Pacification of Ghent

Timeline

1. 1576Ghent · FlandersAfter the Spanish Fury in Antwerp, representatives of the northern and southern provinces of the Netherlands were summoned to Ghent for deliberation. Catholic provinces and Calvinist rebel provinces sat down at the negotiating table under a common threat to discuss joint measures.
2. 1576Ghent · FlandersThe provincial representatives signed the Pacification of Ghent; its core clauses included: temporarily setting aside religious disputes, jointly demanding the expulsion of Spanish troops, and restoring provincial privileges and the rights of the Pragmatic Sanction. This was the first political alliance document agreed upon by all seventeen provinces.
3. 1577–1579Provinces of the Netherlands · NetherlandsAfter the treaty was signed, the provinces briefly fought Spain jointly, but religious differences and conflicts of interest grew increasingly sharp. In 1579 the seven northern provinces formed the Union of Utrecht and the southern provinces formed the Union of Arras; the Pacification of Ghent became a dead letter, and the Netherlands split permanently.