Governors of the Habsburg Netherlands
Encyclopedia
The Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands ruled the Habsburg Netherlands
as a representative of the Duke of Burgundy
(Burgundy being held, at various times, by Kings of Castile and Archdukes of Austria).
The Duke of Parma, the appointee of Philip II, his uncle, was opposed by the candidate of the rebellious Estates, another nephew of the King, Archduke Matthias of Austria
, until 1581, when he returned to Austria following the United Provinces' declaration of independence.
In 1581 the Seven United Provinces
declared themselves independent of Philip II of Spain
.
Spanish Netherlands
Archduke Albert of Austria and Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia of Spain rule the Habsburg Netherlands as sovereigns from 1598 to 1621.
The Southern Netherlands were occupied by the British and Dutch from 1706–1714.
Austrian Netherlands
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
, the Low Countries were re-united in a personal union under the House of Orange-Nassau
.
Habsburg Netherlands
The Habsburg Netherlands was a geo-political entity covering the whole of the Low Countries from 1482 to 1556/1581 and solely the Southern Netherlands from 1581 to 1794...
as a representative of the Duke of Burgundy
Duke of Burgundy
Duke of Burgundy was a title borne by the rulers of the Duchy of Burgundy, a small portion of traditional lands of Burgundians west of river Saône which in 843 was allotted to Charles the Bald's kingdom of West Franks...
(Burgundy being held, at various times, by Kings of Castile and Archdukes of Austria).
Habsburg Netherlands
- 1506–1507 Guillaume de Croÿ, Marquis of AerschotWilliam de CroÿWilliam II de Croÿ, Lord of Chièvres , later Duke of Sora and Arce, Baron of Roccaguglielma William II de Croÿ, Lord of Chièvres (1458 – 28 May 1521) (also known as: Guillaume II de Croÿ, sieur de Chièvres in French; Guillermo II de Croÿ, señor de Chièvres, Xevres or Xebres in Spanish;...
- 1507–1530 Margaret of Austria, Duchess of Savoy
- 1530–1555 Mary of Austria, Queen of Hungary
- 1555–1559 Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of SavoyEmmanuel Philibert, Duke of SavoyEmmanuel Philibert was Duke of Savoy from 1553 to 1580....
- 1559–1567 Margaret of Austria, Duchess of Parma
- 1567–1573 Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of AlbaFernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of AlbaDon Fernando Álvarez de Toledo y Pimentel, 3rd Duke of Alba was a Spanish general and governor of the Spanish Netherlands , nicknamed "the Iron Duke" in the Low Countries because of his harsh and cruel rule there and his role in the execution of his political opponents and the massacre of several...
- 1573–1576 Luis de Requesens y Zuñiga
- 1576–1578 John of Austria
- 1578–1581 Alessandro Farnese, Duke of Parma and Piacenza
- 1578–1582 Margaret of Austria, Duchess of Parma (co-regent)
The Duke of Parma, the appointee of Philip II, his uncle, was opposed by the candidate of the rebellious Estates, another nephew of the King, Archduke Matthias of Austria
Matthias, Holy Roman Emperor
Matthias of Austria was Holy Roman Emperor from 1612, King of Hungary and Croatia from 1608 and King of Bohemia from 1611...
, until 1581, when he returned to Austria following the United Provinces' declaration of independence.
In 1581 the Seven United Provinces
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
declared themselves independent of Philip II of Spain
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
.
Spanish NetherlandsSouthern NetherlandsSouthern Netherlands were a part of the Low Countries controlled by Spain , Austria and annexed by France...
- 1581–1592 Alessandro Farnese, Duke of Parma and Piacenza
- 1592–1594 Count Peter Ernst von Mansfeld
- 1594–1595 Archduke Ernest of AustriaArchduke Ernest of AustriaArchduke Ernest of Austria was an Austrian nobleman, the son of Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor and Maria of Spain....
- 1595–1596 Pedro Enríquez de Acevedo, Count of Fuentes
- 1596–1598 Archduke Albert of Austria
Archduke Albert of Austria and Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia of Spain rule the Habsburg Netherlands as sovereigns from 1598 to 1621.
- 1621–1633 Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia of SpainInfanta Isabella Clara Eugenia of SpainIsabella Clara Eugenia of Austria was sovereign of the Spanish Netherlands in the Low Countries and the north of modern France, together with her husband Albert. In some sources, she is referred to as Clara Isabella Eugenia...
- 1633–1641 Ferdinand, Cardinal-InfanteCardinal-Infante FerdinandCardinal-Infante Ferdinand was Governor of the Spanish Netherlands, Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, Infante of Spain, Archduke of Austria, Archbishop of Toledo , and military...
- 1641–1644 Francisco de Mello, Marquis of Terceira
- 1644–1647 Manuel de Moura, 2nd Marquis of Castel Rodrigo
- 1647–1656 Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of AustriaArchduke Leopold Wilhelm of AustriaArchduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria was an Austrian military commander, Governor of the Spanish Netherlands from 1647 to 1656, and a patron of the arts.-Biography:...
- 1656–1659 John of Austria the YoungerJohn of Austria the YoungerJohn of Austria was a Spanish general and political figure. He was the only natural son of Philip IV of Spain to be acknowledged by the King and trained for military command and political administration...
