Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History
Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015
The failure of Requesens, 1573–76: his inability to defeat the northern…
Full specification wording
Spain and the reconquest, 1573–84: The failure of Requesens, 1573–76: his inability to defeat the northern provinces or to pay his troops; mutinies within the Spanish forces; the Spanish Fury of 1576; the Pacification of Ghent 1576; the advance of Calvinism in the southern provinces.
Requesens inherited a revolt he could not crush.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 1 of 4
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Requesens inherited a revolt he could not crush. His inability to defeat the northern provinces stemmed from limited resources, the resilience of Holland and Zeeland, and the cost of siege warfare. He could not pay his troops, so mutinies spread: unpaid Spanish soldiers looted loyal cities, most notoriously during the Spanish Fury of 1576, which devastated Antwerp and killed thousands. This atrocity united the provinces against Spain in the Pacification of Ghent (1576), which demanded expulsion of Spanish troops and restoration of provincial privileges. Meanwhile, Calvinism advanced in the southern provinces, where returning exiles and militant preachers won converts, alarming Catholic elites. Thus Requesens failed militarily, financially and politically, and his failure created the conditions for the Union of Arras and the Union of Utrecht.
What earns the marks
- Explains that Requesens could not defeat the northern provinces because rebel control of Holland and Zeeland, the cost of sieges, and limited funds prevented a decisive campaign.
- Shows that failure to pay the Army of Flanders caused mutinies, with unpaid troops living off the land and attacking towns, undermining Spanish authority.
- Describes the Spanish Fury of 1576 as a violent mutiny, especially the sack of Antwerp, which killed thousands and destroyed property.
- Explains that the Pacification of Ghent (1576) was a union of provinces demanding the removal of Spanish troops and respect for traditional privileges.
- Analyses how the advance of Calvinism in the southern provinces polarised society and pushed Catholic nobles towards reconciliation with Spain.
- Links these failures to the wider collapse of Spanish control, setting the scene for Parma's reconquest from 1577.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Treating the Spanish Fury as a planned Spanish military victory.
Put it right: It was a mutiny by unpaid Spanish troops, and its brutality damaged Spain's cause.
Assuming the Pacification of Ghent was a Calvinist rebellion.
Put it right: It was a broad provincial agreement that included Catholics and demanded removal of Spanish troops.
Claiming Calvinism only spread in the north.
Put it right: Calvinism also advanced in the southern provinces, alarming Catholic elites and contributing to the Union of Arras.
Exam tips
- Use precise dates and names: Requesens (1573–76), Spanish Fury (1576), Pacification of Ghent (1576).
- Link financial failure to military failure: unpaid troops mutinied, which lost loyal support and fuelled revolt.
- When discussing the advance of Calvinism, distinguish between the northern and southern provinces and explain the political consequences.
Try the lesson
The start of the Spain and the reconquest, 1573–84: The failure of Requesens, 1573–76: his inability to defeat the northern provinces or to pay his troops; mutinies within the Spanish forces; the Spanish Fury of 1576; the Pacification of Ghent 1576; the advance of Calvinism in the southern provinces. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which event of 1576 saw mutinous Spanish troops sack a major city in the southern provinces?
Listen
Requesens inherited a revolt he could not crush. His inability to defeat the northern provinces stemmed from limited resources, the resilience of Holland and Zeeland, and the cost of siege warfare. He could not pay his troops, so mutinies spread: unpaid Spanish soldiers looted loyal cities, most notoriously during the Spanish Fury of 1576, which devastated Antwerp and killed thousands. This atrocity united the provinces against Spain in the Pacification of Ghent (1576), which demanded expulsion of Spanish troops and restoration of provincial privileges. Meanwhile, Calvinism advanced in the southern provinces, where returning exiles and militant preachers won converts, alarming Catholic elites. Thus Requesens failed militarily, financially and politically, and his failure created the conditions for the Union of Arras and the Union of Utrecht. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains that Requesens could not defeat the northern provinces because rebel control of Holland and Zeeland, the cost of sieges, and limited funds prevented a decisive campaign. Shows that failure to pay the Army of Flanders caused mutinies, with unpaid troops living off the land and attacking towns, undermining Spanish authority. Describes the Spanish Fury of 1576 as a violent mutiny, especially the sack of Antwerp, which killed thousands and destroyed property. Explains that the Pacification of Ghent (1576) was a union of provinces demanding the removal of Spanish troops and respect for traditional privileges. A common slip: treating the Spanish Fury as a planned Spanish military victory. Instead, it was a mutiny by unpaid Spanish troops, and its brutality damaged Spain's cause. Exam tip: Use precise dates and names: Requesens (1573–76), Spanish Fury (1576), Pacification of Ghent (1576).
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