Count Willem IV van den Bergh and Countess Maria of Nassau-Dillenburg got married at the onset of the Eighty Years War. From the late 15th century onwards, the Low Countries had been part of the Spanish Habsburg realm under king Philip II. This king wanted to become an absolute monarch. He was also a fiercely catholic king, regarding Catholicism as the only faith and had all protestants or heretics persecuted. This led to what became known as the Dutch Revolt from the side of the primarily protestant population of the northern Low Countries. Willem van den Bergh was one of the most influential leaders in a Pact of Noblemen who pleaded for mitigation of the persecutions. However, the effect of this was quite the opposite to what he had had in mind. All his possessions were forfeited. Count Willem and his family came to live in exile in Cologne and Bremen. Ten years later, his rights were finally restored, but he came to face quite a number of disappointments after that. All this made him switch side to the Spanish enemy. His sons were to build impressive military careers serving the Spanish.
For more information on the ‘treason’ of Willem IV van den Bergh, press A For more information on the life of Maria of Nassau, press B