kids encyclopedia robot

List of governors of the Habsburg Netherlands facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Arms of Philip IV of Burgundy
Coat of arms of the Habsburg Netherlands.

The governor (Dutch: landvoogd) or governor-general (gouverneur-generaal) of the Habsburg Netherlands was a representative appointed by the Holy Roman emperor (1504-1556), the king of Spain (1556-1598, 1621-1706), and the archduke of Austria (1716-1794), to administer the Burgundian inheritance of the House of Habsburg in the Low Countries when the monarch was absent from the territory. The role of the governors-general significantly changed over time: initially tutors and advisors of Emperor Charles V, who lived at the Palace of Coudenberg, they served as generals during the Eighty Years' War between the Kingdom of Spain and the Dutch Republic. Frequently, the governor-general was a close relative of the Austrian or Spanish monarchs, though at other times Spanish or German noblemen filled the role. The governor-general was usually based in Brussels.

List of governors

Picture Name Took office Left office Relationship to monarch Appointed by
Engelbrecht-II-Nassau.jpg Engelbert II of Nassau
(1451–1504)
1501 1504 /

Bernhard Strigel 007.jpg Juan de Flandes (^), , Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Gemäldegalerie - Philipp der Schöne (1478-1506) - GG 3872 - Kunsthistorisches Museum.jpg Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor for Philip the Handsome

Circle of Quinten Massijs I - Portrait of Guillaume de Croy (1458-1521).jpg William de Croÿ
(1458–1521)
1504 1507 / Bernhard Strigel 007.jpg Titian - Portrait of Charles V Seated - WGA22964.jpg Maximilian I for Charles of Ghent
Bernard van Orley - Portrait of Margareta van Oostenrijk - WGA16689.jpg Margaret of Austria
(1480–1530)
1507 1 December 1530
(death)
Aunt of Charles
Charles became Duke of Burgundy in 1506 (emancipated in 1515), King of Spain and the Two Sicilies in 1516, Archduke of Austria and Holy Roman Emperor as Charles V in 1519 at the death of Maximilian.
Mary (1505–1558), Queen of Hungary.jpg Mary of Austria
(1505-1558)
January 1531 October 1555 Sister Titian - Portrait of Charles V Seated - WGA22964.jpgCharles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy (1580).jpg Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy
(1528–1580)
1555 1559 Cousin of Philip Titian - Portrait of Charles V Seated - WGA22964.jpg Portrait of Philip II of Spain by Sofonisba Anguissola - 002b.jpg Charles V for his son Philip.
In 1556, Philip V, Duke of Burgundy, became king of Spain as Philip II, thereby bringing the Habsburg Netherlands under Spanish control.
MargarethevonParma02.jpg Margaret of Parma
(1522–1586)
1559 1567 Half-sister

Portrait of Philip II of Spain by Sofonisba Anguissola - 002b.jpg Philip II of Spain

Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, III Duque de Alba, por Willem Key.jpg Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba
(1507–1582)
1567 1573 /
Luis de Requesens y Zúñiga (Museo del Prado).jpg Luis de Requesens y Zúñiga
(1528–1576)
1573 5 March 1576
(death)
/
John of Austria portrait.jpg John of Austria
(1547–1578)
1576 1 October 1578
(death)
Half-brother
Vaenius - Alexander Farnese.png Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma
(1545–1592)
1578 3 December 1592
(death)
Half-nephew
PeterErnstIvonMansfeldVorderort.jpg Peter Ernst I von Mansfeld-Vorderort
(1517–1604)
1592 1594 /
Martino Rota Archduke Ernest of Austria.png Ernest of Austria
(1553–1595)
1594 20 February 1595
(death)
Nephew
Pedro Henriquez de Acevedo.jpg Pedro Henriquez de Acevedo, Count of Fuentes
(1525–1610)
1595 1596 /
Pantoja22 Albrecht der Fromme, Erzherzog von Osterreich Munchen.jpg Albert of Austria
(1559–1621)
1596 1598 Nephew
In 1598, Philip II of Spain ceded the Netherlands to his daughter Isabella Clara Eugenia and nephew Albert, who married the next year. They reigned together until his death, when the Netherlands passed to their nephew, Philip IV of Spain, in whose name Isabella Clara Eugenia governed the countries until her death.
Isabella Clara Eugenia as a nun.jpg Isabella Clara Eugenia of Austria
(1566–1633)
1621 1 December 1633
(death)
Aunt Philip IV of Spain - Velázquez 1644.jpg

