Everyone considers the storming of the Bastille (14 July 1789) the opening gambit of the Revolutionary-Napoleonic era. What fewer people know, is that in 1787 the Dutch Patriot Revolt - seeking to curb the powers of the prince of Orange - occurred. With the help of the prince's brother-in-law, the king of Prussia, the revolt was suppressed.
Also, the southern Netherlands were in revolt against the centralizing/modernizing reforms of Holy Roman Emperor Josef II, revolting in January '89 in the Brabant Revolution and then the Liègoise Revolution in August. This rash of revolutions was crushed by the Imperial Army by December 1790/January 1791 - the irony is that the selfsame king of Prussia who had sent troops to crush the revolt in the north, sent troops to support the rebels in the south.
What if these revolts had been successful? Would we see another version of the Dutch Wars of Independence/80 Years War? Would this start the French agitating even more for changes in the government if the Patriots were successful? How would this affect the house of Orange's standing in the Netherlands?
Thoughts and opinions are appreciated
Also, the southern Netherlands were in revolt against the centralizing/modernizing reforms of Holy Roman Emperor Josef II, revolting in January '89 in the Brabant Revolution and then the Liègoise Revolution in August. This rash of revolutions was crushed by the Imperial Army by December 1790/January 1791 - the irony is that the selfsame king of Prussia who had sent troops to crush the revolt in the north, sent troops to support the rebels in the south.
What if these revolts had been successful? Would we see another version of the Dutch Wars of Independence/80 Years War? Would this start the French agitating even more for changes in the government if the Patriots were successful? How would this affect the house of Orange's standing in the Netherlands?
Thoughts and opinions are appreciated