Admiral of Flanders


Admiral of Flanders and Admiral of the Netherlands was a title in the medieval Low Countries for the commander of the war fleet.
The title of admiral, for naval commanders of ships which protected commercial convoys against piracy, already existed temporary in the different parts of the Low Countries before, but was first made permanent in Flanders by Louis II of Flanders in 1383.
When the Burgundians gained control of the Low Countries, they also created a permanent position of admiral for the rest of the Burgundian Netherlands in 1446.
After the failed Flemish revolt against Maximilian of Austria, both positions were united and Philip of Cleves was appointed as first Admiral of the Netherlands.
With the start of the Dutch Revolt in 1568 and the defeat and imprisonment of the last Admiral Maximilien de Hénin-Liétard in the Battle on the Zuiderzee against the rebels, the position was abolished.
Admirals of the Netherlands-
Philip of Cleves1485–1488
Eitel Frederick of Zollern1488–1490
Corneille de Berghes1490–1491
Philip of Burgundy-Beveren1491–1498
Philip of Burgundy-Blaton1498–1517
Adolf of Burgundy1517–1540
Maximilian II of Burgundy1540–1558
Philip de Montmorency, Count of Horn1558–1567
Maximilien de Hénin-Liétard1567–1573