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Neptune and the Netherlands
State, Economy, and War at Sea in the Renaissance
Series: - History of Warfare, Volume: 23
Author:
This book investigates how the rulers of the Habsburg world empire developed and implemented a central maritime policy for the Netherlands and appointed an admiral of the sea or admiral-general for that purpose. It also explains why the Habsburgs were eventually unable to gain control of the maritime affairs of the Netherlands, in spite of the support of the powerful Burgundian Lords of Veere, who occupied the central position of admiral from 1491 to 1558. From their power base on the island of Walcheren in Zeeland, known as the key to the Netherlands at the time because of its central location between Holland, Flanders, Antwerp and the sea, they held an ideal vantage point for exercising the admiralship. The result not only offers an illuminating insight into the organisation of the war fleet, maritime trade and fishery, privateering and prize law in the Habsburg Netherlands, but also puts the success of the later Dutch Republic in a new perspective.
Louis H.J. Sicking, DEA (1990) Histoire d'outre-mer, University of the Provence (Aix), Ph.D. (1996) in History, University of Leiden, is Lecturer and postdoctoral Fellow in History at the University of Leiden. He has published mainly on the history of the Netherlands, on maritime history and on the history of European Expansion.
"...a solid account of the Habsburg foundations on which the Dutch Admiralties were able to build."
James D. Tracy, Bijdragen en Mededlingen betreffende de Geschiedenis der Nederlanden, 2005.
"...nicht allein für diejenigen Historiker interessant, die sich mit der Geschichte der Seekriegsführung beschäftigen, sondern auch für diejenigen, die sich mit Prozessen der Staatsbildung befassen."
M. van Tielhof, Hansische Geschichtsblätter, 2005.
"â¦a major contribution to historical studyâ¦a distinguished demonstration of scholarship and a major contribution to the field of maritime historyâ¦"
John B. Hattendorf, International Journal of Maritime History.
"â¦important contribution to early modern maritime historyâ¦Highly recommended."
G.D. Homan, Choice, 2005.
"...fine work with a strong case for the lasting influence of Hapsburg policies in giving the Netherlands a wider worldview... this work is a real asset. It covers with meticulous care the diverse influences that created one of the great maritime powers in Europe...very successful in blending military concerns with those of general public policy and process."
Charlie R. Steen, Renaissance Quarterly, Vol. LVIII, No. 2, 2005.
James D. Tracy, Bijdragen en Mededlingen betreffende de Geschiedenis der Nederlanden, 2005.
"...nicht allein für diejenigen Historiker interessant, die sich mit der Geschichte der Seekriegsführung beschäftigen, sondern auch für diejenigen, die sich mit Prozessen der Staatsbildung befassen."
M. van Tielhof, Hansische Geschichtsblätter, 2005.
"â¦a major contribution to historical studyâ¦a distinguished demonstration of scholarship and a major contribution to the field of maritime historyâ¦"
John B. Hattendorf, International Journal of Maritime History.
"â¦important contribution to early modern maritime historyâ¦Highly recommended."
G.D. Homan, Choice, 2005.
"...fine work with a strong case for the lasting influence of Hapsburg policies in giving the Netherlands a wider worldview... this work is a real asset. It covers with meticulous care the diverse influences that created one of the great maritime powers in Europe...very successful in blending military concerns with those of general public policy and process."
Charlie R. Steen, Renaissance Quarterly, Vol. LVIII, No. 2, 2005.
Notes on conventions
List of Plates and Maps
List of Tables and Figures
Abbreviations
Chronology
Preface
Introduction
1. Chronological and geographical limits
2. Historiography
3. Sources: une mer à boire
4. Points of departure
Chapter One The seabound Netherlands
Introduction
1. Flanders: origin of Admiralty
2. Holland: maritime power in Western Europe
3. Zeeland: power base of the Lords of Veere
Conclusion
Chapter Two Ordinances and admirals
Introduction
1. The Ordinance on the Admiralty of 1488
2. Admirals and vice-admirals, 1488â1558
3. Hollandâs attack on the Admiralty
4. The Ordinance on the Admiralty of 1540
Conclusion
Chapter Three Defence of the fisheries
Introduction
1. Fishery: proportions and changes
2. Defence of Flandersâ fishery, 1488â1547
3. Defence of Hollandâs fishery, 1488â1547
4. Defence of Zeelandâs fishery, 1488â1547
5. Cooperation between the provinces, 1547â1558
Conclusion
Chapter Four Commerce and dynasty
Introduction
1. The route to the East: the offensive solution
2. The route to the West: the defensive solution
3. Protection of the routes to the East and to the
West in 1557
Conclusion
Chapter Five Strategy and dynasty
Introduction
1. The Zuider Zee
2. Coastal defence
3. Passage between the Netherlands and Spain
4. England as a base and ally
5. Strategy and honour
Conclusion
Chapter Six Towards a permanent war fleet
Introduction
1. Organisation and finance
2. The war fleet
3. The crew
4. Veere: naval base of the Habsburg Netherlands
Conclusion
Chapter Seven Privateering and Admiralty
Introduction
1. Privateering
2. Admiralty
3. Order and discipline
Conclusion
Conclusion
Glossary
Bibliography
Index
List of Plates and Maps
List of Tables and Figures
Abbreviations
Chronology
Preface
Introduction
1. Chronological and geographical limits
2. Historiography
3. Sources: une mer à boire
4. Points of departure
Chapter One The seabound Netherlands
Introduction
1. Flanders: origin of Admiralty
2. Holland: maritime power in Western Europe
3. Zeeland: power base of the Lords of Veere
Conclusion
Chapter Two Ordinances and admirals
Introduction
1. The Ordinance on the Admiralty of 1488
2. Admirals and vice-admirals, 1488â1558
3. Hollandâs attack on the Admiralty
4. The Ordinance on the Admiralty of 1540
Conclusion
Chapter Three Defence of the fisheries
Introduction
1. Fishery: proportions and changes
2. Defence of Flandersâ fishery, 1488â1547
3. Defence of Hollandâs fishery, 1488â1547
4. Defence of Zeelandâs fishery, 1488â1547
5. Cooperation between the provinces, 1547â1558
Conclusion
Chapter Four Commerce and dynasty
Introduction
1. The route to the East: the offensive solution
2. The route to the West: the defensive solution
3. Protection of the routes to the East and to the
West in 1557
Conclusion
Chapter Five Strategy and dynasty
Introduction
1. The Zuider Zee
2. Coastal defence
3. Passage between the Netherlands and Spain
4. England as a base and ally
5. Strategy and honour
Conclusion
Chapter Six Towards a permanent war fleet
Introduction
1. Organisation and finance
2. The war fleet
3. The crew
4. Veere: naval base of the Habsburg Netherlands
Conclusion
Chapter Seven Privateering and Admiralty
Introduction
1. Privateering
2. Admiralty
3. Order and discipline
Conclusion
Conclusion
Glossary
Bibliography
Index
All those interested in political, institutional, economic and maritime history, the history of the Netherlands and Belgium, the history of the Habsburg empire, the history of naval warfare and the history of prize law.