How far were the policies pursued by Philip II responsible for the Revolts against his rule in the Netherlands (30 marks)

The way that Philip treated the Netherlands through his policies to a large extent cause widespread revolts throughout the Netherlands, especially in the revolt of 1572 where two provinces were held successfully. Policies such as increased taxation and refusal to lessen punishments caused the revolts against his rule in the Netherlands. However, we must also take into account that were beyond Philip’s control such as the Rise of Calvinism which encouraged Iconoclasm. These policies put together and factors beyond Philip’s control fuelled the Dutch Revolts to occur. Out of all of these policies I believe the most influential factor in causing the Dutch Revolts was the duke of Alva being deployed to settle the Iconoclasm in the Netherlands.

Firstly, I believe the most important the Duke of Alva’s being deployed along with 10000 troops and the role of him ultimately fuelled the hatred of the Dutch towards the Spanish rule of the Philip II. In 1567, the Duke of Alva left Spain to deal with the unrest that was occurring in the Netherlands. Really, Margaret of Parma had severely exaggerated the iconoclasm. This provoked Philip II to send the Duke of Alva and 10000 troops into the Netherlands. As a result of this, some of the leading nobles (including William of Orange) to flee into Germany and France. William of Orange was a leading noble in the Netherlands Within the four months that Margaret of Parma was still running the Netherlands the Duke of Alva tricked Margaret of Parma to lure Egmont and Horned out of exile, but they were executed by Alva in November 1567. As a result Margaret of Parma resigned. Margaret of Parma’s resigned clearly had a key turning point in the start of the Dutch Revolts as William of Orange in the months following her resignation planned the invasion with the French Huguenots and Calvinists exiles in Germany and England Furthermore, the 10000 troops who were occupying the Netherlands actually were very resentful of the Netherlanders because the Spanish soldiers considered all of Netherlanders, Catholic or not as “traitors to man”. The Council of Troubles helped to highlight this even further. The Council of Troubles were a Dutch inquisition that went round executing people for heresy if they were found guility. This helped William of Orange gather more support over 1567 to 1572 which allowed him to capture two provinces in the revolt of 1572. His close links allowed him to invade the Netherlands but with not much support the first time round. T I believe this is the most important policy that Philip undertook which caused the Dutch Revolts as if it wasn’t for Philip sending the Duke of Alva to the Netherlands, William of Orange would not have gone into exile. This would not have provoked William of Orange to launch the Revolts against the Duke of Alva’s rule in 1568 and 1572, so the Dutch Revolts may not have happened.

However, another policy such as the increase in taxation throughout the period when the Dutch Revolts built up. Mainly because of the Turkish War that the Spanish with and the Catholics from Spain aiding the Catholic side in the French Civil War, Philip needed more taxes to pay for these wars. This increase in taxation was making the Dutch people’s lives much worse, especially when Alva introduced the Tenth Penny Tax, a tax which took a tenth of all sales revenue and went to the government. In 1572, Alva enforced this rule on all trade coming in and out of the country without the approval of the State’s General. Aided by a freezing winter and the cloth trade with England had collapsed, the Dutch hatred towards Philip II rule was increasing rapidly. So when the second Dutch Revolt started in 1572, there was much more encouragement for William of Orange rather than in the first Dutch revolt in 1568. However, it was not just the tenth penny tax, increased taxation over the years and when Alva arrived increased taxation to pay for the soldiers occupying the Netherlands was also key in starting the Dutch Revolts. Especially as these soldiers were disruptive and hateful towards the Dutch population even fuelled the hatred towards the Spanish people and Philip II. Taxation over the years made the Dutch Revolt even worse! Wars over the 20 years before the first Dutch Revolt meant that people felt like they were paying taxes pointlessly and could be use or other things just like the feeling of German Nationalism. I believe the deployment of Alva to the Netherlands was much more important than the increase in taxation because if it wasn’t of Alva being deployed, William of Orange may not have planned the revolts against Philip II. Especially after the tenth penny tax (according to both Rady and Parker) widespread unemployment and people suffering from severe hunger, people felt like they would be better off under the Sea Beggars who invaded in 1572. People in the Netherlands may have been able to put up with the increased taxation in the Netherlands but not paying for an army occupying their country!

Also, there were several factors that were beyond Philip’s control such as the role of Calvinism. After Margaret of Parma relaxed heresy laws, Iconoclasm started in the Netherlands as the Calvinists were aiming to make their influence more widespread. Iconoclasm is when religious images in Catholic churches, such as the Virgin Mary and statues of Saints where rejected and destroyed. I believe Margaret of Parma overreacted to the extent Philip sent Alva into the Netherlands! Iconoclasm all but ceased to exist by the time the Duke of Alva arrived in the Netherlands in August 1567. Philip’s reactions I believe was the key turning point in starting the Dutch Revolts in the Netherlands. However, as soon as the Duke of Alva arrived sometimes entire communities would flee into exile simply because they were in fear of being prosecuted. This was especially highlighted after the execution of Egmont and Hornes in 1567. These Calvinists exiles mainly fled to the Germany and England. William of Orange obviously could contact these groups and use their help to invade the Netherlands from all sides so directly causing the revolts against Philip II rule. I believe the role of Calvinism was less important the role of Alva because the duke of Alva caused much more widespread hatred towards the Spanish causing more unrest and especially after the winter of 1571/72 was the key turning point. The role of Calvinism did reject Catholicism which was clearly highlighted of the Iconoclasm of 1566 but Calvinism had to go underground as soon as Alva arrived, so was forced to give in to Alva’s authority. I think the most direct cause of the Dutch revolts was the rebellion against Alva’s and Phillip II’s rule.

In conclusion, I believe that the most important factor was still the deployment of Alva to the Netherlands in 1567. Obviously, other factors like the rise of Calvinism and increased taxation all played a key role in William of Orange’s planned invasions against Philip II’s rule. These factors combined made William of Orange do the actions that he did, which gathered support over the years that built up to the Dutch Revolts. With the role of Alva especially making the Netherlander’s lives worse more support would have inevitably gone to William of Orange, the Sea Beggars and other armies that invaded the Netherlands in the Second Dutch Revolt.