They knew of the Duchy of Liège. Though it was territory of the Austrian Empire, the local region enjoyed a high degree of autonomy, and could even retain 80% of its taxes for its own development.
The Duchy of Liège not only enjoyed the protection, trade relations, and diplomatic privileges of the Austrian Empire, it could even receive economic aid from the homeland.
Though these people very much wanted independence as well, in order to avoid being annexed by France, they had to find a backer large enough, and the Austrian Empire could not have been more suitable.
Thus, the Spanish nationalists, as members of the elite class, did not oppose the arrival of the Austrian Empire. As for the Austrian Empire moving to suppress the great local nobles, as well as the landlords and gentry, for these newly risen classes, that was instead good news.
Coupled with the continuous victories on the battlefield, the vast majority of people in Spain soon turned toward the Austrian Empire. Though Spain's southeastern coast was filled with beacon smoke everywhere, those truly resisting the Austrian Empire were, on the contrary, a minority.
Most nobles still possessed the basic wisdom for survival. In the early stages of the war, most of them remained on the sidelines, yet those nobles' and landlords' armed forces were truly somewhat unable to withstand a beating.
On the other hand, the legions made up of vagrants and farmers were also far too savage. They feared those fellows would use this opportunity to expand the scope of their attacks, and so they chose to slide to their knees at light speed.
Never mind renting out their land—as long as they could preserve their property, most nobles were even willing to rent out their wives and daughters, since in the eyes