- 1659–1664 Luis de Benavides Carrillo, Marquis of CaracenaLuis de Benavides Carrillo, Marquis of CaracenaLuis Francisco de Benavides Carrillo de Toledo, Marquis of Caracena, Marquis of Fromista was a Spanish general and political figure...
- 1664–1668 Francisco de Moura, 3rd Marquis of Castel Rodrigo
- 1668–1670 Íñigo Melchor de Velasco, 7th Duke of FríasÍñigo Melchor de Velasco, 7th Duke of FriasÍñigo Melchor de Velasco, 7th Duke of Frías, Grandee of Spain, , was a Spanish nobleman and Governor-General of the Spanish Netherlands.-Biography:...
- 1670–1675 Juan Domingo de Zuñiga y FonsecaJuan Domingo de Zuñiga y FonsecaJuan Domingo Méndez de Haro y Fernández de Córdoba was a Spanish military and political figure...
- 1675–1677 Carlos de Gurrea, Duke of VillahermosaCarlos de Gurrea, Duke of VillahermosaCarlos de Aragón de Gurrea y de Borja, 9th duke of Villahermosa was a Spanish nobleman, viceroy and governor.He was Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands between 1675 and 1677. During his reign Spanish authority over the Southern Netherlands was nominal...
- 1678–1682 Alessandro di Odoardo Farnese, Prince of Parma
- 1682–1685 Otto Henry, Marquis of Caretto
- 1685–1692 Francisco Antonio de Agurto, Marquis of GastañagaFrancisco Antonio de Agurto, Marquis of GastañagaFrancisco Antonio de Agurto y Salcedo, first Marquis of Gastañaga was a Spanish nobleman, viceroy and governor of Basque origin. He became first Marquis de Gastañaga in 1676 and was Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands between 1685 and 1692...
- 1692–1706 Maximilian II Emanuel, elector of BavariaMaximilian II Emanuel, Elector of BavariaMaximilian II , also known as Max Emanuel or Maximilian Emanuel, was a Wittelsbach ruler of Bavaria and an elector of the Holy Roman Empire. He was also the last Governor of the Spanish Netherlands and duke of Luxembourg...
The Southern Netherlands were occupied by the British and Dutch from 1706–1714.
Austrian NetherlandsSouthern NetherlandsSouthern Netherlands were a part of the Low Countries controlled by Spain , Austria and annexed by France...
- 1716–1724 Prince Eugene of SavoyPrince Eugene of SavoyPrince Eugene of Savoy , was one of the most successful military commanders in modern European history, rising to the highest offices of state at the Imperial court in Vienna. Born in Paris to aristocratic Italian parents, Eugene grew up around the French court of King Louis XIV...
- 1725–1725 Count Wirich Philipp von DaunCount Wirich Philipp von DaunCount Wirich Philipp von Daun was an Austrian Field Marshal in the War of Spanish Succession, and father of the better known Leopold Josef Graf Daun....
(Governor-general ad interim from February until October 1725) - 1725–1741 Archduchess Maria Elisabeth of Austria
- 1741–1744 Count Friedrich August von Harrach-RohrauCount Friedrich August von Harrach-RohrauCount Friedrich August von Harrach-Rohrau, , was plenipotentiary minister of the Austrian Netherlands and became Governor-General ad interim from ....
- 1744–1744 Archduchess Maria Anna of Austria and Prince Charles Alexander of LorrainePrince Charles Alexander of LorrainePrince Charles Alexander of Lorraine was a Lorraine-born Austrian soldier.-Background:Charles was the son of Leopold Joseph, Duke of Lorraine and Élisabeth Charlotte d'Orléans...
- 1744–1780 Prince Charles Alexander of LorrainePrince Charles Alexander of LorrainePrince Charles Alexander of Lorraine was a Lorraine-born Austrian soldier.-Background:Charles was the son of Leopold Joseph, Duke of Lorraine and Élisabeth Charlotte d'Orléans...
- 1781–1793 Archduchess Maria Christina, Duchess of TeschenArchduchess Maria Christina, Duchess of TeschenMaria Christina, Duchess of Teschen , called "Mimi", was the fourth daughter and fifth child of Maria Theresa of Austria and Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor...
and Duke Albert of Saxe-Teschen - 1793–1794 Archduke Charles of Austria
Thereafter, the French revolutionaries occupied the Low Countries until 1815. The Emperor formally recognized the loss of these territories by the Treaty of Lunéville
Treaty of Lunéville
The Treaty of Lunéville was signed on 9 February 1801 between the French Republic and the Holy Roman Emperor Francis II, negotiating both on behalf of his own domains and of the Holy Roman Empire...
of 1801. At the Congress of Vienna
Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna was a conference of ambassadors of European states chaired by Klemens Wenzel von Metternich, and held in Vienna from September, 1814 to June, 1815. The objective of the Congress was to settle the many issues arising from the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic Wars,...
, the Low Countries were re-united in a personal union under the House of Orange-Nassau
House of Orange-Nassau
The House of Orange-Nassau , a branch of the European House of Nassau, has played a central role in the political life of the Netherlands — and at times in Europe — since William I of Orange organized the Dutch revolt against Spanish rule, which after the Eighty Years' War...
.