List of governors of the Habsburg Netherlands

The governor () or governor-general () 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 Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, 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 Engelbert II of Nassau(1451–1504)15011504 / Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor for Philip the Handsome William de Croÿ(1458–1521)15041507 / Maximilian I for Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor Margaret of Austria, Duchess of Savoy(1480–1530)15071 December 1530(death) Aunt of Charles VCharles 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 of Hungary(1505–1558)January 1531October 1555 SisterCharles V, Holy Roman Emperor Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy(1528–1580)15551559 Cousin of Philip Charles V for his son Philip II of Spain.In 1556, Philip V, Duke of Burgundy, became king of Spain as Philip II, thereby bringing the Habsburg Netherlands under Spanish control. Margaret of Parma(1522–1586)15591567 Half-sisterPhilip II of Spain Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba(1507–1582)15671573 / Luis de Requesens y Zúñiga(1528–1576)15735 March 1576(death) / John of Austria(1547–1578)15761 October 1578(death) Half-brother Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma(1545–1592)15783 December 1592(death) Half-nephew Peter Ernst I von Mansfeld-Vorderort(1517–1604)15921594/ Archduke Ernest of Austria(1553–1595)159420 February 1595(death)Nephew Pedro Henriquez de Acevedo, Count of Fuentes(1525–1610)15951596/ Albert VII, Archduke of Austria(1559–1621)15961598NephewIn 1598, Philip II of Spain ceded the Netherlands to his daughter Isabella Clara Eugenia and nephew Albert VII, Archduke of Austria, 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(1566–1633)16211 December 1633(death)AuntPhilip IV of Spain Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand of Austria(1609/1610–1641)16339 November 1641(death)Brother Francisco de Melo(1597–1651)16411644/ Manuel de Moura Corte Real, 2nd Marquis of Castelo Rodrigo(1590–1651)16441647/ Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria(1614–1662)16471656Cousin John Joseph of Austria(1629–1679)16561659Son Luis de Benavides Carrillo, Marquis of Caracena(1608–1668)16591664/ Francisco de Moura Corte Real, 3rd Marquis of Castelo Rodrigo(1610–1675)16641668/Charles II of Spain Íñigo Melchor de Velasco, 7th Duke of Frías(1629–1696)16681670/ Juan Domingo de Zuñiga y Fonseca(1640–1716)16701675/ Carlos de Aragón de Gurrea, 9th Duke of Villahermosa(1634–1692)16751677/ Alexander Farnese, Prince of Parma(1635–1689)16781682Second Cousin Ottone Enrico del Caretto, Marquis of Savona(1629–1685)16821685/ Francisco Antonio de Agurto, 1st Marquess of Gastañaga(1640–1702)16851692/ Maximilian II Emanuel(1662–1726)16921706Nephew-in-lawUnclePhilip V of Spain Isidoro de la Cueva y Benavides (acting)(1652–1723)17011704During the absence of Maximilian of BavariaFollowing the War of the Spanish Succession, Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor became ruler of the Austrian Netherlands. Prince Eugene of Savoy(1663–1736)17161724Third cousinCharles VI, Holy Roman Emperor Wirich Philipp von Daun(1669–1741)February 1725October 1725/ Archduchess Maria Elisabeth of Austria(1680–1741)172526 August 1741(death)SisterAuntMaria Theresa Friedrich August von Harrach-Rohrau(1696–1749)17411744/ Archduchess Maria Anna of Austria(1718–1744)174416 December 1744(death)Sister Prince Charles Alexander of Lorraine(1712–1780)4 July 1780(death)Brother-in-law Maria Christina, Duchess of Teschen(1742–1798)withAlbert Casimir, Duke of Teschen(1738–1822)17811793Sister and brother-in-lawJoseph II, Holy Roman EmperorLeopold II, Holy Roman EmperorAunt and uncleFrancis II, Holy Roman Emperor Archduke Charles, Duke of Teschen(1771–1847)17931794Brother

Thereafter, the French revolutionaries occupied the Low Countries until 1815. The Emperor formally recognised 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