Religious reorganization of the Spanish Netherlands

The religious reorganization of the Spanish Netherlands refers to the implementation of Catholic policies by religious and civil authorities in the Spanish Netherlands and the Principality of Liège as part of the Catholic Reformation following the Council of Trent. Central to this process was the establishment of new dioceses in the Spanish Netherlands, initiated by papal bulls in 1559 and 1561 at the request of Philip II. Nineteen dioceses replaced the previous five to enhance the independence of local religious authorities from neighboring states such as France and to position bishops closer to their clergy, improving the effectiveness of their evangelical mission.

Source: Wikipedia — Religious reorganization of the Spanish Netherlands (CC BY-SA 4.0)