Twelve Year Truce

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Due to the combined effects of maintaining the military and the loss of trade by both sides of the war, a Truce was signed  on April 9th 1609.  During this time, the Habsburgs agreed to treat the United Provinces like an independent state.  This independence of the United Provinces received formal recognition by outside powers as well.

The truce had to significant effects on the Western World.  First, it allowed for the Counter-Reformation among Habsburg holdings in Spain, Rome, and the Holy Roman Empire.  The second was a free Dutch Republic.

Counter-Reformation

The Counter-Reformation was the anti-reformation movement, beginning with the Council of Trent (1545-63), and ending with the end of theThirty Years’ War, was a move to restore the Catholic Church to it’s former political power.  Here are several outcomes of this movement:

  • Expansion of Catholic missionary efforts among the “heathens” of Asia and Americas
  • The creation of several fundamental religious orders such as the Jesuits.
    • Efforts of the Jesuits are largely credited with stemming Protestantism in Poland, Hungary, Parts of Germany and France.
    • The Ursulines focused on the special task of educating girls.
  • It was a time or renewed spirituality among Catholics.
  • The birth of the Baroque art style under the same goal.
    • Side note, it was this movement that for several centuries had Michelangelo’s The Last Judgment in the Sistine Chapel painted over.
  • The reform of Church music, although I have to admit, I don’t understand the change and didn’t spend much time figuring it out.
  • More celebration of holidays, which brought to surface the inaccuracies of the Julian calendar.  This would lead to the Gregorian calendar in 1582.
  • The Roman Inquisition

The Dutch Republic

A free Dutch Republic provided a reprove to another group of people seeking freedom from political persecution.  This time, from England, called Puritans or more specifically Separatists.  However, towards the end of the Truce, the Political situation was in danger of becoming unstable. Contributing to the Separatists decision to leave and eventually head to America.

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