Worldwide Guide to Women in
Leadership
Female Heads of Belgium Ecclesiastical Territories
Also see Belgium Heads, Belgium Substates and Princess-Abbesses
Ecclesiastical
Territory of Münsterbilzen (Munsterbilzen)
The Benedictine Abbey (for ladies of noble birth)
of Belisia/Bilzen (enclave in Loon) was founded ca
670.
In the course of time the abbesses gained some
temporal power, becoming ladies of Wellen, Haccourt, Hallembaye
and Kleine-Spouwen (Belgian Limburg). They started considering themselves
Reichsunmittelbar and in 1610 the Abbess was named "Princess" in a document a
position disputed by the Prince-Bishop of Liège, but they continued using the
title of Princesse de Bélise, in 1734 the Chapter was granted the official title
of Princess of the Realm and a seat in the Imperial Diet but the conflict with
Liège lasted until the "capitulation" of
1773 when the abbesse recognized the overlordship of
Liège but kept her possessions until the French occupation in 1794
659 - 693 Landrade (Saint)
........ Aleidis I
....... Aleidis II
....... Amelrada
Until 986 Ermengardis I van Luxemburg
1017 Cunegonde I van Chiny
1069 Richsa van Acre
1096-1109 Mathilde I van Loon
1109-30 Mathilde II van Horne
1157-63 Goda van Heinsberg
1169-81 Gertrude I van Loon
1189 Aleidis III van Horn
Circa 1190-1205 Imagina van Loon
Also known as Imena, she entered the convent after the death of her
husband, Godfried II van Leuven, Duke of Brabant (reigned 1142-90).
Daughter of Lodewijk I van Loon en Rieneck and Agnes van Dagsburg van
Metz, and (d. 1214/20). (d.
1214/1220)
1214-circa 20 Gertrudis II van Valkenburg
1220-circa 53 Mathilde III van Loon
In
April 1220 she and her brother, Arnold III, the Count of Loon, gave
the chapel of Alden Biesen to the Teutonic Order. Possessions
surrounding the domain of Alden Biesen were also acquired by the Order
1259-87 Mathilde IV van Pietersem
1289-95 Aleidis IV van Valkenberg
She
was daughter of Dietrich II von Falkenburg and one of his two wifes,
either Berta von Limburg or Aledis von Looz.
1295-1338 Aleidis V van Brunshorn
1338-41 Margaretha I van
Pietersem
1345-80 Ermengardis II van Waldeck
1380-90 Gostule van der Schuren
1390-1439 Conegondis II van
Dune
1439-58 Cecilia van den Broeck (Hoensbroeck)
1458-97 Maria I de Surlet
The
de Surlet family was an old noble and famous family from the area
around Liège, where they were in charge of various possessions.
1497-98 Maria II van Tille
1498/99-1504 Maria III van
den Broeck (Hoensbroeck)
1505-49 Margaretha II van Merode
Member of the de Mérode-Falckenberg family who used the two names
interchangeably.
1558-82 Odilia de Buymelborch (Hoenstein)
Coadjutrice with right of succession from 1554. Niece of Marguerite de Mérode.
1582-84 Marie II von Eynatten
1586-1636 Magalena II von und zu Eltz
1616-17
Coadjutrice
Claudia von Eltz
The following year she married the Count de Lannoy at the age of 38.
1636-41 Maria Magdalena von und zu Eltz
1641-86 Isabella Henrietta d'Aspremont-Lynden
1686-1715 Anna Leonora d'Aspremont-Lynden
Elected Coadjutrice in 1784 amidst protest from Dechaness Maria Anna van Elderen
and parts of the ladies of the chapter.
1715-28 Lambertine van Renesse d'Elderen
Former Decheness
1728-54 Christine Eberhardine Friederike von Hohenzollern-Hechingen
(Christina von Hohenzollern) 1734 granted the official title of Princess of the
Empire and a seat in the Imperial Diet.
1755-56 Maria Carolina von Leerodt von Born
1756-71 Antonetta Regina Sofia Francisca von und zu Eltz von
Kempenich
She was also supported by her powerful family in the power struggle with the
bishop of Liège.
1772-89 Sophia Helena von Stadion-Tannhausen
Former Dechaness and candidate for the post of Princess Abbess in 1756.
1789-99 Maria Theresia Wilhelmina Antonietta van Bentinck, gen Wolfrath
Escaped to Gerresheim in 1794.
