Belgium

Abstract

Until 1579 the history of Belgium is inextricably linked with that of the Netherlands and Luxembourg (all together known as the Low Countries). Their common history is described in the section on the Netherlands. In 1568 the Revolt of the Netherlands began in the ten provinces of the Southern Netherlands. Although it was successful in the seven provinces of the North, it failed in the South. In 1579 Artois and Hainaut formed the Union of Arras, committed to Catholicism and pledging allegiance to the Spanish king. Henceforth the name Spanish Netherlands was used to refer only to the southern provinces (later to become Belgium and Luxembourg). The seven Calvinist northern provinces signed the Union of Utrecht, which established a military league to resist the Spanish and from which was formed the United Provinces of the Netherlands. The Low Countries were no longer homogeneous.