The French in the Netherlands?

In 1579, Francis, the Duke of Anjou and brother to the King of France was invited by William the Silent to become hereditary sovereign of the Netherlands. He also became the Duke of Brabant of Count of Flanders for a time, but wasn't very popular amongst the Dutch (because he was both French and Catholic) and quickly ruined himself trying to take Antwerp, because he was dissatisfied with his lack of powers.

Is there anyway to maintain Anjou in the Netherlands as a hereditary sovereign? Perhaps his attack on Antwerp succeeds and he manages a few more military victories which increase his popularity amongst the Dutch? His arrival scared the Duke of Parma, who feared the Dutch gaining the other hand in the eighty years war. Shortly after his disgrace, he died, which also paved the way for Henry of Navarre to become heir to the French throne.

What effects will this have on history, as Anjou will no doubt succeed his brother? A union of France and the Netherlands seems quite scary..
 
Well considering the type of person it appears Francis was, I think he'll outstay his welcome, annoy the English into allying with Henry of Navarre and the dutch, and get himself kicked out.
A lot will then depend on whether Philip II of Spain aids France or not.
 
Well considering the type of person it appears Francis was, I think he'll outstay his welcome, annoy the English into allying with Henry of Navarre and the dutch, and get himself kicked out.
A lot will then depend on whether Philip II of Spain aids France or not.


Why would HEnry of Navarre not want a French Netherlands?
 
The Dutch revolt against the Spanish was caused in large part by the centralization efforts of the Habsburgs, which were a continuation of the Valois-Burgundian centralization efforts.

This Burgundian centralization was modelled on the French ones (e.g. the installation of an Estates-General in Bruges (later Brussels) inspired by the one in Paris).

Considering this initially French tendency for a top-down approach to governing (and France being Catholic doesn't help here), I think we can safely predict another, or continued, Dutch revolt, now versus the French.
 
Top