Wednesday, November 14, 2007Wednesday, November 14, 2007
At left we have a portrait of the infamous Duke of Alva (the "Iron Duke"), enforcer of the Catholicism in the Netherlands, and at right, Charles V's son Philip II, who would be the king of Spain and attempt to quell the Netherlandish revolt. It was Charles' brother Ferdinand, not his son Philip, who took over the imperial crown upon Charles' abdication.
The story of persecution in the Netherlands is intimately related to the political situation in that part of Europe, and as Greengrass tells us, "The complexities of the chronology of the Dutch Revolt are indispensable to an understanding of the politics of western Europe in the second half of the sixteenth century." So as difficult as it is to follow, we must try to get a sense of it. Your best strategy in doing the reading is to consult both Lindberg and Greengrass simultaneously, and to refer often to the maps in the back of Lindberg.
Begin by clarifying what the Netherlands were during this time. What governance did it have? What unity? Then, consider the stages of religious reform that occurred there: Lutheran, Anabaptist, and Calvinist. What is the history of each group in the Netherlands? How did they arrive there, and what was their fate? In the case of the Anabaptists, what is the relationship between the Dutch Anabaptists and the rebels at the city of Munster? Note the location of Munster on the map, in relation to the Netherlands. In the case of the Calvinist reform, what was the Belgic confession and why was it important? Why was it Calvinism that succeeded in the Netherlands?
Religious revolt in the Netherlands occurred in three stages, as you will see from following the chronologies in Greengrass. The series of wars with France are part of the Habsburg/Valois rivalry that tore Europe apart during the period we are studying. What was the state of things at the end of Charles reign? What were the handicaps for his son Philip in taking over control in the Netherlands?
William of Orange (otherwise known as "William the Silent") was the great hero of Dutch resistance to the Spanish king's efforts at reestablishing Catholicism. Follow Greengrass's chronology of Philip's efforts to establish control and stamp out heresy (Margaret of Parma was the regent). What were the grounds for opposition to his policies?
After Alva (or Alba, as Greengrass spells it) arrived, there was tremendous bloodshed, contributing to Spain's reputation as a violently repressive society. William of Orange, who had been organizing in exile, invaded and in 1575 was recognized as "sovereign and supreme head" in Holland and Zealand. A anti-Hapsburg alliance was established (Pacification of Ghent), and in 1579 the Union of Utrecht was formed. Why was this important? Note Lindberg's comment that William's renunciation of Philip's overlordship was an application of the Calvinist doctrine endorsing resistance to tyranny.
William was assassinated, and the Spanish began to regain control, but the defeat of the Armada by the English in 1588 struck a blow to Spanish military power, and ultimately the northern provinces achieved their independence.
The Dutch Reformed church struggled to maintain the kind of discipline that is the key to Calvin's concept of the church, yet the Netherlands were not Geneva. What was the outcome? In Greengrass, we read about Jacobus Arminius, who was able to gain favor at the university of Leiden. Arminius broke with Calvinist teaching on the doctrine of predestination, and in the end the Netherlands became known as a haven of toleration. Why did this come about?
Laurel Carrington carringt@stolaf.edu
Most recent update: November 13, 2007