A stadtholder (Dutch: stadhouder meaning "place holder", a Germanic parallel to Latin locum tenens or French lieutenant), means an official who is appointed by the legal ruling Monarch to represent him in a country, and may have a mandate to govern it in his name, in the latter case roughly corresponding with governor(-general) HI A governor is also, a monkey who is smart and can fly like a penguin is a device that regulates the speed of a machine. ...

Its best known use is in the Netherlands, where it developed into a rare type of (de facto) hereditary Head of State of the crowned republic. The word can also be used to render etymologically parallel titles in other Germanic languages.

The office of stadtholder in the Low Countries

Stadtholders were appointed by feudal lords to govern parts of their territory. Stadtholders could be appointed for the whole or parts of their territory by the local rulers of the independent provinces in the Low Countries, e.g. the Duke of Gelre appointed a stadtholder to represent him in Groningen. In the Low Countries (which included present-day Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg) from the Middle Ages to the 18th century, this was originally an essentially honorary title awarded by the Spanish Habsburg Kings to major noblemen in each province. But its nature changed drastically. Feudalism comes from the Late Latin word feudum, itself borrowed from a Germanic root *fehu, a commonly used term in the Middle Ages which means fief, or land held under certain obligations by feodati. ... This article is about political regions. ... The Low Countries, the historical region of de Nederlanden, are the countries (see Country) on low-lying land around the delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse (Maas) rivers. ... The flag of Groningen Groningen is the northeast province of the Netherlands with a typical dialect (Gronings) with regional nuances. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ...

During the sixteenth century, the Habsburg Holy Roman Emperor Charles V one by one acquired all secular Low Country provinces (the prince-bishopric of Liège remained outside of the Holy Roman Empire's Burgundian Circle, but Utrecht was secularised) and became their sole feudal lord. Stadtholders continued to be appointed to represent him and his son and successor in Spain and the Low Countries (the split-off Austrian branch of Habsburg was to produce the next Emperors), King Philip II. (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... Flag of the Habsburg Monarchy; also used as the flag of the Austrian Empire until the Ausgleich of 1867. ... The Holy Roman Emperor was, with some variation, the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, the predecessor of modern Germany, during its existence from the 10th century until its collapse in 1806. ... Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Aragon and Castile. ... A map of the Imperial Circles as at the beginning of the 16th century. ... This article or section is missing needed references or citation of sources. ...

After some of the Dutch provinces declared their independence in 1581 with the Oath of Abjuration, the function of stadtholder became obsolete in absence of the (abolished) land owner, but the function was continued in the (until 1648 only de facto independent, and not yet de jure) provinces of the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands. Although each province could assign its own stadtholder, most stadtholders were appointed by several provinces at the same time. Normal executive power was exerted by the States of each province, but the stadtholder had some prerogatives, like appointing some lower officials and having sometimes the right to affirm the appointment of the members of regent councils in some cities. In Zeeland he was the First Noble and as such himself member of the States of that province. Events January 16 - English Parliament outlaws Roman Catholicism April 4 - Francis Drake completes a circumnavigation of the world and is knighted by Elizabeth I. July 26 - The Northern Netherlands proclaim their independence from Spain in the Oath of Abjuration. ... The Oath of Abjuration or Plakkaat van Verlatinghe of July 26, 1581, was the formal declaration of independence of the northern Low Countries from the Spanish king, Philip II. This point meant a climax in the Dutch Revolt, a point of no return, in which the Low Countries asserted they... // Events January 17 - Englands Long Parliament passes the Vote of No Address, breaking off negotiations with King Charles I and thereby setting the scene for the second phase of the English Civil War. ... De facto is a Latin expression that means in fact or in practice. It is commonly used as opposed to de jure (meaning by law) when referring to matters of law or governance or technique (such as standards), that are found in the common experience as created or developed without... Look up De jure in Wiktionary, the free dictionary The terms de jure and de facto are used instead of in principle and in practice, respectively, when one is describing political situations. ... This article is about the Dutch United Provinces. ... Capital Middelburg Queens Commissioner drs. ...

