The revolt

In 1566 disaffected Protestants vandalised countless Catholic churches. This iconoclastic fury, as it is known, began in Flanders but soon spread to other parts of the Low Countries. At that point Philip II decided to strike back with military force. William of Orange saved his own life by escaping to the Nassau estates in Germany.

But the revolt of the northern provinces continued, with varying degrees of success. As the leader of this fight for liberation from 1572 onwards, William of Orange was able to forge strong links between the Netherlands and the House of Orange-Nassau. Three of his brothers were killed in battle during the Revolt.

His brother, Count Jan the Elder, stadholder of Gelderland, was the driving force behind the Union of Utrecht, an alliance formed by the seven northern provinces to fight Philip II.