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300th Anniversary of the Dutch Revolt 1572-1609

theboz11theboz11 Posts: 6,576 ✭✭✭
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King Philip II. was perceived, by the Netherlanders, as a foreigner. He did not speak the language, was educated in Madrid, a staunch Catholic and an absolute ruler, intending to break the autonomy of the Low Countries, to impose a more centralized system of government.
This policy alienated not only the hardcore protestants, many of whom chose emigration over having to renounce their belief. The city of EMDEN emerged as a haven for Dutch protestant emigrees. It also alienated the Dutch nobility, which saw it's position threatened. A petition to restore the old privileges failed (1566), the petitioners being nicknamed GEUZEN (beggars), a name the Dutch rebels soon afterward would bear with honor. Held responsible for the riots of Calvinist iconoclasts that erupted in 1566, the noblemen VAN EGMOND and VAN HOORNE were arrested and executed (1567). The wealthiest noble landowner, WILLIAM OF ORANGE, byname THE SILENT, left the Netherlands, took up residence in Nassau (Germany) and from there undertook raids into the Netherlands, to harm the King of Spain in retaliation for injustice done to him (a feud).

The Spanish answer was an armed one; the new stadholder Parma arrived with an army and began to take control of the southern territories, "representents" of which in 1579 established the UNION OF ARRAS, a pro-Catholic and pro-Spanish federation, the remaining rebelling provinces formed the UNION OF UTRECHT (1579). From now, war was in full scale. In 1584 Balthasar Gerard, induced by a reward of 25,000 gold crowns, assassinated Prince William of Orange, Stadholder of the Netherlands and political head of the rebellion.

This medal commemorates that anniversary. Netherlands Freedom

Bronze/brass 7.5gms 30mm


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