On the Republics's central, for want of a better word 'confederal' level, the stadtholder of the southern provinces was Captain-General of the confederate army and Admiral-General of the confederate fleet, though no stadtholder ever actually commanded a fleet in battle. In the army he could appoint officers by himself; in the navy only affirm the appointments of the five admiralty councils. Though the legal powers of the stadtholder were thus rather limited and by law he was a mere official, his real powers were sometimes much larger, especially in the martial law-type of logic of the 'permanent' (be it hot-cold-hot) Eighty Years War. Maurice of Orange ruled as a military dictator and William II of Orange attempted the same. Captain General is a military rank which was formerly relatively common within various European forces, usually ranking above a lieutenant general, in the current location of a full General. ... The Eighty Years War, or Dutch Revolt from 1568 to 1648 was the secession war in which the proto-Netherlands first became an independent country. ... Maurice of Nassau (in Dutch Maurits van Nassau) (14 November 1567 – 23 April 1625), Prince of Orange (1618–1625), son of William the Silent and Princess Anna of Saxony, was born at the castle of Dillenburg. ... William II, Prince of Orange (May 27, 1626 - November 6, 1650), stadtholder of the United Provinces of the Netherlands (March 14, 1647 - November 6, 1650). ...

In 1747, the office of stadtholder was made hereditary, with the stadtholder of Friesland becoming stadtholder for the entire -thus 'crowned'- Republic (which in effect became a monarchy under the House of Orange-Nassau). The function of stadtholder was abolished in 1795 with coming of the French and the start of the Batavian Republic. // Events January 31 - The first venereal diseases clinic opens at London Dock Hospital April 9 - The Scottish Jacobite Lord Lovat was beheaded by axe on Tower Hill, London, for high treason; he was the last man to be executed in this way in Britain May 14 - First battle of Cape... The House of Orange-Nassau (in Dutch Oranje-Nassau), is a family that has played a central role in the political life of the Netherlands since William I of Orange (also known as William the Silent and Father of the Fatherland) organised the Dutch revolt against Spanish rule, which after... 1795 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... From 1795 to 1806, the Batavian Republic (Bataafse Republiek in Dutch) designated the Netherlands as a republic modelled after the French Republic, to which it was a vassal state. ...

List of stadtholders for the Low Countries provinces

Stadtholders of Holland, Zeeland and Utrecht

The stadtholdership of Holland and Zeeland has always been combined. Since the office was instituted there in 1534, the stadtholder of Utrecht has been the same as the one of Holland, with one exception. Holland is a region in the central-western part of the Netherlands. ... Capital Middelburg Queens Commissioner drs. ... Utrecht is the smallest province of the Netherlands, and is located in the center of the country. ... Events February 27 - Group of Anabaptists of Jan Matthys seize Münster and declare it The New Jerusalem - they begin to exile dissenters and forcible baptize all others May 10 - Jacques Cartier explores Newfoundland while searching for the Northwest Passage. ...

In 1572, William of Orange was elected as the stadtholder, although Philip II had appointed a different one. Events January 16 - Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk is tried for treason for his part in the Ridolfi plot to restore Catholicism in England. ... William I (William the Silent) William I, Prince of Orange, Count of Nassau (April 24, 1533 – July 10, 1584) was the main leader of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish that set off the Eighty Years War and resulted in the formal independence of the United Provinces in 1648. ...

• Hugo van Lannoy, 1433-1440
• Willem van Lalaing, 1440-1445
• Gozewijn de Wilde, 1445-1448
• Jan van Lannoy, 1448-1462
• Loys of Gruuthuse, 1462-1477
• Wolfert VI van Borselen, 1477-1480
• Joost van Lalaing, 1480-1483
• Jan III van Egmond, 1483-1515
• Hendrik III van Nassau, 1515-1521
• Antoon van Lalaing, 1522-1540
• René of Châlon, 1540-1544
• Louis of Flanders, 1544-1546
• Maximilian II of Bourgondy, 1547-1558
• William of Orange, 1559-1567
• Maximilian of Hennin, 1567-1573
• Philip of Noircarmes, 1573-1574
• William of Orange, 1572-1584
• Adolf van Nieuwenaar, 1584-1589 (only in Utrecht)
• Maurits of Nassau, 1585-1625
• Frederik Hendrik of Orange, 1625-1647
• William II, Prince of Orange, 1647-1650

