The full story of the Netherlands’ fight for independence from the Spanish Empire.
During the 16th century, The Netherlands was in turmoil.
The 17 independent States were ruled by the Lord of the Netherlands, King Felipe II of Spain. During his inauguration, Felipe had sworn to uphold each of the States’ constitutions, but he hadn’t.
Felipe had appointed Spanish scholars to local and state governments, undermining the Dutch Nobility. And the King had sent Spanish bishops to the Netherlands to hunt down and convict Protestants to be burnt at the stake as heretics.
The Dutch were very angry about this. After an illegal Protestant sermon, a small group of believers broke into a monastery and destroyed the much-hated statues and other objects used in a Roman Catholic service.
The brutal rebellion spread throughout the Low Countries and many churches were destroyed. It gave rise to a war for independence that would last eighty years.
80 Years’ War Episode 1: Before the Storm When Holy Roman Emperor Charles V resigned as Lord of the Netherlands in 1555, his son King Felipe II took over from him. He wanted to unite the independent States into one country and used the Inquisition to get rid of the Protestants. The Dutch resisted, and a revolt was brewing…
80 Years War Episode 2 – The Iron Duke King Felipe II of Spain, the Lord of the Netherlands, wanted to unite all States and make one country, reform the churches, and get rid of the Protestants using the Inquisition. The Dutch protested, and a revolt was brewing…
80 Years’ War Episode 3: Rabble-Rousing Rebel A group of disgruntled Dutchmen revolted against their Lord, King Felipe II of Spain, but the Prince of Orange, the de facto leader of the rebellion, had fled to Germany. He attempted a few invasions to drive the Royal Army out, but they ultimately failed. Orange declared war on the King’s representative, Governor-General Alba, and then invaded the Netherlands himself.
80 Years’ War Episode 4: Mutiny and Rage The Dutch had revolted against their Lord, King Felipe II of Spain, but the King’s Governor-Generals hit back hard. After 10 years, of all the 17 states, only Holland and Zeeland held out for Willem, the Prince of Orange, the leader of the rebellion.
80 Years’ War Episode 5: Union of the Snake Of the 17 states of the Netherlands, only Holland and Zeeland held out for Willem, the Prince of Orange, the leader of the rebellion. King Felipe had declared bankruptcy and couldn’t pay his soldiers stationed in the Netherlands. When the Royal troops started plundering, all 17 States joined together to fight against the Spanish King.
80 Years’ War Episode 6: Je Maintiendrai The war unleashed by Dutch rebels to kick the Spanish out of the country wasn’t going well. The unified North and the scattered South were now battling each other, and the new Governor-General for the King, Alessandro Farnese, the future Duke of Parma, worked hard to increase the division in the country. He was currently in the middle of the Siege of Maastricht.
80 Years’ War Episode 7: Desperately Seeking Sovereigns During the Dutch revolt against their Lord, King Felipe II of Spain, seven rebel states united and removed the King from power. Some wanted to replace him with a French Prince, others with Prince Willem of Orange. After both Princes died in 1584, King Felipe believed everything would return to normal. However, the Dutch continued their disobedience, but they desperately needed a sovereign to rule them. Perhaps King Henri III, or Queen Elizabeth I?
80 Years’ War Episode 8: Surprise, Surprise, Surprise England had joined the Dutch Rebels in their revolt against their Lord, King Felipe II of Spain. But the rebels were losing territory fast as Alessandro Farnese, the Duke of Parma grabbed more and more cities and returned them to the King. Something had to be done.
80 Years’ War Episode 9: Forward, March! The Dutch Rebels were now led by Attorney General Johan of Oldenbarnevelt and Count Maurits of Nassau. The Republic had lost a lot of land because the Duke of Parma captured many towns and returned them to the King. The rebels had a plan to take back Breda, using a turf ship as a Trojan horse. Meanwhile, King Felipe II had his sights set on the crown of France.
80 Years’ War Episode 10 – Shoveling for Victory The Dutch Rebels were doing well in their fight and had regained some valuable towns, but they wanted more. Meanwhile, the Duke of Parma was frustrated because King Felipe II was still trying to get the crown of France and kept ordering the Duke to do the impossible.
80 Years’ War Episode 11 – Road to Dunkirk Pirates, pirates everywhere! What could the Rebels do to stop the pirates and the Spanish from destroying their trade? Johan of Oldenbarnevelt revealed an ambitious and potentially disastrous plan. The Rebel army had to march deep into Spanish Netherlands territory and seize the pirate nests Dunkirk and Nieuwpoort.
80 Years’ War Episode 12 – 1600: Battle of Nieuwpoort Count Maurits and his States Army were trapped at Nieuwpoort, deep in Spanish Netherlands territory. Archduke Albrecht was advancing on his position. A battle was imminent.
80 Years’ War Episode 13: Ruined Little Nest Count Maurits and his States Army had won the battle of Nieuwpoort, but had gained nothing. Archduke Albrecht, though defeated, quickly decided on his next big project, he would besiege Ostend, the lone rebel enclave in Spanish Netherlands territory.
80 Years’ War Episode 14 – Gold for Bronze Ostend, the Rebel enclave deep in Spanish Netherlands territory, had been besieged by Albrecht, Archduke of Austria for nearly three years. Count Maurits of Nassau saw no reason to relieve the town. The States-General had other ideas.
Episode 15 – War for Peace The war for Dutch Independence had been going on for 40 years. The Republic was broke, Ambrogio Spinola was beyond broke, and the Archdukes and Spain had no money either. It would be best for all if they negotiated for peace, but could they all agree on the talking points?
80 Years’ War Episode 16 – Keep the Faith The Republic of the United States of the Seven Netherlands and the Spanish Realm had made a truce that would last twelve years. The Republic would have peace, but internal challenges were brewing. The Republic’s two leaders, Count Maurits of Nassau and Johan van Oldenbarnevelt started arguing about religion and were leading the young country down a dangerous path.
80 Years’ War Episode 17 – Mutual Assured Destruction The Republic and the Spanish Realm had concluded a twelve-year truce. Archduke Albrecht and Archduchess Isabella guided the Southern Netherlands to peace and prosperity, but the Republic was heading for a civil war. The Republic’s two leaders, Johan van Oldenbarnevelt and Count Maurits of Nassau, were wrapped up in a religious dispute that could spell the end for either or both of them.
80 Years’ War Episode 18 – Once More Unto the Breach After the Republic’s de facto prime minister, Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, had lost his head, Prince Maurits of Orange was now in charge. But the Republic faced some major challenges: the troubles in the Habsburg Empire escalated into a war, which would become known as the Thirty Years’ War, and the Twelve Years’ Truce was about to expire, resuming the Eighty Years’ War.
80 Years’ War Episode 19 – Conquerer of Towns The war had resumed after a Twelve Year Truce. The Spanish’s first movements were unsuccessful, but Prince Maurits of Orange was dying. However, Marquis Ambrogio Spinola besieged Breda, and the Prince rode out once more to save his Barony.
80 Years’ War Episode 20 – One Last Battle The Republic of the United States of the Seven Netherlands continued the war against their Lord, King Felipe IV of Spain. The end was in sight, but there were still cities to be besieged and battles to be waged before there was peace at long last.
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