Worldwide Guide to Women in
Leadership
Female Belgium Heads of State
The Low Countries (The Netherlands and
Belgium)
Also see Belgium Substates and Belgium Eccleastical Territories
1507-15 and 1518-30 Stadtholder Margaretha von Habsburg
She was daughter of Emperor Maximilian, Dowager Duchess of Savoy and Countess M
II of Franche-Comté (1482-1530). She lived (1480-1530)
1530-55 Stadtholder Maria
Dowager-Queen of Bohemia-Hungarian, Grand-daughter of Duchess Maria of Burgundy.
She lived (1505-58)
1559-67 Stadtholder Margaretha de Parma
Daughter of Charles V. Regent of Firenze 1536-38, Reigning Duchess of
Parma-Piacenza 1550-86. She lived (1522-86)
1598-1621 Co-Princess of the Southern Low Countries
(Spanish Netherlands)
1621-33 Governor Isabella Clara Eugenia of Habsburg
Duchess of Luxembourg and Franche-Comté
1596-1621 In 1598 the Southern Low Countries became an independent state, though
very dependent on Spain. After the death of her husband, Archduke Albrecht
of Austria (Son of Emperor Maximilian II), the area was reintegrated in Spain,
and she appointed governor. She was daughter of Felipe II of Spain, no children
and lived (1566-1633)
1725-41 Stadtholder Archduchess Maria-Elisabeth
von Habsburg of the Southern Low Countries (Austrian Netherlands)
Her brother, Emperor Karl V, appointed her as Governor of the Austrian
Netherlands, a Federation of Brabant, Flanders, Hainaut, Namur, Limburg and
Luxembourg, each of which had its own tradition, laws and identity. The
Austrian administration pursued a Mercantilist policy intending to improve the
economy. But the Habsburg dynasty interests outweighed those of the southern
Netherlands and Austrian diplomacy never achieved the lifting of the blockade of
Schelde, and in 1731 the charter of the Oostende East India Company, which had
been founded in 1722, was lifted in return for recognition by Great Britain and
the Dutch Republic of the Pragmatic Sanction, making her niece, Maria-Theresia
the heir of Austria and Hungary. Maria-Elisabeth was daughter of Emperor of
Leopold I, unmarried and lived (1680-1741)
1740-80 Duchess Maria Theresa von Habsburg of The Southern Low Countries
(Autrian Netherlands)
She was Queen of Bohemia-Hungaria, Archduchess of
Austria and Empress of the
Holy Roman Empire. Trough the Habsburg inheritance from Maria of Burgundy, she
also became Duchess
of Gelders, Limburg, Jülich, Luxembourg, Brabant, Quilon, Bar and Franche-Comté,
Margravine of Higher-Elsass, Breisgau, Lower-Elsass and Antwerpen, Countess of Flanders,
Hainault, d'Artois, Boulonge, Namur, Pouthieu, Picardie, d'Eu, Vermandôis, Charolais, Macon, Montbeliard,
Zutphern, Nevers and Rethel
and Baroness d'Ilęs, Bar-sur-Seine etc. most of present day's Belgium and
Luxembourg
1744 Governor Anna-Maria von Habsburg of the Southern Low
Countries (Austrian Netherlands)
She was sister of Maria-Theresa and married to her brother-in-law, Prince Karl
von Lothringen/Lorraine
1780-93/98 Co-Governess-General Maria-Christine Johanna Josefa Antonia von
Habsburg-Lothringen of the Southern Low Countries (Austrian
Netherlands)
She was Duchess of Teschen 1765-98 together with husband. Daughter of Maria
Theresa, and appointed governor by brother Leopold II in Belgium and Luxembourg.
She lived (1742-98)
From 2001- Hereditary Princess Elisabeth
She is daughter of Crown Prince Filip and second in line for the throne.
Last update 23.07.05