More about Margaret

Oudenaarde, summer 1522. Margaret of Parma, the first child of Charles V, was born. Her mother, Johanna Van der Gheynst, was a local maid. However, the low status did not prevent Margaret from becoming governor of the Netherlands at 37 and the most powerful figure in the turbulent Europe of the early days of the Eighty Years’ War.

Oudenaarde, summer 1582. During the war, Alexander Farnese conquered the city, which had been under the control of the Protestant Beggars. Farnese is the son of Margaret of Parma. In gratitude, the city presents him with the “Alexander Tapestries.”

The new Margaret

Margaret’s life spans the 16th century, a turbulent period in the Low Countries and Europe. The heyday of the first half of the century culminates in a time of increasing tensions and revolts: religious, economic, and political. It was the beginning of the Eighty Years’ War (1568–1648), which led to the separation of the Netherlands. As a good administrator and considerable influencer, Margaret tried to mediate between all the conflicting forces and interests. 

Margaret contradicts the cliché image of a woman in the shadow of power, without much vigour or vision, which was the fate of many women in power from the past. On the contrary, she played a prominent role in Europe. As you can see in the exhibition, Margaret is a fascinating early modern woman who masterfully managed different tensions of that time. Meet ‘the new Margaret’!