A Stadtholder (Dutch: stadhouder, "steward" or literally "place-keeper" or "stead-holder" in older Dutch) in the Low Countries was a medieval function which during the 18th century developed into a rare type of de facto hereditary head of state of the thus "crowned" Dutch Republic. It's comparable with the French title Lieutenant, England's fifteenth century Lord Lieutenant, and the Italian title of Doge. History Stadtholders in the Middle Ages were appointed by feudal lords to represent them… (More on Stadtholder)