The Dutch Wars of Independence
Warfare and Commerce in the Netherlands, 1570-1680
1st Edition
Published on 18. November 2013
Book
Paperback/Softback
320 pages
978-0-582-20967-1 (ISBN)
Description
In The Dutch Wars of Independence, Marjolein 't Hart assesses the success of the Dutch in establishing their independence through their eighty years struggle with Spain - one of the most remarkable achievements of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Other rebellions troubled mighty powers of this epoch, but none resulted in the establishment of an independent, republican state. This book:
tells the story of the Eighty Years War and its aftermath, including the three Anglo-Dutch Wars and the Guerre de Hollande (1570-1680).
explores the interrelation between war, economy and society, explaining how the Dutch could turn their wars into commercial successes.
illustrates how war could trigger and sustain innovations in the field of economy and state formation ; the new ways of organization of Dutch military institutions favoured a high degree of commercialized warfare.
shows how other state rulers tried to copy the Dutch way of commercialized warfare, in particular in taking up the protection for capital accumulation. As such, the book unravels one of the unknown pillars of European state formation (and of capitalism).
The volume investigates thoroughly the economic profitability of warfare in the early modern period and shows how smaller, commercialized states could sustain prolonged war violence common to that period. It moves beyond traditional explanations of Dutch success in warfare focusing on geography, religion, diplomacy while presenting an up-to-date overview and interpretation of the Dutch Revolt, the Anglo-Dutch Wars and the Guerre de Hollande.
tells the story of the Eighty Years War and its aftermath, including the three Anglo-Dutch Wars and the Guerre de Hollande (1570-1680).
explores the interrelation between war, economy and society, explaining how the Dutch could turn their wars into commercial successes.
illustrates how war could trigger and sustain innovations in the field of economy and state formation ; the new ways of organization of Dutch military institutions favoured a high degree of commercialized warfare.
shows how other state rulers tried to copy the Dutch way of commercialized warfare, in particular in taking up the protection for capital accumulation. As such, the book unravels one of the unknown pillars of European state formation (and of capitalism).
The volume investigates thoroughly the economic profitability of warfare in the early modern period and shows how smaller, commercialized states could sustain prolonged war violence common to that period. It moves beyond traditional explanations of Dutch success in warfare focusing on geography, religion, diplomacy while presenting an up-to-date overview and interpretation of the Dutch Revolt, the Anglo-Dutch Wars and the Guerre de Hollande.
Reviews / Votes
"This work is a brilliant success at marrying the latest scholarship and wonderfully clear narrative and synthesis. 't Hart clearly answers one of history's mysteries: how did the northern Netherlands forge a nation out of disparate units; successfully battle the superpower of the 16th century, Spain; build the most successful commercial state in Europe; and experience a Golden Age, all while fighting an 80-year war? Indispensable for collections in early modern Europe, military, or state formation history. Summing Up: Essential." --J. J. Butt, James Madison University, in CHOICEMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Illustrations
4 s/w Abbildungen, 14 s/w Tabellen
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
386 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-582-20967-1 (9780582209671)
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
03/2014
1st Edition
Routledge
€231.80
Shipment within 15-20 days
E-Book
02/2014
1st Edition
Routledge
€63.49
Available for download
E-Book
02/2014
1st Edition
Routledge
€63.49
Available for download
Previous edition
Marjolein 'tHart
The Dutch Wars of Independence:the Eighty Years Struggle, 1566-1648
Book
Longman
€54.47
The article will not be published
Person
Marjolein 't Hart is head of the research department on the history of the Netherlands at the Huygens Institute (Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences) in The Hague and Professor History of State Formation in Global Perspective at VU University Amsterdam. She has published extensively on the early modern history of the Netherlands (in comparative perspective), including books on warfare and state formation (1993) and financial history (1997).
