was the first success of the Dutch Revolt
3. What was the nature of the war in the Low Countries? Use the example of Leiden to explain.
4. How did the Low Countries break with Spain? Use in your answer: ‘ Union of Utrecht’ , ‘Act of Abjuration’ and ‘Dutch Republic’ (Republiek der Zeven Verenigde Nederlanden)
   
5. What was the consequence of the Act of Abjuration for William of Orange?
   

What made the tide turn for Willoiam of Orange?

Nature of war 1572-1579

- Victory in Den Briel 1572

- Some cities joined the side of William of Orange (the Revolt)

- Effect: cities such as Alkmaar and Leiden are besieged

Flooding the land 

When the Spanish laid siege to Leiden in 1573, they nearly starved the city to the point of giving up. However, the Geuzen were able to get food inside in 1574, so the resistance would Last Long enough for William's men to arrive. 

The Geuzen broke the siege by breaching the dikes and flooding the area. This has been a favourite military tactic of the Dutch for centuries. This tactic stopped Spanish advances and in cases like Leiden, it turned the city into an island, making it impossible for the Spanish land army to maintain the siege.

top: schoolposter from 1969 depicting the liberation of Leiden.

right: every year on the 3rd of October in Leiden people celebrate the liberation, which they call "Het Leids ontzet". On this day they eat herring and white bread, like in 1574.

The Dutch Revolt

• 1572 --> The watergeuzen capture Den Briel.
• Because of this more and more cities dare to side with the rebels.
• 1572 --> Mutiny causes the Spanish Fury
• 1576 --> Pacification of Ghent
• Each province can determine which religion
  it's people practice.

Spanish fury 

• Sieging a city could take weeks
• Filips II was unable to pay mercenaries 
• 1576: Spanish mercenaries raided & burned Antwerp

“Santiago! España! A sangre, a carne, a fuego, a sacco!”

Drie dagen lang werd de stad geplunderd, arm noch rijk werd gespaard, kleine huizen en stadskastelen werden leeggehaald

Eyewitnesses claim the spanish shouted:

Saint Jacob! Spain! Murder, rape, burn, loot!

Act of abjuration 1581

- 1579 Union of Utrecht and Union of Arras. The Southern Netherlands choose Philip. The Northern one for Orange.

- In 1581 they declared that they no longer signed the Spanish king as monarch.

Testweek

2.1-2.3

Assignment William of Orange