Biography:
Anjou (1556-84): François of Valois, Duke of Anjou and Alençon, was the fourth son of King Henry II of France and brother of Henry III, King of France from 1574 to 1589. Anjou was elected lord of the country by the States-General in 1581. After a desperate attempt to broaden his powers in 1583, Anjou slunk back to his home country.
Charles V (1500-58): Duke of Burgundy (which included the Netherlands, Luxemburg, and Franche-Comté) (from 1515), King of Spain and her Italian possessions (from 1516), Archduke of Austria (1519-21), and elected Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire in 1519. Charles V was ruler of the largest Christian empire in Europe since Charlemagne. Each of his extensive dominions developed its own constitutional arrangements. He abdicated in 1555 and divided his dominions between his son, Philip (who became King of Spain and Lord of the Netherlands), and his brother, Ferdinand of Austria (who became Emperor). Died in 1558. For more on Charles V, @click here [English-language webpage on Charles V at the site of Wikipedia Encyclopaedia].
Egmont (1522-68): Lamoral, Count of Egmont, was one of the prominent high nobles of the Low Countries. Stadholder of Flanders and Artois and member of the Council of State, the most important of the ‘Collateral Councils’ which advised the governor-general. Egmont was one of the leaders of the ‘League of the Great’ (1562-66). Arrested by Alva and executed at Brussels in 1568. For more on Egmont, @click here [English-language webpage on the Count of Egmont at the site of Wikipedia Encyclopaedia].##Erasmus, Desiderius (1469-1536): Originally a monk from Stein (near Gouda), Erasmus became the leader of Christian humanists who through their rediscovery, critical study and original research into the Hebrew, Greek and Latin sources of the Christian faith sought to revitalise Christian religion and exercised a considerable influence on the educated elite of his time. Christian humanism attempted to reconcile a belief in man’s individual responsibility, potential and reason with faith in the power and mystery of God. Erasmus also urged reforms to make the Catholic Church and clergy less secular. He was repelled by the violence that accompanied the Reformation. For more on Erasmus, @click here [English-language webpage on Erasmus at the site of Wikipedia Encyclopaedia].
Hoorne (1518-68): Philippe de Montmorency, Count of Hoorne, was a prominent Netherlands nobleman, member of the Council of State and of the ‘League of the Great’. Like Egmont he was convicted and beheaded for treason because, as stadholder, he had been too tolerant of Protestants.Leicester (1533-88): Robert Dudley, ##Earl of Leicester, was a confidant of Queen Elisabeth I of England. In 1586 he was appointed Governor-General of the United Netherlands by the States-General. He came into conflict with Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, the highest functionary of the most powerful province, Holland, and leader of the Holland delegation in the States-General. Leicester returned to England in 1587.
Margaret of Parma (1522-86): Duchess of Parma, bastard daughter of Charles V. She was appointed Governess of the Low Countries in 1559 and was replaced by Alva in 1567.
Montigny (1527-1570): Floris de Montmorency, Baron of Montigny, brother of Philippe de Montmorency (Count of Hoorne). While in Spain as an envoy, he was arrested for treason (in late 1567) and secretly executed in 1570.
Philip II (1527-98): King of Spain and Lord of the Netherlands from 1555. His policies of strengthening central government and religious persecution were among the principal causes of the Revolt. ##Philip II can not be described as an inflexible absolutist monarch. Instead historians now regard him as a ruler who at critical moments in the Revolt showed himself unwilling to make substantial compromises. For more on Philip II, @click here [English-language webpage on Philip II at the site of Wikipedia Encyclopaedia].
##William, Prince of Orange (1533-84): eldest son of a German Lutheran aristocratic family, inherited vast lands in the Low Countries. Received a Catholic education at the court of Charles V in Brussels, became member of the Council of State and was appointed Stadholder of Holland, Zeeland and Utrecht in 1559. ##Orange became the leader of the Revolt and was proclaimed Stadholder of Holland by the provincial estates in 1572. He was assassinated in 1584. William of Orange remains a seminal figure in the Dutch collective memory. For more on William of Orange, @click here [English-language webpage on William of Orange at the site of Wikipedia Encyclopaedia].