Pax Hispanica
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Pax Hispanica (Latin for "Spanish Peace") refers to a period of twenty-three years coinciding with Spanish supremacy in Europe (1598-1621), when Spain achieved European stability after various conflicts with France, England and the Dutch United Provinces.
The peace was structured by several treaties:
- 1598: The Peace of Vervins ended Spanish involvement in the French Wars of Religion. Spain had been at war with France, with only brief pauses, since the Second Italian War of 1499.
- 1604: The Treaty of London concluded the Anglo-Spanish War on terms largely favourable to Spain.
- 1609: The Twelve Years' Truce halted the fighting in the Spanish Netherlands.
Spain, the global superpower nation of that time, had many conflicts with the Dutch since Philip II because of Catholicism which many Dutch people did not accept. In 1579 they founded the Utrecht Union, after the reconquest of many territories in the Dutch provinces by Alejandro Farnesio with English support (The Utrecht Union). After getting Ostende by Spinola, the Dutch continued their rebellion, finally achieving the independence of part of the Dutch country from Philip III. After this, Spain held the peace in Europe for nine more years, when the Twelve Years' Truce ended.
