Origins and Development of the Dutch Revolt

The Dutch revolt against Spanish rule in the 16th century was a formative event in European history. This volume brings together research from leading experts in the field, to illuminate why the Dutch revolted, the way events unfolded and how they gained independence. In exploring the desire of the Dutch to control their own affairs, it also questions whether Dutch identity came about by accident. The book begins with a narrative of events, and then explores the current state of research in greater depth, focusing on: the role of the aristocracy religion; the towns and provinces; the Spanish perspective; and finance and ideology.

'Graham Darby has assembled a strong group of writers to produce a sound and judicious survey of what is a very formative event in the history of early modern Europe.' – History