Edict of 1577

As a result of the Pacification of Ghent and the armistice between the Spaniards and the Dutch on December 15, 1576 was, after long negotiations between the Spanish governor of the Netherlands, Don Juan of Austria and the States-General of the Eternal Edict.

The of the " States General " dictated conditions were adopted on January 27, 1577 by Don Juan and signed in Marche- en- Famennian on 12 February in the Belgian Ardennes. By signing the " Eternal Edict " undertook Don Juan the Pacification of Ghent recognize in its present form. For this purpose 19 products formulated. In addition, Don Juan promised by signing the withdrawal of Spanish troops from the Netherlands and a general amnesty. In return, promised the states to safeguard the Catholic faith and to accept Don Juan, when the Spanish troops were withdrawn.

In Geoffrey Parker (In: The Revolt of the Netherlands ) states: The States-General took over the payment of wages arrears to the German and Dutch troops in the royal army and declared their agreement to dissolve after the payment of the last soldiers to get it Don Juan to enable a new national assembly of the mold, they at the abdication of Emperor Charles had to call.

The Eternal Edict, however, soon turns out to be void. Already on August 1, 1577 Don Juan attacked in a surprise attack Antwerp.

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