George van Lalaing

Who was George van Lalaing?

George de Lalaing count Rennenberg, was stadtholder of Friesland, Groningen, Drenthe and Overijssel in the service of Philip II of Spain from 1577 to 1581. The Lalaing family came from Hainaut and had a tradition of governing. His parents were Philip de Lalaing, count of Hoogstraten and Anna of Rennenberg.

Rennenberg was appointed stadtholder of the Northern provinces in 1577 on a proposal from William of Orange. He was a firm believer in the Pacification of Ghent as a means to reconcile the rebellious Calvinists with their Catholic king. When the treaty resulted in Protestantism gaining ground, notably in Brussels, Ghent and Brugge, he deserted the cause of the rebels for the king on 3 March 1580, with the support of the city of Groningen. The rest of the province remained loyal to the rebel cause. Rennenberg died at Groningen in 1581, but the city remained the scene of military action until 1594. Rennenberg's desertion polarized the Dutch population further along religious lines. Catholics would no longer be trusted with high posts.