Britannica AI Icon

breaking of the images

Dutch history

Quick Summary

The "breaking of the images" was a religious and political movement in the Low Countries during the 16th century, primarily driven by Calvinist Protestants. This movement involved the destruction of religious art, statues, and valuables in Catholic churches. It was a significant factor contributing to the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule, fueled by religious, social, and economic grievances. The iconoclasm was a visible manifestation of the deep-seated resistance to the established Catholic order and the absolutist policies of the Spanish king. This event is distinct from the Byzantine Iconoclasm, which occurred centuries earlier and involved different theological and political contexts.1234

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.