Seventeen Provinces

The Seventeen Provinces were a personal union of states in the Low Countries in the 16th century, roughly covering the current Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, a good part of the North of France (Artois, Nord) and a small part of Germany.

History

The Seventeen Provinces originated from the Burgundian Netherlands, that were inherited by Maximilian I of Habsburg in 1482. His grandson and successor Charles V united all 17 provinces under his rule, the last one being Guelders, in 1543. Most of these were fiefs under the Holy Roman Empire, of which Charles became Emperor himself. Two, Flanders and Artois, were French fiefs. The French king and the Holy Roman Emperor agreed to release all seventeen from the largely nominal and by then anachronistic ties to both realms. This was called the Pragmatic Sanction of 1549.

Related Topics:
Burgundian Netherlands - Maximilian I - Habsburg - 1482 - Charles V - Guelders - 1543 - Holy Roman Empire - Pragmatic Sanction of 1549

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After Charles' V abdication in 1556, his realms became divided between his son, Philip II and his brother, Ferdinand I. The Netherlands went to his son, the king of Spain.

Related Topics:
1556 - Philip II - Ferdinand I

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Conflicts between Philip II and his Dutch subjects led to the Eighty Years' War, which started in 1568. The seven northern provinces gained their independence as a republic called the United Provinces:

Related Topics:
Eighty Years' War - 1568 - United Provinces

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• Groningen
• Friesland
• Overijssel
• Guelders (except its Upper Quarter)
• Utrecht
• Holland
• Zeeland

The United Provinces conquered parts of Limburg, Brabant and Flanders during the Eighty Years' War (see Generality Lands), which was ended with the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648.

Related Topics:
Limburg - Brabant - Flanders - Eighty Years' War - Generality Lands - Treaty of Westphalia - 1648

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The southern provinces were restored to Spanish rule thanks to the military and political talent of the Duke of Parma. Hence, they became known as the Spanish Netherlands or Southern Netherlands. Large parts of the Southern Netherlands were ceded to France in the course of the 17th and 18th century.

Related Topics:
Duke of Parma - Southern Netherlands - France - 17th - 18th century

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