Governor of the Free County of Burgundy
The governor of the Free County of Burgundy (1477–1674), then Franche-Comté (1674–1789) was the military commander of the region with great powers. The free county had only four official governors, three of whom appointed deputies because they did not live in the free county. These deputy governors actually exercised the powers. They were generally chosen from among the most powerful lords in the region.
With the incorporation of the Free County into France and the rise of royal power, its importance steadily decreased until only the representative function remained and the last governors no longer resided in the province.
Governors of the Free County of Burgundy for the Kings of Spain (1477–1584)
| date | Governor and Lieutenant General | coat of arms | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1477 |
Jean de Chalon (1443–1502), Prince of Orange |
|
First governor of the Free County of Burgundy |
| 1502 |
Philibert de Chalon (1502–1530), Prince of Orange. |
|
Established the first deputy in 1510 |
| 1537 |
René de Chalon (1519–1544), Prince of Orange |
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| 1544 |
Guillaume de Nassau (1533–1584), Prince of Orange, called Wilhelm the Silent |
|
Deputy Governors of the Free County of Burgundy (1510–1674)
| date | Governor and Lieutenant General | coat of arms | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1510 | Guillaume IV. De Vergy († 1537), hereditary Marshal of Burgundy |
|
First Deputy Governor of the Free County of Burgundy |
| 1537 | Claude I. de Vergy († 1560), Seigneur de Champlitte . |
|
Son of Guillaume IV. De Vergy, Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece (No. 201) |
| 1560 | François de Vergy († 1591), Comte de Champlitte. |
|
Nephew of Claude I. de Vergy, Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece (No. 270) |
| 1591 | Claude II. De Vergy († 1602), Comte de Champlitte. |
|
Son of François de Vergy, Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece (No. 292) |
| 1602 | Clériadus de Vergy († 1630), Comte de Champlitte. |
|
Half-brother of Claude II. De Vergy, Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece (No. 329) |
| 1630 |
Ferdinand de Rye (1550-1636) |
|
Archbishop of Besançon since 1586 |
| 1636 |
Jean-Baptiste de La Baume-Montrevel (1593–1641), 4th Marquis de Saint-Martin |
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Commander in Chief of the Troops of the Free County of Burgundy (1637–1641) |
| 1640 | Claude de Bauffremont († 1660), Baron de Scey |
|
Commander in Chief of the Troops of the Free County of Burgundy (1642–1660) |
| 1661 |
Philippe de La Baume-Saint-Amour (1616–1688), Marquis d'Yennes |
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| 1668 |
Charles-Eugène d'Arenberg (1633–1681), Duke of Arenberg |
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Former Governor General of the Netherlands |
| 1671 | Don Gerónimo de Benavente-Quiñones y Hurtado (around 1611 – around 1680) |
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With the title Maestre de campo general , son of Gabriel de Benavente-Quiñones y Loaysa and Magdalena Hurtado y Torres |
| 1673 | Don Francisco Gonzales de Alvelda (1595–1682) |
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Captain General of the Land and County of Burgundy , last Governor of the King of Spain, son of Antonio Gonzalez de Alvelda and Beatrice de Sevilla |
Governors de Franche-Comté (1674–1789)
| date | governor | coat of arms | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1674 |
Jacques Henri de Durfort (1625–1704), Marquis de Duras, 1689 1st Duc de Duras |
.svg)
|
First governor of Franche-Comté |
| 1704 |
Camille d'Hostun de La Baume (1652-1728), Duc d'Hostun, Comte de Tallard |
|
Marshal of France |
| 1728 | Marie Joseph d'Hostun de La Baume (1683–1755), Duc d'Hostun, Comte de Tallard. |
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| 1755 |
Jean-Baptiste de Durfort (1684–1770), 3rd Duc de Duras |
|
Marshal of France |
| 1770 |
Emmanuel-Félicité de Durfort (1715–1789), 4th Duc de Duras |
|
Pair de France , last governor of Franche-Comté |
literature
- Paul Delsalle: La Franche-Comté au temps de Charles Quint, Presses Universitaires de Franche-Comté. 2001, ISBN 978-2-84867-077-5
- François Pernot: La Franche-Comté espagnole. À travers les archives de Simancas, une autre histoire des Franc-Comtois et de leurs relations avec l'Espagne de 1493 à 1678. Presses Universitaires de Franche-Comté, 2003, ISBN 978-2-84867-032-4