Explain in what ways Charles V 'achieved full sovereignty and statehood for the Netherlands.'

1. Expansionism 

• Charles revived the expansionist policies of his predecesors recovering all the previous lands lost.
• In 1521, he took Tournai from the French and over the following years occupied Friesland, Utrecht, Overijssel and Gelderland extending the Habsburg provinces of the Netherlands.

2. Recognition 

• Charles after defeating the French King in 1526, 1529 and 1544, made the King of France renounce his rights to the 'French' provinces and forced him to recognise them as fully independent Habsburg territories.
• Previously,…