Dutch Revolt

• • Since 1550s, Netherlands were unhappy with how Spain were interfering in Dutch affairs
  • Netherlands belonged to Spain but used it to govern themselves
• • Phillip brang Spanish Inquisition
  • Inquisition was set up by government to keep Spain Catholic
  • Inquisition united Catholics and Protestants against Spain leading to Dutch Revolt in 1566
  • In 1567, Phillip sent Duke of Alba with army to defeat revolt
  • Revolt was defeated by 1568
• • Alba set up Council of Blood to enforce Catholicism and obidence to Spain
  • It ignored local and legal laws and sent many to death
  • This led to many Dutch Protestants fleeing to exile, especially England
• Elizabeth was concerned about Alba's presence in the Netherlands:

  • Alba was against Protestantism and his army was close to striking distance of England
  • She did not want to be seen as Europe's leading Protestant monarch and wanted to avoid war
• • Some Dutch rebels fled by sea, and were known as Sea Beggars
  • They attacked Spanish ships on the English Channel that were carrying resources to Alba's armies I Netherlands
  • In 1567, Elizabeth allowed Sea Beggars to shelter in English harbours
• • In 1568, Spanish ships carrying gold to pay Alba's troops took shelter in English ports
  • The money was a loan from bankers in Genoa
  • Elizabeth took the gold as she said the money didn't belong to Spain but Genoa
  • This was known as the Genose Loan and this angered the Spanish
• • Elizabeth was trying to make Spanish's task in Netherlands as hard as possible
  • This was to encourage Spanish forces to leave and allow the Dutch to govern themselves