First Stadtholderless Period, 1650-1672 Born in (or about) 1427 as the eldest son of Jean IV, Lord of Bruges, and Margriet of Steenhuyse, Lady of Avelghem, young Loys (Louis or Ludovicus) had a prosperous life ahead. ... René of Châlon (February 5, 1519 – July 15, 1544), also known as Renatus of Châlon, was a Prince of the House of Orange and stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht and Gelre. ... William I (William the Silent) William I, Prince of Orange, Count of Nassau (April 24, 1533 – July 10, 1584) was the main leader of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish that set off the Eighty Years War and resulted in the formal independence of the United Provinces in 1648. ... William I (William the Silent) William I, Prince of Orange, Count of Nassau (April 24, 1533 – July 10, 1584) was the main leader of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish that set off the Eighty Years War and resulted in the formal independence of the United Provinces in 1648. ... Maurice of Nassau (in Dutch Maurits van Nassau) (14 November 1567–23 April 1625), Prince of Orange (1618–1625), son of William the Silent and Princess Anna of Saxony, was born at the castle of Dillenburg. ... Frederick Henry (January 29, 1584–March 14, 1647), Prince of Orange, the youngest child of William the Silent, was born at Delft about six months before his fathers assassination. ... William II, Prince of Orange (May 27, 1626 - November 6, 1650), stadtholder of the United Provinces of the Netherlands (March 14, 1647 - November 6, 1650). ...

• William III of Orange, 1672-1702

Second Stadtholderless Period, 1702-1747 William III King of England, Scotland and Ireland William III and II (14 November 1650–8 March 1702; also known as William Henry and William of Orange) was Prince of Orange from his birth, King of England and Ireland from 13 February 1689, and King of Scotland from 11 April...

During the Stadtholderless Eras, the provinces of Holland, Zeeland and Utrecht were governed by their States free from autocratic intervention. The Second Stadtholderless Era in Holland ended when the Frisian stadtholder became hereditary stadtholder for all provinces of the Dutch Republic.

Stadtholders of Friesland

• Floris van Egmond, Count of Buren, 1515-1518
• Willem van Roggendorff, 1518-1521
• Jancko Douwama, 1522
• Georg Schenck van Tautenburg, 1521-1540
• Maximiliaan van Egmond, Count of Buren, 1540-1548
• Jan de Ligne, Count of Arenberg, 1559-1568
• Charles de Brimeu, Count of Megen, 1568-1572
• Gillis van Berlaymont, Lord of Hierges, 1572-1574
• Caspar de Robles, 1574-1576 (according to some sources 1572-1576)
• George van Rennenberg, 1576-1581 (in the service of Phillip II)
• Francisco Verdugo, 1581-1594 (in the service of Phillip II)
• William of Orange, 1580-1584
• Willem Lodewijk, 1584-1620
• Ernst Casimir, 1620-1632
• Hendrik Casimir I, 1632-1640
• Willem Frederik, 1640-1664
• Hendrik Casimir II, 1664-1696
• Johan Willem Friso of Orange-Nassau, 1696-1711
• Willem IV of Nassau, 1711-1747 (subsequently became hereditary stadtholder for all provinces)

Capital Leeuwarden Queens Commissioner drs. ... Jancko Douwama was a Frisian nobleman that fought to free Friesland from foreign rule. ... George van Rennenberg was stadtholder of Friesland in the service of Phillip II from 1576 to 1581. ... William I (William the Silent) William I, Prince of Orange, Count of Nassau (April 24, 1533 – July 10, 1584) was the main leader of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish that set off the Eighty Years War and resulted in the formal independence of the United Provinces in 1648. ... Hendrik Casimir II (The Hague 18 January 1657 - Leeuwarden 25 March 1696), Count of Nassau-Dietz, Stadtholder of Friesland and Groningen (1664-1696), oldest son of Willem Frederik of Nassau-Dietz and Albertine Agnes of Orange. ... Johan Willem Friso (1687 -1711) was stadholder of Friesland until his untimely death by drowning in the Hollands Diep in 1711. ... William IV, Prince of Orange, stadtholder of The Netherlands (May 4, 1711–October 22, 1751), was born in Leeuwarden, The Netherlands. ...

