A
A Republic is Born;
Can the Low Countries survive without a King?
What does this mean for Europe
Redactie Ryan
Following protests and revolts against the Spanish king Philip II of Hapsburg. The cirizenss of the Low countries declared the independence of The Republic of the Seven United Netherlands
The citizens of Holland are proud of their very special nation. In establishing a republic the citizens have expressed their discontent with with the absolute monarchies of Europe.
The Republic of the Seven United Netherlands is a rich and wealthy country, what else could be said of the nation of trade and merchants? This has not always been the case, however. The Eighty Years’ War did not only leave the Netherlands rid of Catholic Spanish control, but it also gave Amsterdam the chance to become an important trade harbour. The Spanish army besieged Antwerp from 1574 to 1575, the most important Dutch trading city of that time. Many rich merchants fled to Amsterdam and it became the new trading capital of the Republic of the Netherlands. The Republic was finally recognised as an independent country in 1581.
What does the future hold?
At the dawn of a new century, the republlic is a peaceful wealthy trade centre but can this this peace last. Already signs that The Republic of the Seven United Netherlands involvement in the in the Anglo-Dutch Wars, which has taken its toll Recently during the Third Anglo-Dutch War . Louis XIV of France and of Navarre and Charles II of England signed a secret treaty with the aim of wiping out the Republic. They secured diplomatic and military support from the Bishopric of Muenster and the Electorate of Cologne to defeat the Dutch.
Religion, The Clash of Religions
By Delfine
Protestants Vs Catholics
After the Iconoclasm in 1566, where the Protestants openly fought the Catholics in the Netherlands, the Protestants ended up as champions in this religious war. The Protestants took power and the Catholics lost all previous power. The republic has forbidden Catholicism; Religious services have been forbidden as are other Catholic traditions. Reports have emerged that despite these laws. Catholicism is still secretly practiced. In defiance of the laws Catholics continue to celebrate mass anywhere they can. In houses, in the attic and even in farms. An example of this is a hidden church in a house in Amsterdam, translated as: Our Lord in The Attic: