History of the United Netherlands from the Death of William the Silent to the Twelve Year's Truce, 1607b

"History of the United Netherlands from the Death of William the Silent to the Twelve Year's Truce--1609" by John Lothrop Motley is a historical account written during the late 19th century. The book explores the political and military conflicts between the United Provinces and the Spanish Empire, detailing the complex negotiations leading to the Twelve Years' Truce. It focuses on the broader themes of independence, religious freedom, and the struggle for sovereignty. The opening of the narrative presents a turbulent period marked by the deliberations for peace in Spain and the dissatisfaction among courtiers regarding proposed peace treaties with the rebellious Netherlands. Key figures, such as the Marquis Spinola and Prince Maurice, grapple with the balance between military strategies and political negotiations, revealing the tensions and intrigues shaping the quest for truce. Complaints about military operations, court politics, and conflicting allegiances establish the backdrop for the conflicts and motivations of leaders on both sides, setting the stage for intense diplomatic maneuvering. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

John Lothrop Motley was an American author and diplomat. As a popular historian, he is best known for his works on the Netherlands, the three volume work The Rise of the Dutch Republic and four volume History of the United Netherlands. As United States Minister to Austria in the service of the Abraham Lincoln administration, Motley helped to prevent European intervention on the side of the Confederates in the American Civil War. He later served as Minister to the United Kingdom during the Ulysses S. Grant administration.