Content
Contents
List of tables
List of figures and maps
Timeline of major events
Introduction - The Dutch Revolt, the Military Revolution, and the global context
Interpretations of the Dutch Revolt
The Military Revolution, its societal impact, and global repercussions
Warfare, territorial state formation, and capital accumulation
About this book
Chapter 1 - Military events: from the Dutch Revolt to 'la Guerre de Hollande', c. 1570-c.1680
The Dutch Revolt and the struggle for Ssurvival, 1570s-80s
Respite and consolidation in the 1590s
Stalemate and truce, 1600-21
Frederick Henry's counteroffensive and the renewed stalemate, 1620s-40s
Independence, the Stadholderless period, and the wars with England and Muenster
1672: the Year of Disaster and its aftermath
Conclusion: the different strategies of the belligerents
Chapter 2 - The making of a professional army
From Beggars and landsknechts to a standing professional army
Pay, mustering, medical Care, and the prisoners of war
Officers and men
Decreasing professionalization after 1648
Conclusion: civilian control over the army
Chapter 3 - The Dutch 'Schoole of War': drill, tactics, and siege warfare
Increasing standardization and the proportion of firearms
Regular exercises and new formations
Fortresses and fortifications
The art of siege warfare
Tactical limits, provisioning, and army size
Conclusion: the model of a disciplined army
Chapter 4 - Garrisons and civic communities: strengthening the local bonds
The difficult early decades of the revolt
Civic militia and the urban community
The economic benefits of garrisons
Housing the soldiers
Fortifications: costs and payments
Conclusion: the strength of the urban community
Chapter 5 - Warfare in the countryside and the threat to farming communities
The vulnerability of the peasantry
The lasting burden of inundations
Scorched earth campaigns
Increasing financial burdens
Village institutions and the urban connection
Conclusion: the subordination of peasants' interests
Chapter 6 - Admiralties, privateers and the colonial connection
The precocious efficiency of the Dutch navy
Naval shipbuilding and its economic impact
Commercial prohibitions and trade with the enemy
Privateering: costs and benefits
The role of colonial warfare
Conclusion: the fruits of maritime warfare
Chapter 7 - War and the strength of Dutch public finance
Roots of Holland's financial power
War budgets and the mobilization of funds
Taxation: burden and compliance
Safety-valves: domestic investors and military solicitors
Fault lines in tax compliance
Conclusion: public finance and its positive distributional effects
Chapter 8 - Warfare's new economic opportunities
Rapid and sustained recovery in the maritime west
The decline of inland commerce
Agrarian production and proto-industry during the war
Prosperous dealers in death
Conclusion: Wartime protection of capital accumulation
Conclusion: The advantages of military discipline and commercialized warfare
Bibliography
List of tables
List of figures and maps
Timeline of major events
Introduction - The Dutch Revolt, the Military Revolution, and the global context
Interpretations of the Dutch Revolt
The Military Revolution, its societal impact, and global repercussions
Warfare, territorial state formation, and capital accumulation
About this book
Chapter 1 - Military events: from the Dutch Revolt to 'la Guerre de Hollande', c. 1570-c.1680
The Dutch Revolt and the struggle for Ssurvival, 1570s-80s
Respite and consolidation in the 1590s
Stalemate and truce, 1600-21
Frederick Henry's counteroffensive and the renewed stalemate, 1620s-40s
Independence, the Stadholderless period, and the wars with England and Muenster
1672: the Year of Disaster and its aftermath
Conclusion: the different strategies of the belligerents
Chapter 2 - The making of a professional army
From Beggars and landsknechts to a standing professional army
Pay, mustering, medical Care, and the prisoners of war
Officers and men
Decreasing professionalization after 1648
Conclusion: civilian control over the army
Chapter 3 - The Dutch 'Schoole of War': drill, tactics, and siege warfare
Increasing standardization and the proportion of firearms
Regular exercises and new formations
Fortresses and fortifications
The art of siege warfare
Tactical limits, provisioning, and army size
Conclusion: the model of a disciplined army
Chapter 4 - Garrisons and civic communities: strengthening the local bonds
The difficult early decades of the revolt
Civic militia and the urban community
The economic benefits of garrisons
Housing the soldiers
Fortifications: costs and payments
Conclusion: the strength of the urban community
Chapter 5 - Warfare in the countryside and the threat to farming communities
The vulnerability of the peasantry
The lasting burden of inundations
Scorched earth campaigns
Increasing financial burdens
Village institutions and the urban connection
Conclusion: the subordination of peasants' interests
Chapter 6 - Admiralties, privateers and the colonial connection
The precocious efficiency of the Dutch navy
Naval shipbuilding and its economic impact
Commercial prohibitions and trade with the enemy
Privateering: costs and benefits
The role of colonial warfare
Conclusion: the fruits of maritime warfare
Chapter 7 - War and the strength of Dutch public finance
Roots of Holland's financial power
War budgets and the mobilization of funds
Taxation: burden and compliance
Safety-valves: domestic investors and military solicitors
Fault lines in tax compliance
Conclusion: public finance and its positive distributional effects
Chapter 8 - Warfare's new economic opportunities
Rapid and sustained recovery in the maritime west
The decline of inland commerce
Agrarian production and proto-industry during the war
Prosperous dealers in death
Conclusion: Wartime protection of capital accumulation
Conclusion: The advantages of military discipline and commercialized warfare
Bibliography