Alva’s rule: the replacement of Margaret of Parma; the execution of Egmont…

The idea

Alva arrived in 1567 with a Spanish army and replaced Margaret of Parma as governor, ending the conciliatory approach of the 1560s. He established a military regime, garrisoned towns and used the Council of Troubles to prosecute heresy and rebellion, executing Egmont and Hoorn in 1568 as a warning to the nobility. The Council's attacks on heresy targeted Calvinists, Anabaptists and suspected sympathisers, driving many into exile. To fund the army without relying on the States, Alva proposed the Tenth Penny, a 10% sales tax on movable goods. This threatened all levels of society and provoked growing opposition, uniting nobles, towns and clergy against the regime.

What earns the marks

• Explains that Alva replaced Margaret of Parma as governor in 1567, marking a shift from conciliation to military rule.
• Describes the execution of Egmont and Hoorn in 1568 as a decisive attack on the high nobility and a warning to opponents.
• Explains the Council of Troubles' role in prosecuting heresy and rebellion, including its wide powers and use of informers.
• Analyses the reasons for the Tenth Penny tax, such as paying for the Spanish army and reducing dependence on the States.
• Assesses growing opposition to the Tenth Penny, including resistance from towns, nobles and clergy, and its contribution to revolt.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Treating the Council of Troubles as a normal law court.

  Put it right: It was an extraordinary tribunal with wide powers, so describe its special and often summary procedures.

• Assuming the Tenth Penny was a one-off tax.

  Put it right: It was intended as a permanent 10% sales tax, so explain its recurring nature and why that alarmed taxpayers.

• Confusing the roles of Margaret of Parma and Alva.

  Put it right: Margaret was the departing governor, while Alva was the military commander who replaced her, so keep their roles distinct.

Exam tips

• Link each measure to its consequence: replacement of Margaret to military rule, executions to fear among nobles, Council to heresy suppression, Tenth Penny to united opposition.
• Use precise dates and names, such as 1567 for Alva's arrival and 1568 for the executions, to show secure chronological knowledge.
• When discussing opposition to the Tenth Penny, distinguish between the reasons for introducing it and the reasons people opposed it, as the question may ask for both.