Flanders (Cromwell the Great)

The Grand Duchy of Flanders is an independent state that borders the Dutch Republic, Prince-Bishopric of Liège and the Kingdom of France. Flanders was created after the War of the Grand Alliance. It compromises the states of the Holy Roman Empire in the Low Countries, formerly held in personal union by the Spanish Crown (also called Habsburg Spain).

During the War of the Grand Alliance (1702–1715) Flanders became an Anglo-Dutch condominium for the remainder of the conflict. By the peace treaties of Utrecht and Rastatt ending the war, the Southern Netherlands gained autonomy and was detached from the Spanish Crown under the rule of a branch of the Austrian Habsburgs. Officially raised to Grand-Duchy within the Holy Roman Empire by Emperor Charles VI who also named his sister Archduchess Maria Elisabeth as is first ruler.

Grand-Duchess Maria Elisabeth of Austria
Under the rule of Archduchess Maria Elisabeth the court of Brussels gathered an impressive artistic and intellect level of thanks to royal and noble patronage. The Grand-Duchess was well educated and fluent in Latin, German, French and Italian and later also Dutch. Maria Elisabeth was described as a forceful administrator and a popular ruler. Her independent politics, however, were not always appreciated in Vienna. She also commissioned the first systematic investigations on the local industry and farming to explore opportunities for reform and improvement.

Among her subjects she very popular because of her piety as well as care for the needy and the sick. She attended religious festivals and took part in pilgrimages. Annually she washed twelve poor old women on Gründonstag, entertained and equipped them with new clothes. In church politics she led a struggle against Jansenism.

The port of Antwerp flourished again thanks to the reopening of the river Scheldt. Although Flanders could never seriously compete with the Dutch it lost its industrial stagnation and became an important entrepot of the Holy Roman Empire. At times it was at odds with the economical interests of Habsburg Austria.

Government
The Grand-Duke (or Grand-Duchess as most of its rulers were) governed thru an appointed Governor-General (Gouverneur-Generaal) and the Supreme Council of State. The governor-general and council are in charge of the superior administration o all the affairs of Flanders, maintenance of the Catholic religion, execution of the laws, and administration of justice by the courts and judges. The governor-general personally oversees justice, police and finance.

As a concession to local autonomy and historical charters a reformed Councils of Flanders was established. The Council represented the interest of the provinces of Flanders and advised the Grand-Duke/Grand-Duchess and her Supreme Council of State.


 * Territory of Flanders
 * general governors jointly named by the Commonwealth and Dutch Republic.
 * Grand-Duke of Flanders.
 * Archduchess Maria Elisabeth of Austria (1680 –1756)

Dominik von Königsegg-Rothenfels
 * Governor General
 * Prince Eugene of Savoy

Provinces

 * 1) Duchy of Brabant
 * 2) Margraviate of Antwerp
 * 3) Duchy of Limburg
 * 4) Duchy of Luxembourg
 * 5) The Upper Quarter (Bovenkwartier) of the Duchy of Guelders
 * 6) County of Flanders
 * 7) County of Namur
 * 8) County of Hainaut
 * 9) Lordship of Mechelen
 * 10) The Tournaisis