Saint Nicolaas Janssen - Martyr of Gorkum

Saint Nicolaas Janssen - Martyr of Gorkum

In the early 1500's The Holy Roman Empire consisted of: Spain, Germany, parts of Italy, and the Lowlands (Netherland, Belgium and Luxembourg). The Lowlands were ruled by a Spanish Regent, Margaret of Parma and a Stadtholder, William I of Orange. Margaret was tolerant of the conversion to Calvinism from Catholicism. Philip II, king of Spain used the Spanish Inquisition to stop the Calvinists and sent the Duke of Alva to replace Margaret.
William the Silent or William I of Orange (1533-84), was a Dutch statesman. William's moves toward Dutch independence from Spain forced Philip to put a reward out for his death.

The Watergeuzen (Sea Beggars) was a loosely organized band of pirates and privateers that were formed into the "Dutch Navy". They supported themselves by plundering any ships they would come across. The Sea Beggars allied with the land forces of William the Silent to liberate the Lowlands.
In 1572 the Geux (Sea Beggars) captured Den Briel, Dordrecht and Gorinchem (Gorkum). The Catholic priests preached against the Geux and Calvinism. The terror campaign of the Spanish, the fierce defense by the citizens of Gorkum led to reprisals by the Geux.
On July 1572, 19 priests and religious leaders were tortured for 10 days. They refused to denounce their beliefs and were subjected to every indignity and method of torture imaginable. They were moved to a deserted monastery in Briel, their torture became paid entertainment for the townspeople. On July 9, they were hung in a barn, their bodies mutilated before and after death, and dumped naked in a ditch. The ditch became a place of pilgrimage and miracles; forming the basis of sainthood of the martyrs. The relics are kept in a Franciscan church in Brussels.

Fr. Nicholas Janssen Poppel (Nicasius van Heeze), (1522) was a Franciscan theologian, and native of Heeze, Brabant. Nicholas was an associate pastor to Leonard Vechel and Godrey van Duynsen ; they were captured together and hung.
In 1573 the duke of Alva is recalled after many failures and ill health. He died at 75, 10 years later.
In 1584 William I of Oranje was assassinated by Balthasar Gerardts in Delft for the reward by the king of Spain.
In 1586 Margaret of Parma died. Her son, Alexander Farnesse became governor-general of the Netherlands.