Don John of Austria, by Sir William Stirling-Maxwell, a Two Volume Set

I am very pleased to have recently added a new antiquarian book to my personal Renaissance Dutch & Flemish studies library!

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I have an interest in collecting what English-language histories have been written about the Low Countries of the era – and the personalities that had an impact on the same. This lovely two-volume work from 1883 will fit nicely with my collection.

As for its subject? John of Austria (1547-1578) was the illegitimate son of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and half-brother of King Felipe II of Spain. He is perhaps best known as the hero of the epic battle of Lepanto: the decisive naval confrontation in which the fleets of Spain, Venice, and the Papal States halted the Ottoman advance into the western Mediterranean.

But my interest in is his short time as the Habsburg governor-general of the Low Countries, where he was sent by his half-brother Felipe II in 1576 to quell the Dutch Revolt.

John’s tenure as governor-general was marked by both successes and challenges. While he was able to defeat the rebels on the field of battle (such as at Gembloux in 1578), his embrace of rigid, authoritarian policies only increased dissent and resentment among the local population.

He died, suddenly and unexpectedly in October 1578 at the age of 31. The Low Countries would continue to be embroiled in conflict for decades more.

This work was authored by Sir William Stirling-Maxwell (1818-1878), a Scottish politician and scholar of art and history who also wrote a biography of Charles V. His 2,000 volume book collection is preserved by the University of Glasgow, where he served as Chancellor.