Young men from all over Europe flocked to the Dutch battlefields
René van Stipriaan reviews in NRC the book De Tachtigjarige Oorlog in Europese ogen (the eighty years’ war through European eyes), which contains a contribution by Huygens researcher Nina Lamal.
From NRC:
In De Tachtigjarige Oorlog in Europese ogen, fourteen historians convincingly demonstrate that events in the Netherlands were closely followed throughout Europe. The fact that a group of rebels dared to challenge the Spanish empire, and with it the Habsburg dynasty that was so dominant in Europe, and even managed to destabilise it, aroused not only curiosity and schadenfreude. It also led to indignation and fear. Or to a desire for action; young men from all over Europe flocked to the Dutch battlefields in search of military glory, good pay, and sometimes a few lines in the history books.
(…)
Nina Lamal’s reflection on Italy is exemplary. She shows eloquently how Italians closely followed the events in the Low Countries. The latest news was often read out in market squares. Gradually, they also developed increasing sympathy for the rebels. In 1618, after several very bad experiences with Spain, the Republic of Venice even openly sided with the Dutch Republic.
To the article (behind a paywall, Dutch only).
