Geuzen

The Watergeuzen (or simply Geuzen) were a fleet of privateers during the Eighty Years' War, the Low Countries' (or Netherlands') rebellion against the Spanish occupation, which began during the reign of Philip II of Spain (in the 1550s).

The name Geuzen is derived from the French gueux ("beggars"). When a league of nobles petitioned to Margaret of Parma to relieve the inquisition, one of her advisors, count Charles of Berlaymont advised her not to pay attention to them since: Ce ne sont que des gueux (they are nothing but beggars). The name 'geus' was taken up proudly by the rebels. The Dutch word 'Geuzennaam' still means taking up an insult as a name of pride.

The Watergeuzen consisted of a host of various nobles, intellectuals, merchants, fishermen and countless refugees. From 1568 the rebel Prince William I of Orange (William the Silent) tried to win the Watergeuzen for his cause. To this end he authorized them to conduct raids and pillage with a letter of marque (making them privateers, not pirates).

The salient moment in history for the Watergeuzen came when they succeeded in capturing Den Briel on April 1 1572, effectively sealing off the Meuse from the Spaniards.

Note

In this period before the existence of a Netherlands nation state, "Netherlands" or "Low Countries" referred to an area embracing both the modern-day Netherlands and modern-day Belgium. The Northern Netherlands comprised more or less what we now know as the Netherlands, whereas The Southern Netherlands included Belgium. (See also History of the Netherlands.)

References

Van der Horst (2005) Nederland: de vaderlandse geschiedenis van de prehistorie tot nu. (3rd edition; in Dutch). Amsterdam, Bert Bakker. ISBN 9035127226. p. 132

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