Stadtholders of Gelre

• Willem van Egmond, 1473-1475
• Willem van Egmond jr., 1475-1476
• Filips van Croy, 1474-1477
• Willem van Egmond jr., 1480-1481
• Adolf III of Nassau-Wiesbaden-Idstein, 1481-1492

• Jan V of Nassau-Vianden-Diez, 1504-1505
• Filips of Burgundy, 1505-1507
• Floris van Egmond, 1507-1511

• René of Châlon, 1543-1544
• Filips van Lalaing, 1544-1555
• Philip de Montmorency, Count of Hoorn, 1555-1560
• Karel van Brimeu, 1560-1572
• Gillis van Berlaymont, 1572-1577
• John I the Old of Nassau, 1578-1581
• Willem IV van den Bergh, 1581-1583
• Adolf van Nieuwenaar, 1584-1589
• Maurice of Nassau, 1590-1625
• Frederick Henry of Orange, 1625-1647
• William II of Orange, 1647-1650

First Stadtholderless Era, 1650-1675 For the present province also called Guelders in English, see Gelderland. ... Arms of Philippe I de Croÿ, detail of Rogiers diptych (ca. ... René of Châlon (February 5, 1519 – July 15, 1544), also known as Renatus of Châlon, was a Prince of the House of Orange and stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht and Gelre. ... Count of Hoorn Philip de Montmorency (1524-June 5, 1568) was also known as Count of Horne. ... Count Johan of Nassau (November 22, 1535 – October 8, 1606) was the brother of William I of Orange. ... Maurice of Nassau (in Dutch Maurits van Nassau) (14 November 1567–23 April 1625), Prince of Orange (1618–1625), son of William the Silent and Princess Anna of Saxony, was born at the castle of Dillenburg. ... Frederick Henry (January 29, 1584–March 14, 1647), Prince of Orange, the youngest child of William the Silent, was born at Delft about six months before his fathers assassination. ... William II, Prince of Orange (May 27, 1626 - November 6, 1650), stadtholder of the United Provinces of the Netherlands (March 14, 1647 - November 6, 1650). ...

• William III of Orange, 1675-1702

Second Stadtholderless Era, 1702-1722 William III King of England, Scotland and Ireland William III and II (14 November 1650–8 March 1702; also known as William Henry and William of Orange) was Prince of Orange from his birth, King of England and Ireland from 13 February 1689, and King of Scotland from 11 April...

• William IV of Orange, 1722-1747 (subsequently became hereditary stadtholder for all provinces)

William IV, Prince of Orange, stadtholder of The Netherlands (May 4, 1711–October 22, 1751), was born in Leeuwarden, The Netherlands. ...

Stadtholders of Groningen

From 1584 to 1594, there were two stadtholders: one appointed by the King of Spain, whose authority was only recognized in the city of Groningen, and one on the side of the United Provinces. The flag of Groningen Groningen is the northeast province of the Netherlands with a typical dialect (Gronings) with regional nuances. ... Map of Dutch Republic by Joannes Janssonius The Republic of the Seven United Netherlands (Republiek der Zeven Verenigde Nederlanden/Provinciën; also Dutch Republic or United Provinces in short) was a European republic between 1581 and 1795, which is now known as the Netherlands. ...

• Cristoffel van Meurs, 1519-1522
• Jasper van Marwijck, 1522-1530
• Karel van Gelre, 1530-1536
• Ludolf Coenders, 1536
• Georg Schenck van Toutenburg, 1536-1540
• Maximiliaan van Egmond, count of Buren, 1540-1548
• Jan van Ligne, count of Arenberg, 1549-1568
• Karel van Brimeu, count of Megen, 1568-1572
• Gillis van Berlaymont, heer van Hierges, 1572-1574
• Caspar van Robles, 1574-1576
• Georges van Lalaing, count of Rennenberg 1576-1581
• Francisco Verdugo, 1581-1594 (from 1584 only recognized in the city of Groningen)
• Willem Lodewijk, 1584-1620 (until 1594 only recognized in the province of Groningen; from 1594 also in the city of Groningen)
• Maurice of Nassau, 1620-1625
• Ernst Casimir, 1625-1632
• Hendrik Casimir I, 1632-1640
• Willem Frederik, 1640-1664

Albertine Agnes van Oranje-Nassau, regentess for Hendrick Casimir II, 1664-1673 Groningen (or Grunn in the local dialect) is a municipality and a middle-size city in the north of the Netherlands, and capital of Groningen province. ... Maurice of Nassau (in Dutch Maurits van Nassau) (14 November 1567–23 April 1625), Prince of Orange (1618–1625), son of William the Silent and Princess Anna of Saxony, was born at the castle of Dillenburg. ...

