ABSTRACT
The military confrontation proved to be extended, lasting many decades - not least because the terrain, by nature already intersected with waters and marshy grounds, was additionally dotted with numerous fortresses and strongly fortified towns. Any military operation in this area was doomed to lose momentum before long; in a couple of months defenders were able to regain their strength. The Dutch Revolt was caused by a mix of unstable conditions and highly varied discontent that involved several layers of society at the same time. The French-Dutch War showed the enormous difference in strategy between the Dutch and the other belligerents. France strove towards the position of most powerful state on the continent and the dynastic concerns of the king dominated. The English fought their wars for the power and profit of the crown and the merchant community, trying to get more of what the Dutch had and claiming sovereignty over the seas through the impositions of their navigation acts.
