The Dutch Revolt and Catholic Exile in Reformation Europe [Hardcover]

This book recaptures the experience of exile and religious radicalisation among sixteenth-century Catholic refugees during the Dutch Revolt.The history of the flight and exile of Catholics during the Dutch Revolt has long been overlooked. This book explores the forced migration of thousands of Catholic men and women and its profound impact on the course of the Counter-Reformation and the history of the Low Countries.The history of the flight and exile of Catholics during the Dutch Revolt has long been overlooked. This book explores the forced migration of thousands of Catholic men and women and its profound impact on the course of the Counter-Reformation and the history of the Low Countries.The Dutch Revolt of the sixteenth century sparked one of the largest refugee crises of Reformation Europe. This book explores the flight, exile and eventual return of Catholic men and women during the war. By mapping the Catholic diaspora across Europe, Geert H. Janssen explains how exile worked as a catalyst of religious radicalisation and transformed the world views, networks and identities of the refugees. Like their Protestant counterparts, the displaced Catholic communities became the mobilising forces behind a militant International Catholicism. The Catholic exile experience thus facilitated the permanent separation of the northern and southern Netherlands. Drawing on diaries, letters and evidence from material culture, this book offers a penetrating picture of the lives of early modern refugees and their agency in the Counter-Reformation.Introduction; Part I. Flight: 1. Corpus Christianum divided; 2. Exodus; Part II. Exile: 3. Conditions of displacement; 4. The Counter-Reformation of the refugee; 5. International Catholicism; Part III. Return: 6. A new order: the southern Netherlands; 7. Negotiating diversity: the Dutch Republic; Epilogue; Bibliography; Index. Janssen combines sharp analysis, clear writing, and archival depth in a compelling narrative that puts a human faclSv