Duke of Parma

What did Parma achieve?

• most successful Spanish commander
• Spanish control of the southern Netherlands was due to his leadership
• recaptured some 30 towns in 1579-1585
• brought about the Union of Arras

BUT he failed in his objective to reunite the Netherlands under Spain

Why did Parma do so well?

• had a powerful, tough army of Flanders
• rebels were leaderless
• able to bridge the rivers that had previously blocked other attackers
• ultimately failed in his plans, did not crush the northern provinces
• won over the moderate Catholics

Not happy with William because:

• he was becoming too powerful because of his new status in society
• brought in sovereigns, such as Matthias and Anjou, and used them as puppets
• became an object of suspicion because of puppetry

Parma used this suspicion to get them to go against William and towards him

The Military Revolution – Roberts (historian)

• great growth in artillery
• came up with Italianate fortification
• prevented capture of towns
• outer rim of bastions, often moated as well
• only way to capture a town was to surround it, this method of building stopped it

1520, armoured knight no longer wanted, more musketeer men now

warfare becoming increasingly expensive:

• uniforms
• food
• welfare payments

Why was Parma’s task in the Netherlands impossible to achieve?

• resources were spread too thin
• not informed enough
• failed in attacks
• lack of money a constant worry

Foreign issues pressed upon Parma

• 1562-98 French were tearing each other apart
• Huguenots (ruled by Henry of Navarre) went against Catholic League (Duke of Guise), Kings remained in middle
• Philip really didn’t want Huguenots to win, wanted Catholic League to win
• Kings could be a danger
• nightmare scenario was Henry of Navarre becoming King

• allowed Sea Beggars to use ports but remained militarily neutral
• Spanish pouring money into France
• Elizabeth was target to different Catholic plots
• 1571 Ridolfi plot
• 1583 Throckmorton plot
• 1585 Babington plot
• all plots wanted Mary Queen of Scots as Queen as she was catholic
• 1585 had to face Netherlands dangerously close to Parma, an aggressive Spain and support for plots against her so signed Treaty of Nonsuch
• Whenever English army were up against Parma they were slaughtered
• 1587 Mary Queen of Scots execution by Elizabeth
• Philip now believed to be catholic king as he had claim to throne through his past marriage with Bloody Mary

J.L.Motley Quotes on Parma

‘cool, incisive, fearless, artful’

Parma’s military abilities were ‘unquestionably superior to those of Don John’

‘he had a single and concentrated kind of character’

‘he was no casuist nor pretender to holiness’