List of governors of the Habsburg Netherlands

Last updated

Coat of arms of the Habsburg Netherlands. Arms of Philip IV of Burgundy.svg
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

PictureNameTook officeLeft officeRelationship to monarchAppointed by
Engelbrecht-II-Nassau.jpg Engelbert II of Nassau
(1451–1504)
15011504/

Portret van Maximiliaan I (1459-1519) Rijksmuseum SK-A-3293.jpeg 16e eeuw onbekend schilder - Filips de Schone, Aartshertog van Oostenrijk, Hertog van Bourgondie.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)
15041507/ Portret van Maximiliaan I (1459-1519) Rijksmuseum SK-A-3293.jpeg Anonymous, Portrait of Charles V, Rijksmuseum-(trans back).png Maximilian I for Charles of Ghent
Bernard van Orley - Portrait of Margareta van Oostenrijk - WGA16689.jpg Margaret of Austria
(1480–1530)
15071 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 1531October 1555Sister Anonymous, Portrait of Charles V, Rijksmuseum-(trans back).png
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy (1580).jpg Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy
(1528–1580)
15551559Cousin of Philip Anonymous, Portrait of Charles V, Rijksmuseum-(trans back).png 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)
15591567Half-sister

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

Fernando Alvarez de Toledo, III Duque de Alba, por Willem Key.jpg Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba
(1507–1582)
15671573/
Luis de Requesens y Zuniga (Museo del Prado).jpg Luis de Requesens y Zúñiga
(1528–1576)
15735 March 1576
(death)
/
John of Austria portrait.jpg John of Austria
(1547–1578)
15761 October 1578
(death)
Half-brother
Vaenius - Alexander Farnese.png Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma
(1545–1592)
15783 December 1592
(death)
Half-nephew
PeterErnstIvonMansfeldVorderort.jpg Peter Ernst I von Mansfeld-Vorderort
(1517–1604)
15921594/
Martino Rota Archduke Ernest of Austria.png Ernest of Austria
(1553–1595)
159420 February 1595
(death)
Nephew
Pedro Henriquez de Acevedo.jpg Pedro Henriquez de Acevedo, Count of Fuentes
(1525–1610)
15951596/
Pantoja22 Albrecht der Fromme, Erzherzog von Osterreich Munchen.jpg Albert of Austria
(1559–1621)
15961598Nephew
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)
16211 December 1633
(death)
Aunt Philip IV of Spain - Velazquez 1644.jpg
Philip IV of Spain
Kardinal-Infant Ferdinand von Osterreich.jpg Ferdinand of Austria
(1609/1610–1641)
16339 November 1641
(death)
Brother
Don Francisco de Melo.jpg Francisco de Melo
(1597–1651)
16411644/
Manuel de Moura Corte-Real.tiff Manuel de Moura
(1590–1651)
16441647/
Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria by David Teniers d. J. - 1650s.jpg Leopold William of Austria
(1614–1662)
16471656Cousin
Juanjosedeaustria.jpg John of Austria the Younger
(1629–1679)
16561659Son
Luis de Benavides Carrillo.jpg Luis de Benavides Carrillo
(1608–1668)
16591664/
D. FRANCISCO DE MOURA CORTE REAL.jpg Francisco de Moura
(1610–1675)
16641668/
Carlos II de Espana, de Juan Carreno de Miranda (Museo del Prado).jpg

Charles II of Spain

InigoMelchorVelasco.JPG Íñigo Melchor de Velasco
(1608–1668)
16681670/
Lambert-van-den-Bos-Schauplatz-des-Krieges MG 9479.tif Juan Domingo de Zuñiga y Fonseca
(1640–1716)
16701675/
Carlos Aragon de Gurrea y Borja.jpg Carlos de Aragón de Gurrea
(1634–1692)
16751677/
Alexander Farnese.jpg Alexander Farnese
(1635–1689)
16781682Second Cousin
Ottone Enrico del Caretto
(1629–1685)
16821685/
Francisco Antonio de Agurto, Marques de Gastanaga.jpg Francisco Antonio de Agurto
(1640–1702)
16851692/
Joseph Vivien 001.jpg Maximilian II Emanuel of Bavaria
(1662–1726)
16921706Nephew-in-law
Uncle Felipe V de Espana, Rey de.jpg
Philip V of Spain
Bedmar.jpg Isidoro de la Cueva y Benavides (acting)
(1652–1723)
17011704During 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)
17161724Third cousin Johann Gottfried Auerbach 004.jpg
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Portrat Wirich von Daun im HGM.jpg Wirich Philipp von Daun
(1669–1741)
February 1725October 1725/
Jan van Orley - Maria Elisabeth of Austria.jpg Maria Elisabeth of Austria
(1680–1741)
172526 August 1741
(death)
Sister
Aunt Maria Theresia im Spitzenbesetzten Kleid.jpg
Maria Theresa of Austria
Bedrich August von Harrach.jpeg Friedrich August von Harrach-Rohrau
(1696–1749)
17411744/
Maria Anna of Austria Piaristenkeller Wien.jpg Maria Anna of Austria
(1718–1744)
174416 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)
17811793Sister and brother-in-law Anton von Maron 006.png
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Johann Daniel Donat, Emperor Leopold II in the Regalia of the Golden Fleece (1806).png
Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor
Aunt and uncle Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor at age 25, 1792.png
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
Archdukecharles1.jpg Charles of Austria-Lorraine
(1771–1847)
17931794Brother

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