It has been nearly 450 years since the start of the eighty years war, which is commonly interpreted as the Dutch War of Independence. It lasted longer than any other uprising in modern European history. It was a fight for religious freedom. An uprising against illegal occupations and a revolt for Dutch rights. Though approximately most of the Dutch population, led by William the Orange never really swore their allegiance to King Phillip of Spain, it still took them 80 years to gain independence. Historians are astounded by the Dutch victory because Spain at that time, was the true definition of a super power; with numerous countries under its control, trade going smoothly and heavy weaponry. So how did this happen? Perhaps the Dutch were the physical manifestation of our belief in the fact that it is not material possessions, but will and passion for the cause is what matters.
The Dutch in the 16th century were scattered across seventeen areas. They formed an essential part of Catholic Spain but were true Protestants to the core. Spanish attitude towards them had always been bitter, but what truly sparked the war was Spain's attempt to enforce Catholicism upon the dutch and the dutch took their religion quite seriously. To tackle this, the dutch, led by William of Orange asked the Spanish emperor to withdraw his men from forcefully enforcing his religion and to grant Protestants the freedom of religion. What followed next is what History records
as the ‘Beeldenstorm’ (‘storming of the images’) or Great Iconoclasm; groups of Protestants started smashing Catholic Churches in frustration and as a response to King Phillip of Spain.
Spain, with its enormous resources, heavy weaponry and wealth, was not going to let this incident go by that easily. Consequently, King Phillip sent the Duke of Alva to settle this issue. The Duke’s ruthlessness earned him the title “Iron Duke” as he murdered 1,500 Protestants in one day. Not just for this incident, but in the past as well, the Spanish terrors knew no bounds. They persecuted Protestants and openly called them out for their religious beliefs. They burned Protestant homes and killed the breadwinners of the households. To make matters worse, the Spanish imposed taxes on the Protestants. Shortly after, the Spanish Fury of 1576 killed 8,000 people and burned down most of the town. This was the breaking point for the Dutch. Led by William the Orange, the Dutch began rising against Spanish monstrosities. They had had enough of living under the fear of a ruler that never really cared for them.
As the Dutch spirit for independence intensified, so did Spain’s efforts for further oppressing the Protestants. France joined hands with Spain and further supported their campaign against Protestants. They declared William the Orange, the one true leader the entire Dutch population believed in, an outlaw and he was forced to flee. This was one of the many occasions in history when Spain was on the brink of victory. However, William’s son; Prince Maurits tactfully handled the situation with his superb military skills and leadership capabilities. Simultaneously, from 1618, an ultimate battle for religion began. The Thirty years war, which engulfed almost the entirety of Europe, was quite literally Catholics vs Protestants. It began under the name of religion but later on transitioned into who would rule Europe. Europe was at war,within which lived a nation scattered across seventeen provinces, with few machinery and finances but a fire for independence burning brighter than ever.
The Dutch first under Maurits and then after his death, were led by Frederik Hendrik, the stedendwinger, or enforcer of cities. He captured the ‘La Flota’, a fleet of Spanish ships laden with silver, in 1621. As the Dutch resistance continued, the Spanish steadily lost control of their empire. In 1648, they finally caved in and the Netherlands came into being the same year. Their independence also simultaneously brought an end to the Thirty years war and freed Europe from the everlasting chain of wars it had been trapped in for eighty years. The Dutch persistence had won, even though it took them eighty years. Their will outshone weaponry and finances. They had not only managed to change history, but had also secured the rights of their fellow Protestants.
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