HISTORY

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The Sea Beggars were Dutch privateers during the late 16th century (1550 - early 1600's). The Netherlands during this time were under Spanish rule and Phillip II had recently come into power. Phillip II, like all Spaniards at the time, was fiercely Catholic and demanded that the Dutch people convert to Catholicism and began an inquisition as well as imposing impossible taxes on the people. This was greeted with resentment from the Dutch people who were mostly Calvinists and who were already chafing under the taxes currently in place. The regent appointed by Phillip II, Margret De Palma, approached the Spanish court with a plea to stop the inquisition and revoke the increased taxes but was ignored and dismissed as a "beggar". The term was meant as a derogatory name but the Dutch embraced it and referred to themselves as the "beggars".

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It was during this time that the Sea Beggars came into existence. Often coming from noble families or wealthy merchants the Sea Beggars gathered together ships and wrecked havoc along the coast. Although Spanish and Portuguese ships were their favorite target they would also attack peaceful vessels, even from their own country. This initially earned them a bad reputation as ruthless pirates. However, as the 80 years war began the Sea Beggars started to play a more prominent role. Their first major victory came when they captured the city of Den Brielle. The people there had been forced to house a garrison of Spaniards and it was destroying the city who could not afford to support such a burden. The Sea Beggars, feared almost as much as the Spaniards at this time, came and captured the city from the Spanish and instead of burning and looting as they typically did they kept their promise of leaving the city in tact, thus becoming protectors rather than destroyers. Many other victories followed and although the Sea Beggars were still considered privateers they were also a pivotal force in the Dutch resistance and are celebrated in many Dutch folk-songs.

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~*~*~*THE SEA BEGGARS*~*~*~

The Van Den Helder's came from a wealthy merchant family who traded goods, mainly ale, beer, and whiskey, along the coasts of Europe. When the 80 years war began the ship was turned over to Jerik Van Den Helder who used it as a Sea Beggar vessel to fight off the Spanish. Their ship often made port in Emden, Germany where Anders Van Den Helder inherited, through his marriage to Clara, The Inn of the Golden Fountain now known as The Beggar's Inn.

As a member of the group you can either sail with The Golden Fox as a rapier fighter or be associated with The Beggar's Inn as either a worker or guest.

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RESOURCES

Long live the Beggars! Christians, ye must cry.
Long live the Beggars! pluck up courage then.
Long live the Beggars! if ye would not die.
Long live the Beggars! shout, ye Christian men.

—Beggar's Song (1570)

"Wir sind bettler. Hoc est verum." ( We are beggars; this is true.) - last words of Martin Luther

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LINKS

SCA Homepage: http://www.sca.org/welcome.html

SCA names: http://heraldry.sca.org/laurel/names.html

Dutch language: http://homepage.mac.com/schuffelen/Dutch8.html

History: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geuzen

Book on the History of Sea Beggars: http://books.google.com/books?id=5icqAAAAYAAJ...

History of Emden: http://www.godutch.com/newspaper/index.php?id=269

The Battle of Den Brielle: http://www.hollandhistory.net/.../1572-battle-of-briel.html

Sea Beggar Medals: http://daymix.com/...//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geuzen_medals

Timeline of 80 years war: http://www.historyreconsidered.com/.../18-the-eighty...