Dechanesses (Second in Command of the Chapter)
.... Sibille
... Elisabeth de Surch
.... Maria van Versen
Circa 1130 Bertgardis
.....1157-76 Hadewidis
.... 1199 Gertrudis
.... 1242 Aleidis
..... 1286 Clementina
1200s or 1300s Sofia (or Sybille) van Werme
1300s Mathilde d'Andenne
1335 Elisabeth van Heks
Before 1363 Gertrudis van Schueren
Until 1364 Gertrudis van Beeckoven
1380 Gertrudis van Schueren
1380-90 Lauretta van Schoonenberg
1390 Maria van Reymersdaal
1390-93 Ida van Haren
Circa 1400 Margaretha van Gutshoven
1410 Catharina von Kempenich
Before 1451-58 Guda van Ursvelt
1458-83 Pauline van Lemen
1483-1508 Jutta van Kessel
1508-45 Johanna van Surlet
Circa 1551-62 Anna von Eynatten
1562-89 Agnes von Harff
1590-1616 Johanna von Raesfelt
1616-34 Maria van Carondelet
1635-77 Anna Louisa van Berlo
1677-87 Maria Anna van Elderen
1687-97 Anna Catharina d'Aspremont-Lynden
1697-1715 Lambertine de Renesse
1716-1721 Amour Dorothea van Berlo
1721-28 Albertine de Dongelberg de Reves
1728-55 Maria Caroline von Leerodt von Born
1755-72 Sofia Helena von Stadion-Tannhausen
1772-83 Magdalena von Stadion-Tannhausen
1783-94 Walburga von Heidenheim
1794-95 Beate von Freyberg (Vice-Dechaness)
Acting Head of the Chapter after the Abbess left. She resigned from her office.
1795-98 Margaretha d'Isendorn de Blois de
Cannenbourg
As Vice-Dechaness she was the Leader of the Chapter until it was abolished, as
the Princess-Abbess had left it. She tried to steer the chapter through the
hardship of the French occupation and Presided over the final Gathering of the
Chapter before it was closed down. She lived the rest of her life by her family,
after haveing lived (1727-1817).
.......
Eccleciatical Territory of Chapitre de Nivelles
(Abdij Nijvel)
In the Belgian province of Walloon Brabant
The Abbey was founded 647 and the Abbesses had the title of Princesses and were
spiritual and political heads of the City of Nivelles (Dame de Nivelles)
The Abbey was suppressed after French occupation.
647 - 657 Gertrude (Saint)
658 - 670 Wilfetrude
670 -?? Agnes I
..... Dominique
.... Egburge
.... Rotrude
.... Iduberge
877 Tauperge
897 Gisèle
.....
966 Adalbertine
992 Gode
1030 Athais
1040-49 Richsa I
1070 Ide
1073-1112 Richsa II
1126-36 Ode I
1158 Ode II
1161-78 Ade
1182 Berthe I
1183-1209 Berthe II
1218-25 Hedwidis
1227 Idulberge
1230-65 Ode III van Lays
1267-77 Elisabeth I de Brugelette
1277-? Aleide I van Beerbeke
Until 1278 Elisabeth II van Burget
1287-93 Isabelle I
1293-1340 Iolande de
Steyne
1340-41 Elisabeth III de Gavre
1341-51 Elisabeth IV de Liedekercke
1351-80 Mathilde de Leeuwenberg
1380-86 Aleide II de Ligne
1386-1417 Catherine van Halewyn (de Halluwin)
1417-23 Isa(belle) II de Franckenberg
1423-41 Christine van Franckenberg
1441-49 Agnes I van Franckenberg
1449-62 Marguerite I d'Escornay
1462-74 Agnes II van Franckenberg
1474-90 Marguerite II van Hauchin
1490-94 Guillelme van Franckenberg
1494-1520 Elisabeth V van Herzelles
1520-22 Marguerite III d'Esne
1522-48 Adrienne I de St. Omer
1548-49 Adrienne II de Morbecq
1549-61 Marguerite IV
d'Estourmel
1561-69 Marguerite V de Noyelle
1569-1601 Marie I van Hoensbroek
1601-04 Anne-Marguerite de Namur
Circa 1604-23 Marguerite VI de Haynin
1623-30 Isabelle II de Schouteete van Zuylen
1630-54 Adrienne III de Lannoy
1654-68 Elisabeth VI
d'Oyenbrugge
1668-1705 Madeleine-Thérèse de Noyelle
1706-24 Marie-Françoise de Berghes
1724-43 Caroline Charlotte de Berlaymont (Berlaimont)
1743-74 Ursule-Antoinette de Berlo de Francdouaire
1774-96 Marie-Félicité-Philippine Vandernoot
Last update 07.08.06