Editing Geuzen (section)

==Origin of the name==
The leaders of the nobles who signed a solemn league known as the [[Compromise of Nobles]], by which they bound themselves to assist in defending the rights and liberties of the Netherlands against the civil and religious despotism of [[Philip II of Spain]], were [[Louis of Nassau]] and [[Hendrick van Brederode]]. On 5 April 1566, permission was obtained for the confederates to present a petition of grievances, called the Request, to the regent, [[Margaret of Parma|Margaret, Duchess of Parma]]. About 250 nobles marched to the palace accompanied by Louis of Nassau and Brederode. The regent was at first alarmed at the appearance of so large a body, but one of her councillors, [[Charles de Berlaymont|Berlaymont]], allegedly remarked "''N'ayez pas peur Madame, ce ne sont que des gueux''" ("Fear not madam, they are only beggars").

[[File:Emblem of the Geuzen.jpg|thumb|left|Traditional emblem of the Geuzen]]
The appellation was not forgotten. In a speech at a great feast held by some 300 confederates at the Hotel Culemburg three days later, Brederode declared that if need be they were all ready to become beggars in their country's cause. Henceforward the name became a party title. The patriot party adopted the emblems of beggary, the wallet and the bowl, as trinkets to be worn on their hats or their girdles, and a [[Geuzen medals|medal]] was struck having on one side the head of Philip II, on the other two clasped hands with the motto ''Fidèle au roy, jusqu'à porter la besace'' ("Loyal to the King, up to carrying the beggar's pouch"). The original league of Beggars was short-lived, crushed by [[Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba|Alba]], but its principles survived and were to be ultimately triumphant.

In the [[Dutch language]] the word ''{{Lang|nl|geuzennaam}}'' is used for [[reappropriation#Linguistic reappropriation or reclaimation|linguistic reappropriation]]: a pejorative term used with pride by the people called that way.