Fernando Alvarez de Toledo failed to suppress the Calvinist movement in the Netherlands.
(1507-1582) Spanish general and statesman. He is known for his violent methods against the Protestant movement in the Netherlands. Fernando Alvarez de Toledo (duke of Alba) was born on 29 October 1507 in Piedrahita (Avila) and died on 11 December 1582 in Lisbon. He is the son of one of the noble families of Spain. He was raised by his grandfather, who was a staunch Catholic, as his father died at a young age. In 1524, he joined the forces of Charles V fighting against the French in Fuenterrabia. Shortly after Kent was taken, he was appointed as its manager. In 1535, during the Spanish conquest of Tunisia from the Ottomans, he commanded part of the Spanish army. In 1546-1547, he commanded the cavalry division of the imperial armies in the war of Charles V against the Schmalkalden Alliance, founded by German Protestant princes.
Fernando Álvarez de Toledo y Pimentel, 3rd Duke of Alba (29 October 1507 – 11 December 1582), known as the Grand Duke of Alba in Spain and Portugal and as the Iron Duke (Dutch: IJzeren Hertog or shortly 'Alva') in the Netherlands, was a Spanish noble, general and diplomat.
He became commander-in-chief of the imperial powers in Italy in 1552, and governor-general of Naples in 1556 after the accession of Philip II, son of Charles V, to the throne. In the last period of the Franco-Spanish war, which started again in 1551, in 1557, he defeated the French and forced Pope Paul IV, an ally of France, to an agreement with Spain.
During this period, Calvinist movements against Spain were widespread in the Netherlands (Dutch). The poor people continued the uprising started by the nobles, and the nobles were unable to control the movement. Philip II sent Alba, who had become one of his two most important ministers, to Holland in 1567 with an army of 20000 men to suppress the uprising.
Alba set up a tribunal here, popularly known as the Bloody Council, which disregarded all local laws; thousands of people were punished. The leaders of the uprising, the earls of Egmont and Hoorn, were beheaded; The lands of those who did not appear in court were taken from them.
Alba also levied taxes on all sales. These heavy taxes of up to 10%, called the "tenth pence", led to new uprisings and as a result, the "tenth pence" could not be collected.
In 1572, armies of the poor captured the north of the country where Calvinism had taken root and most of Zeeland. The nobles who wanted to take advantage of the situation also attacked the Netherlands from Germany and France. Defeated, Alba returned to Spain at his own request in 1573.
In 1580, King Philip II placed Alba at the head of the army, which was prepared to suppress the uprising in Portugal. Alba took Lisbon with his army and died there.