(1522-1568), a Flemish statesman and general, born in Hainaut. He succeeded to the family title and estates in 1541 and fought in the campaigns of Charles V in Algeria and against Francis I of France. He was rewarded with high honors and with responsible offices under the emperor. When Margaret of Parma became regent general of the Netherlands, Egmont joined William of Orange in opposing her Catholic policy. When rebellion finally broke out, however, Egmont for a time remained neutral and refused to follow the prince of Orange and other leaders into voluntary exile. Suddenly he was seized by royal officers and imprisoned at Ghent, condemned to death and executed with Count Hoorne in 1568 in the public square at Brussels. Egmont is the hero of one of Goethe's greatest tragedies.