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What happened to the Dutch War of Independence

The Dutch War of Independence, also known as the Eighty Years’ War (Dutch: Nederlandse Opstand, Tachtigjarige Oorlog; Spanish: Guerra de Flandes, Guerra de los Ochenta Años), was called the Low Countries Rebellion by the Spanish Empire.

In mid-August 1566, under the leadership of the Fierce Faction, the people launched the famous “Destruction of the Statues” movement. Its leaders were artisans, commoners and peasants. The movement developed rapidly. By October, the uprising wave swept almost half of the Netherlands, and spread to 12 of the 17 provinces, with tens of thousands of participants. The slogan of “Long Live the Beggar” was heard all over the place with unprecedented momentum. As many as 5,500 churches and monasteries were destroyed across the Netherlands, marking the beginning of the Dutch Revolution.

The war took place from 1568 to 1648, and it was launched by the Puritans of the Netherlands against the rule of the Spanish Empire. Unlike the Spanish Empire, the Dutch Republic belonged to the Netherlands in a relatively loose federation. For this war, the federation was united as never before, and the leader was the noble William Orange.

After many naval battles, the Commonwealth of the Netherlands and the Spanish Empire signed a 12-year armistice in 1609. However, the competition between the two sides in the sea has not stopped.

On April 9, 1609, the two sides reached an agreement in Amberes and signed the Twelve Years Truce, also known as the Treaty of Amberes. Basis: 12-year truce between the two sides; Spain lifts the trade embargo on the Republic of the United Provinces with Europe; allows the Netherlands to conduct free trade in the West Indies; the Republic of the United Provinces guarantees religious freedom for Catholics. The “Twelve Years Truce Agreement” means that Spain recognizes the independence of the northern provinces such as the Netherlands, Zeeland, and Utrecht.

After the agreement was signed, neighboring countries immediately responded to establish diplomatic relations and trade with the Republic of the United Provinces, which gave the United Provinces a chance to breathe. The Habsburg dynasty was undoubtedly hit hard politically. During this period of peace, the Dutch overseas trade greatly increased. However, Spain was also temporarily out of the troubles of the Dutch war. During the armistice, Spain’s national strength recovered well and its finances were stabilized. She actively restores her prestige before becoming a major player in the next big war.

In 1621, the Armistice Agreement expired, and the war between the Netherlands and the Spanish Empire resumed. It was not until 1648 that the Netherlands officially became independent from the Spanish Empire and established the “Dutch Republic”.

The Eighty Years War between the Dutch Republic and the Spanish Empire also had an important impact on the later English Civil War and American independence. It is not only a democratic revolution in which the progressive forces represented by the bourgeoisie oppose the feudal system, but also a national liberation war in the Netherlands against Spanish colonial rule and for national independence.

The Dutch War of Independence was the first victorious bourgeois revolution in history, establishing the first bourgeois republic. The leading force of the revolution is the emerging bourgeoisie, the main force is the urban civilians and peasants, and the ideological banner is Calvinism.

Because capitalism is still in the period of handicraft workshops, the bourgeoisie is still immature, especially the southern bourgeoisie still has an inseparable connection with Spain, which makes this revolutionary war extremely complicated, tortuous and protracted, and has experienced several repetitions.