The
Union of Utrecht () was a treaty signed on 23 January
1579 in
Utrecht, the
Netherlands, unifying the northern provinces of the Netherlands, until then under the control of
Habsburg Spain.
The Union of Utrecht is regarded as the foundation of the
Republic of the Seven United Provinces, which was not recognized by the Spanish Empire until the
Twelve Years' Truce in
1609.
The treaty was signed on
23 January by
Holland,
Zeeland,
Utrecht (but not all of Utrecht) and the province (but not the city) of
Groningen. The treaty was a reaction of the
Protestant provinces to the 1579
Union of Arras (Dutch:
Unie van Atrecht), in which the southern provinces declared their support for
Roman Catholic Spain.
On February 4
Ghent also signed. In March some cities from
Friesland joined it, as well as 3 of the 4 quarters of
Guelders. In the summer,
Amersfoort from the province of Utrecht also joined, together with
Ypres,
Antwerp,
Breda and
Brussels. In February
1580,
Lier,
Bruges and the surrounding area also signed the Union. The city of
Groningen shifted in favor under influence of the
stadtholder for Friesland,
George van Rennenberg, and also signed the treaty. Later on,
Zutphen also signed so
Guelders (of which Zutphen is one of the quarters) supported the Union completely. This happened in April
1580, as did the signing of
Overijssel and
Drenthe.
Map of the Spanish Netherlands, the Union of Utrecht and the Union of Arras (
1579).
This leads to a general and simplified overview of the parts that joined:
Flanders was almost entirely conquered by the Spanish troops, as was half of Brabant. The United Provinces still recognized Spanish rule after the Union of Utrecht. However, the Union contributed to the deterioration in the relationship between the provinces and their lord, and in
1581 the United Provinces declared their independence of the king in the
Act of Abjuration.
See also
