Why Dutch?

Posted by Unenlightened Taoist (62.225.249.23) on November 30, 2002 at 14:18:23:

In Reply to: Questions, Quesadillas, and Quadrapelegics posted by Cory (172.195.72.52) on November 29, 2002 at 21:24:17:

9) Why is the country called Netherlands or Holland but the people are called Dutch?

Until the time of Charles V (early 16. Century), Emperor of the "Holy Roman Empire of German Nation" and King of Spain, The Netherlands belonged to Germany. So they called themselves "duits", lower German for "deutsch" meaning German.

Charles V divided his Empire giving Germany to his son Ferdinand I and Spain to Philip II. Philip II also got the Netherlands and Belgium. Forcing them to become Catholic he made the eastern part fight for independence. They became the Netherlands.

Nevertheless the Citizens of the Netherlands felt "duits", German and were called Dutch by trhe English

BTW: The Catholic Parts became the Spanish Netherlands, which in Napoleons time called themselves Belgium according to the Belgae described by Cesar.

Jan, if I'm wrong correct me.

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