Mary of Hungary (governor of the Netherlands)

Mary of Austria
Portrait by Hans Maler zu Schwaz c. 1520
Queen consort of Hungary and Bohemia
Tenure	13 March 1516 – 29 August 1526
Coronation	11 December 1521 (Hungary) 1 June 1522 (Bohemia)
Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands
In office 28 January 1531 – 25 October 1555
Monarch	Charles V
Predecessor	Margaret of Austria
Successor	Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy
Born	15 September 1505 Brussels, Duchy of Brabant, Holy Roman Empire
Died	18 October 1558(1558-10-18) (aged 53) Cigales, Crown of Castile
Burial	El Escorial
Spouse	Louis II of Hungary ​ ​ (m. 1515; d. 1526)​
House	Habsburg
Father	Philip I of Castile
Mother	Joanna of Castile
Signature

Mary of Austria (15 September 1505 – 18 October 1558), also known as Mary of Hungary, was queen of Hungary and Bohemia^{[note 1]} as the wife of King Louis II, and was later governor of the Habsburg Netherlands.

The daughter of Queen Joanna and King Philip I of Castile, Mary married King Louis II of Hungary and Bohemia in 1515. Their marriage was happy but short and childless. Upon her husband's death following the Battle of Mohács in 1526, Queen Mary governed Hungary as regent in the name of the new king, her brother, Ferdinand I.

Following the death of their aunt Margaret in 1530, Mary was asked by her eldest brother, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, to assume the governance of the Netherlands and guardianship over their nieces, Dorothea and Christina of Denmark. As governor of the Netherlands, Mary faced riots and a difficult relationship with the Emperor. Throughout her tenure she continuously attempted to ensure peace between the Emperor and the King of France. Although she never enjoyed governing and asked for permission to resign several times, the Queen succeeded in creating a unity between the provinces, as well as in securing for them a measure of independence from both France and the Holy Roman Empire.^[1] After her final resignation, the very frail Queen moved to Castile, where she died.

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