Kepler's Complete Works, Vol. I (Opera Omnia)

Consequences of the Solar Eclipse of April 9, 1567.

When, in the year 1566, the Regent in the Netherlands Margaret of Parma, who governed the Netherlands for her half-brother, King Philip II of Spain received orders from Spain to put into effect the decrees of the Council of Trent original: "Tridentinische Concilium," the 16th-century ecumenical council that prompted the Counter-Reformation, the Inquisition, and all previous Imperial and Royal religious mandates with the utmost severity, the people were driven toward mutiny. Consequently, the majority of the nobility united against the Inquisition, which became known as the "Confederacy of the Beggars" Geusen: from the French "gueux," a name originally used as an insult by the Spanish but adopted as a title of honor by the Dutch rebels. This, however, could not prevent the uprising; instead, new preaching began in all the cities, and eventually, the images in churches were destroyed referring to the Beeldenstorm or Iconoclastic Fury. To appease the raging populace, the Regent permitted preaching for a time, but soon mercenary troops were raised, and such innovations were suppressed once more. Calvinist and Lutheran preachers were expelled from Antwerp original: "Antorff" on the very day of this eclipse, and everything was brought back into obedience.

Nevertheless, the King of Spain deemed it necessary to send the Duke of Alba Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, known as the "Iron Duke" into the country as a governor with full powers and a Spanish military force to establish a far stricter regime than that led by the Princess Regent Margaret. After Princess Margaret took her leave for Italy at the start of 1568, the Duke put his orders into effect, punishing the previous uprising among both the noble and the common people with terrible severity and without mercy. Out of this, the faction of the "Wild Beggars" original: "Wilden Geusen," the radical wing of the Dutch rebels arose. Among others, the Counts of Horn and Egmont were also beheaded.

In response, the Prince of Orange William the Silent raised mercenary troops in Germany to rescue the Netherlands. With this, the long-lasting war began—which today, after 54 years, has still not ended This comment indicates Kepler was writing this account around 1621. The "54 years" refers to the time elapsed since the start of the conflict in 1567/68. Rather, following the expiration of the 12-year truce that occurred in the meantime The Twelve Years' Truce lasted from 1609 to 1621, it now truly looks to be turning serious. It will eventually appear which side made good use of the truce, and which side, by contrast, became secure, overconfident, and ripe for punishment or final ruin.

Simultaneously with the Duke of Alba's march to the Netherlands, the Huguenots French Protestants in France—being the coreligionists of the Netherlanders and joined by many fugitives from the Netherlands—fell into new anxieties. They took up arms under the Prince of Condé, leading to the outbreak of the Second War of Religion in France. Peace was made on March 3, 1568, but it did not last long; first Count Palatine John Casimir and later Duke Wolfgang of Zweibrücken each marched to the aid of the Huguenots in France with German mercenary armies.

The Moriscos Maranen: a term used for the descendants of Muslims in Spain who had converted to Christianity, often under duress also revolted in the Kingdom of Granada; this uprising was only suppressed and they were overcome two years later.

In Germany, Duke Frederick of Saxony was placed under the imperial ban Duke John Frederick II, who was besieged at Gotha; Elector Augustus carried out the execution of the ban and leveled the fortress at Gotha.

Meanwhile, the Saxon theologians took the opportunity to fight amongst themselves, holding a colloquy a formal theological discussion at Altenburg.

In the Austrian lands, however, at the strong insistence of a great many people, the exercise of the Augsburg Confession original: "Augustanae Confessionis," the primary confession of faith for Lutherans was permitted.