Imperial Spain

1
Imperial Spain

• Spain was succeeding in almost every aspect
  (militarily, politically, economically) when
  Philip II tried to tighten his control on the
  Netherlands.

2
Philip II
3

• Netherlands we very wealthy part of the Philips
  empire
• Philip ruled the Netherlands through Margaret of
  Parma (his half-sister) who used Cardinal
  Granvelle to administer the area
• Granville wanted a politically docile,
  religiously uniform country. The Netherlands
  were composed of historically independent
  merchant towns.

4

• Granvilles opposition led by William of Orange
  (a.k.a William of Nassau, William the Silent)
• Following a political struggle Granville was
  removed
• Philip attempted to enforce the decrees of the
  Council of Trent. This drove Lutherans and
  Calvinists together. The Compromise (which
  wasnt really a compromise)

5

• A rebellion failed due to mistrust between the
  Lutheran and Calvinists. Philip tried to use the
  split to his advantage and sent in the Duke of
  Alba who ruled through fear and violence.
• Alba was bad enough to unite the Lutherans and
  Calvinists
• Alba passes control to Requesens

6

• Requesens dies and the Spanish military
  (mercenaries who were unpaid and now leaderless)
  sacked Antwerp Spanish Fury
• Spanish Fury accomplishes the politically
  impossible unites Catholics and Protestants in
  Netherlands against Spanish
• Spain surrenders Perpetual Edict and William
  of Orange assumes leadership of united Netherlands

7

• External pressures gave way to internal pressures
• Union of Arras southern provinces unite and
  make peace with Spain
• Union of Utrecht uniting of northern provinces
• See map page 398

8

• Philip will try to reassert power in the
  Netherlands but he will also become more involved
  directly in confrontations in France and England.
• Spain is spread too thin and as a result the
  northern provinces drive out the Spanish and are
  formally recognized as independent by France and
  England.