The Dutch people of 1566 were opposed to their Spanish rulers, particularly Philip II, who sought to suppress Dutch Protestentism. Believing it was Dutch liberty that made them special, even the Dutch Catholics joined in the Dutch Revolt against Spain.
When Charles I of Spain was set to be crowned Holy Roman Emperor, he left Spain to be crowned by Pope Clement VII, creating a power vacuum. In his absence, the towns of Spain revolted, hoping for more local control. The bureaucrats and nobles allied to put down the revolt. When Charles returned, everyone was too exhausted to stop him from centralizing more political power than ever under the Spanish crown.
In France, the Saint Bartholomew Day massacre resulted from a religious conflict between Catholics and French Protestants to a violent response. The king's orders were manipulated to justify the killing of individuals.
Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth I of England emphasized prudence as the paramount quality of a ruler, highlighting the monarchy's importance above all else. Catholics could not worship freely, but the violence of England was stayed.
Commentaires