ABSTRACT
William was the leader of the Revolt, a Revolt which initially encompassed all 17 provinces of the Netherlands. He strove valiantly to reconcile the southern provinces and those of Holland and Zeeland and the others in the Revolt in the north in order to maintain some sort of unity. However, at least one historian has judged that by the beginning of 1578 the wider Union of Brussels was disintegrating. 1 His determination and search continued for reconciliation and unity, even after the Unions of Utrecht and Arras had been formed and Parma was in lengthy and extended negotiations with the latter. He eventually was forced to acknowledge that the Revolt, and independence would be confined to the seven northern provinces. However, this itself was a great achievement, considering the complex political problems as well as the Spanish military opposition that William had to overcome. He was the only politician who by strength of personality could motivate the provinces to cooperate. 2
