At present, however, the condition of affairs was so peculiar--the seat of government being empty without having been permanently vacated--that a special opportunity was offered for conferring both honor and power on the Prince.

A Ruward was not exactly dictator, although his authority was universal.

He was not exactly protector, nor governor, nor stadholder.
His functions were unlimited as to time--therefore superior to those of an ancient dictator; they were commonly conferred on the natural heir to the sovereignty--therefore more lofty than those of ordinary stadholders.
The individuals who had previously held the office in the Netherlands had usually reigned afterwards in their own right.

Duke Albert, of the Bavarian line; for example, had been Ruward of Hainault and Holland, for thirty years, during the insanity of his brother, and on the death of Duke William had succeeded to his title.

Philip of Burgundy had declared himself Ruward of Brabant in 1425, and had shortly afterwards deprived Jacqueline of all her titles and appropriated them to himself.