List of governors of the Habsburg Netherlands facts for kids
A governor-general (called landvoogd in Dutch) was a special representative. They were chosen by the rulers of the Habsburg Netherlands. These rulers included the Holy Roman Emperor, the King of Spain, and the Archduke of Austria. The governor-general's job was to manage the lands in the Low Countries (modern-day Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg). This happened when the main ruler was not there.
Over time, the role of these governors-general changed a lot. At first, they were like teachers and advisors to Emperor Charles V. He lived in Brussels at the Palace of Coudenberg. Later, during the Eighty Years' War (a big fight between Spain and the Dutch Republic), they became military generals. Often, the governor-general was a close family member of the Austrian or Spanish rulers. Sometimes, important Spanish or German noblemen took on the role. The main office for the governor-general was usually in Brussels.
Who Were the Governors-General?
This section lists the important people who served as governor-general. They helped rule the Habsburg Netherlands for different monarchs.
| Picture | Name | Started role | Left role | Relationship to ruler | Appointed by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Engelbert II of Nassau (1451–1504) |
1501 | 1504 | / | |
.jpg) |
William de Croÿ (1458–1521) |
1504 | 1507 | / |   Maximilian I for Charles of Ghent |
 |
Margaret of Austria (1480–1530) |
1507 | 1 December 1530 (death) |
Aunt of Charles | |
| Charles became Duke of Burgundy in 1506. He became King of Spain in 1516. He was named Holy Roman Emperor Charles V in 1519. | |||||
,_Queen_of_Hungary.jpg) |
Mary of Austria (1505-1558) |
January 1531 | October 1555 | Sister | Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor |
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Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy (1528–1580) |
1555 | 1559 | Cousin of Philip |  Charles V for his son Philip. |
| In 1556, Philip V became King of Spain as Philip II. This brought the Habsburg Netherlands under Spanish control. | |||||
 |
Margaret of Parma (1522–1586) |
1559 | 1567 | Half-sister | |
 |
Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba (1507–1582) |
1567 | 1573 | / | |
.jpg) |
Luis de Requesens y Zúñiga (1528–1576) |
1573 | 5 March 1576 (death) |
/ | |
 |
John of Austria (1547–1578) |
1576 | 1 October 1578 (death) |
Half-brother | |
 |
Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma (1545–1592) |
1578 | 3 December 1592 (death) |
Half-nephew | |
 |
Peter Ernst I von Mansfeld-Vorderort (1517–1604) |
1592 | 1594 | / | |
 |
Ernest of Austria (1553–1595) |
1594 | 20 February 1595 (death) |
Nephew | |
 |
Pedro Henriquez de Acevedo, Count of Fuentes (1525–1610) |
1595 | 1596 | / | |
 |
Albert of Austria (1559–1621) |
1596 | 1598 | Nephew | |
| In 1598, Philip II of Spain gave the Netherlands to his daughter Isabella Clara Eugenia and nephew Albert. They married the next year and ruled together. After Albert's death, the Netherlands went to their nephew, Philip IV of Spain. Isabella Clara Eugenia continued to govern for him until she died. | |||||
 |
Isabella Clara Eugenia of Austria (1566–1633) |
1621 | 1 December 1633 (death) |
Aunt | 
|
 |
Ferdinand of Austria (1609/1610–1641) |
1633 | 9 November 1641 (death) |
Brother | |
 |
Francisco de Melo (1597–1651) |
1641 | 1644 | / | |
 |
Manuel de Moura (1590–1651) |
1644 | 1647 | / | |
 |
Leopold William of Austria (1614–1662) |
1647 | 1656 | Cousin | |
 |
John of Austria the Younger (1629–1679) |
1656 | 1659 | Son | |
 |
Luis de Benavides Carrillo (1608–1668) |
1659 | 1664 | / | |
 |
Francisco de Moura (1610–1675) |
1664 | 1668 | / | |
.jpg)
|
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Íñigo Melchor de Velasco (1608–1668) |
1668 | 1670 | / | |
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Juan Domingo de Zuñiga y Fonseca (1640–1716) |
1670 | 1675 | / | |
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Carlos de Aragón de Gurrea (1634–1692) |
1675 | 1677 | / | |
 |
Alexander Farnese (1635–1689) |
1678 | 1682 | Second Cousin | |
| Ottone Enrico del Caretto (1629–1685) |
1682 | 1685 | / | ||
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Francisco Antonio de Agurto (1640–1702) |
1685 | 1692 | / | |
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Maximilian II Emanuel of Bavaria (1662–1726) |
1692 | 1706 | Nephew-in-law | |
| Uncle |  Philip V of Spain |
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 |
Isidoro de la Cueva y Benavides (acting) (1652–1723) |
1701 | 1704 | During the absence of Maximilian of Bavaria | |
| After the War of the Spanish Succession, Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI became the ruler of the Austrian Netherlands. | |||||
 |
Eugene of Savoy (1663–1736) |
1716 | 1724 | Third cousin |  Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor |
 |
Wirich Philipp von Daun (1669–1741) |
February 1725 | October 1725 | / | |
 |
Maria Elisabeth of Austria (1680–1741) |
1725 | 26 August 1741 (death) |
Sister | |
| Aunt | .jpg) Maria Theresa of Austria |
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Friedrich August von Harrach-Rohrau (1696–1749) |
1741 | 1744 | / | |
 |
Maria Anna of Austria (1718–1744) |
1744 | 16 December 1744 (death) |
Sister | |
 |
Charles Alexander of Lorraine (1712–1780) |
4 July 1780 (death) |
Brother-in-law | ||
 |
Maria Christina of Austria-Lorraine (1742–1798) with Albert Casimir of Saxony (1738–1822) |
1781 | 1793 | Sister and brother-in-law |  Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor |
 Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor |
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| Aunt and uncle |  Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor |
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 |
Charles of Austria-Lorraine (1771–1847) |
1793 | 1794 | Brother | |
,_,_Kunsthistorisches_Museum_Wien,_Gem%C3%A4ldegalerie_-_Philipp_der_Sch%C3%B6ne_(1478-1506)_-_GG_3872_-_Kunsthistorisches_Museum.jpg)
After 1794, French revolutionaries took control of the Low Countries. This lasted until 1815. The Emperor officially gave up these lands in a peace agreement called the Treaty of Lunéville in 1801. Later, at the Congress of Vienna in 1815, the Low Countries were brought back together. They were then ruled by the House of Orange-Nassau. In 1830, Belgium became an independent country.
See Also
- Lord Chamberlain of the Archduchess
- List of plenipotentiaries of Austrian Netherlands
- List of rulers of the Netherlands