• Hendrik Casimir II, 1664-1696

Henriette Amalia von Anhalt, regentess for Johan Willem Friso, 1696-1707 Hendrik Casimir II (The Hague 18 January 1657 - Leeuwarden 25 March 1696), Count of Nassau-Dietz, Stadtholder of Friesland and Groningen (1664-1696), oldest son of Willem Frederik of Nassau-Dietz and Albertine Agnes of Orange. ...

• Johan Willem Friso of Orange-Nassau, 1696-1711

Marie Louise von Hessen-Kassel, regentess for William IV, 1711-1729 Johan Willem Friso (1687 -1711) was stadholder of Friesland until his untimely death by drowning in the Hollands Diep in 1711. ...

• William IV of Orange, 1711-1747 (subsequently became hereditary stadtholder for all provinces)

William IV, Prince of Orange, stadtholder of The Netherlands (May 4, 1711–October 22, 1751), was born in Leeuwarden, The Netherlands. ...

Stadtholders of Overijssel

... Flag of Overijssel Overijssel is a province of the Netherlands, located in the central eastern part of the country. ...

(General) Hereditary Stadtholders of the United Provinces

The style was changed from 22 Nov 1747, when the office was enacted as hereditary in every province, to Stadhouder-generaal 'General Hereditary Stadholder'

• William IV of Orange, 1747-1751 (had been stadtholder for all provinces except Holland, Zeeland and Utrecht for some time)

Anne, Princess Royal, regentess for William V, 1751-1759
Marie Louise von Hessen-Kassel, regentess for William V, 1759-1765
Carolina of Orange-Nassau, regentess for William V, 1765-1766 William IV, Prince of Orange, stadtholder of The Netherlands (May 4, 1711–October 22, 1751), was born in Leeuwarden, The Netherlands. ... Princess Anne of Orange, Princess Royal of Great Britain, Ireland, and Hanover, Princess-Regent of Friesland (2 November 1709–12 January 1759) was the second child and eldest daughter of King George II of Great Britain and his consort, Queen Caroline. ... Her Serene Highness Fürstin Carolina zu Nassau-Weilburg née Her Serene Highness Princess Carolina of Orange-Nassau, Princess-Regent of Friesland (February 28, 1743- May 6, 1787) was the daughter of William IV, Prince of Orange, Stadtholder of the Netherlands, and HRH Princess Anne (née Princess Royal...

• William V of Orange, 1751-1795
• 16 February 1795 Office of stadholder was abolished by the Staten-Generaal (now styled Algemene Staten, a Dutch purism, also translating as 'General Estates').

William V, stadtholder of The Netherlands (March 8, 1748–April 9, 1806), also known as William V of Orange, was the last Stadtholder of the Dutch Republic. ... The Estates-General (Staten-Generaal) is the parliament of the Netherlands. ...

Scandinavian equivalents

Danish Statholder

• In Denmark, a ministerial high office of royal governor in the capital, at Copenhagen castle
• During the personal union of Denmark (the dominant partner) and Norway, the Danish King appointed a Governor-general in Norway styled Statholder: 1536- 4 November 1814

Swedish Stattholder

During the personal union of Sweden (the dominant partner) and Norway, the Swedish king appointed a Governor-general in Norway styled Stattholder (or in full Rigsstatholder in Norwegian or Riksståthållare in Swedish, i.e. Lieutenant of the Realm): 4 November 1814 - 21 July 1873; several were noblemen, five even Swedish Crown Princes, who were then styled Visekonge, i.e. Viceroy. The Viceroy of Norway (Visekonge in Norwegian) was the appointed head of the Norwegian Government in the absence of the King. ...

Sources and references

• WorldStatesmen - here the Netherlands
• Van Dale Etymologisch Woordenboek (Dutch etymology, in Dutch)
• Dutch language Wikipedia: List of stadtholders