Answer

These stories from the sixteenth century performed two functions: (1) by being presented as episodes in ´Flemish´ history, they stimulated a stronger sense of Flemish identity – history was being used to develop a Flemish national consciousness; (2) in a political climate dominated by the Liberal – Catholic conflict, the idea that the Beggars, as well as figures like >>>William of Orange, were precursors of the freethinkers and anticlericals of the nineteenth century – champions of liberty and tolerance – had an inspiring effect on many Flemish Liberals.

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