Philip IV of Spain

Kardinal-Infant Ferdinand von Österreich.jpg Ferdinand of Austria
(1609/1610–1641)
1633 9 November 1641
(death)
Brother
Don Francisco de Melo.jpg Francisco de Melo
(1597–1651)
1641 1644 /
Manuel de Moura Corte-Real.tiff Manuel de Moura
(1590–1651)
1644 1647 /
Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria by David Teniers d. J. - 1650s.jpg Leopold William of Austria
(1614–1662)
1647 1656 Cousin
Juanjosedeaustria.jpg John of Austria the Younger
(1629–1679)
1656 1659 Son
Luis de Benavides Carrillo.jpg Luis de Benavides Carrillo
(1608–1668)
1659 1664 /
D. FRANCISCO DE MOURA CORTE REAL.jpg Francisco de Moura
(1610–1675)
1664 1668 /
Carlos II de España, de Juan Carreño de Miranda (Museo del Prado).jpg

Charles II of Spain

InigoMelchorVelasco.JPG Íñigo Melchor de Velasco
(1608–1668)
1668 1670 /
Lambert-van-den-Bos-Schauplatz-des-Krieges MG 9479.tif Juan Domingo de Zuñiga y Fonseca
(1640–1716)
1670 1675 /
Carlos Aragón de Gurrea y Borja.jpg Carlos de Aragón de Gurrea
(1634–1692)
1675 1677 /
Alexander Farnese.jpg Alexander Farnese
(1635–1689)
1678 1682 Second Cousin
Ottone Enrico del Caretto
(1629–1685)
1682 1685 /
Francisco Antonio de Agurto, Marqués de Gastañaga.jpg Francisco Antonio de Agurto
(1640–1702)
1685 1692 /
Joseph Vivien 001.jpg Maximilian II Emanuel of Bavaria
(1662–1726)
1692 1706 Nephew-in-law
Uncle Felipe V de España, Rey de.jpg Philip V of Spain
Bedmar.jpg Isidoro de la Cueva y Benavides (acting)
(1652–1723)
1701 1704 During the absence of Maximilian of Bavaria
Following the War of the Spanish Succession, Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI became ruler of the Austrian Netherlands.
Prinz Eugene of Savoy.PNG Eugene of Savoy
(1663–1736)
1716 1724 Third cousin Workshop of Jacob van Schuppen - Portrait of Emperor Karl VI.png Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Porträt Wirich von Daun im HGM.jpg Wirich Philipp von Daun
(1669–1741)
February 1725 October 1725 /
Jan van Orley - Maria Elisabeth of Austria.jpg Maria Elisabeth of Austria
(1680–1741)
1725 26 August 1741
(death)
Sister
Aunt Kaiserin Maria Theresia (HRR).jpg Maria Theresa of Austria
Bedrich August von Harrach.jpeg Friedrich August von Harrach-Rohrau
(1696–1749)
1741 1744 /
Maria Anna of Austria Piaristenkeller Wien.jpg Maria Anna of Austria
(1718–1744)
1744 16 December 1744
(death)
Sister
Martin van Meytens 007.jpg Charles Alexander of Lorraine
(1712–1780)
4 July 1780
(death)
Brother-in-law
Albert Casimir and Maria Christina.jpg Maria Christina of Austria-Lorraine
(1742–1798)
with
Albert Casimir of Saxony
(1738–1822)
1781 1793 Sister and brother-in-law Anton von Maron 006.png Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Kaiser Leopold II in Feldmarschallsuniform c1790.jpg Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor
Aunt and uncle Joseph Kreutzinger - Kaiser Franz I.jpg Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
Archdukecharles1.jpg Charles of Austria-Lorraine
(1771–1847)
1793 1794 Brother

Thereafter, the French revolutionaries occupied the Low Countries until 1815. The Emperor formally recognized the loss of these territories by the Treaty of Lunéville of 1801. At the Congress of Vienna, in 1815, the Low Countries were re-united in a personal union under the House of Orange-Nassau. In 1830, Belgium declared its independence.

See also

  • Lord Chamberlain of the Archduchess
  • List of plenipotentiaries of Austrian Netherlands
  • List of rulers of the Netherlands
kids search engine
List of governors of the Habsburg Netherlands Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.