Union of Arras
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The Union of Arras (Dutch: Unie van Atrecht, Spanish: Unión de Arrás) was an accord signed on 6 January 1579 in Arras, under which the southern states of the Netherlands, today in the Wallonia region of Belgium and the Nord-Pas-de-Calais (and Picardy) régions in France, expressed their loyalty to the Spanish king Philip II and recognized his Governor-General, Don Juan of Austria. It is to be distinguished from the Union of Utrecht, signed later in the same month.
These were the conditions:
- There should be no more garrisons of foreign troops;
- The Council of State should be organized like that of the time of Charles V;
- Two thirds of the council members should be installed by all member states consenting.
- All privileges that were in force before the Dutch Revolt should be reinstated.
- Catholicism was the only religion. Any other religion (i.e. Calvinism) should be abolished.
The regions that signed it were:
- County of Hainaut
- County of Artois
- Lille, Douai and Orchies (Lilloise Flanders)
- Bishopric of Cambrai
The regions that favored the Union, but did not sign it, were
Alexander Farnese, the Duke of Parma, used these counties as a base to start his conquest of the separatist parts (members of the Union of Utrecht).