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United Provinces of the Netherlands

Republic of the Seven United Netherlands
Republiek der Zeven Verenigde Nederlanden
1581–1795
Flag Coat of arms
Motto
Concordia res parvae crescunt
"Unity makes strength"
Anthem
Het Wilhelmus
"The William"
Location of the Dutch Republic in 1789
Capital Amsterdam
Languages Dutch, Zeelandic, West Flemish, Dutch Low Saxon, Frisian languages
Religion Dutch Reformed
Government Confederative republic
Stadtholder
 •  1581–1584 William I (first)
 •  1751–1795 William V (last)
Grand Pensionary
 •  1581–1585 Paulus Buys (first)
 •  1787–1795 Laurens van de Spiegel (last)
Legislature States General
 •  State council Council of State
Historical era Early modern
 •  Union of Utrecht 23 January 1579
 •  Act of Abjuration 26 July 1581
 •  Peace of Münster 30 January 1648
 •  Batavian Revolution 19 January 1795
Population
 •  1795 est. 1,880,500 
Currency Guilder
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Habsburg Netherlands
Batavian Republic
Today part of

The Dutch Republic, also known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands (Republiek der Zeven Verenigde Nederlanden), Republic of the United Netherlands or Republic of the Seven United Provinces (Republiek der Zeven Verenigde Provinciën), was a republic in Europe existing from 1581, when part of the Netherlands separated from Spanish rule, until 1795. It preceded the Batavian Republic, the Kingdom of Holland, the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, and ultimately the modern Kingdom of the Netherlands. Alternative names include the United Provinces (Verenigde Provinciën), Seven Provinces (Zeven Provinciën), Federated Dutch Provinces (Foederatae Belgii Provinciae), and Dutch Federation (Belgica Foederata).

Until the 16th century, the Low Countries – corresponding roughly to the present-day Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg – consisted of a number of duchies, counties, and Prince-bishoprics, almost all of which were under the supremacy of the Holy Roman Empire, with the exception of the county of Flanders, which was under the Kingdom of France.

Most of the Low Countries had come under the rule of the House of Burgundy and subsequently the House of Habsburg. In 1549 Holy Roman Emperor Charles V issued the Pragmatic Sanction, which further unified the Seventeen Provinces under his rule. Charles was succeeded by his son, King Philip II of Spain. In 1568 the Netherlands, led by William I of Orange, revolted against Philip II because of high taxes, persecution of Protestants by the government, and Philip's efforts to modernize and centralize the devolved-medieval government structures of the provinces. This was the start of the Eighty Years' War.


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