The Union of Utrecht was a treaty in which the northern provinces of the Netherlands, among them Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Groningen and Gelderland, formed a mutual defensive alliance against Spanish rule under Philip II during the Eighty Years' War. It followed the Pacification of Ghent, and the Catholic southern provinces formed the separate Union of Arras. The treaty provided for common defense and taxation, while each province kept its autonomy, and it guaranteed freedom of conscience in religion. It became the founding document of the Dutch Republic, and William of Orange, known as the Silent, was a leading figure in its creation. In 1581 the provinces formally renounced Philip as their sovereign in the Act of Abjuration.
Before and after
- 1577Construction of Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge
- 28 June 1577Birth of Peter Paul Rubens
- from 1578 to 1590Ottoman–Safavid War
- 1578Lala Mustafa Pasha's Caucasian campaign
- 23 January 1579Union of Utrecht
- 1580Publication of Jerusalem Delivered
- c. 1580Eruption of Billy Mitchell
- 11 June 1580Founding of Buenos Aires
- from July 1580 to January 1700Colonization of Siberia
More in Wars, politics & history
- 1534Henry VIII becomes head of the Church of England
- from 17 January 1558 to 26 May 1583Livonian War
- from 2 April 1562 to 30 April 1598French Wars of Religion
- from September 1688 to September 1697Nine Years' War
- 1713Peace of Utrecht
- from 28 May 1754 to 7 October 1763French and Indian War
The era
This moment belongs to the Early modern world (1500 CE to 1760 CE), voyages, printing and new ideas. You can also browse everything in the 16th century.