First Dutch Revolt Essay

The Spanish Netherlands following the beginning of the reformation was a place of widespread literacy, trade and progress. Through the rise of Charles V and the grand tour of his heir apparent Prince Philip of Spain, the empire which ruled over The Netherlands finally had come to grasp with the innovativeness and unique culture that the region supported, “Spanish visitors were also impressed by the political and economic strength of the Low Countries.” However, it was the eventually abdication of Charles V, during the Protestant reformation that caused difficult problems to begin to transpire within the Habsburg Empire. Due to a “deep sense of responsibility and his almost pathological anxiety,” Philip II was slow to follow up on decisions and deliver justice and attention within his empire when it was needed urgently. Due to this indecision it was not until …show more content…
All of these elements including the order of execution of 6 prominent anabaptists and the killings of other influential political figures by King Philip, led to the First Dutch Revolt, and the impact this event and future revolts would have on Calvinist individuals within the low-lying delta region is immeasurable. During the early revolt and prior, Calvinist individuals started to flock to the Low Countries as a sanctuary for those who decided to part ways with the long standing Roman Catholic Church, being described as a “nest of heretics.” The growth both prior and during the revolt of these heretical Anabaptist or Calvinist communists would eventually lead to larger groups fighting for reformation and reform within the region, eventually coming together to form direct organizations in support of the Dutch