In 1527, the Bishop sold his territories, and thus his secular authority, to Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and the principality became an integral part of the Habsburg dominions, which already included most other Dutch provinces. The chapters transferred their right of electing the bishop to Charles V and his government, a measure to which Pope Clement VII gave his consent, under political pressure after the Sack of Rome. However, the Habsburg rule did not last long, as Utrecht joined in the Dutch Revolt against Charles' successor Philip II in 1579, becoming a part of the Dutch Republic.
In 1527 the Bishop sold his territories and thus his secular authority to Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and the principality became an integral part of the Habsburg dominions which already included most other Dutch provinces The chapters transferred their right of electing the bishop to Charles V and his government a measure to which Pope Clement VII gave his consent under political pressure after the Sack of Rome However the Habsburg rule did not last long as Utrecht joined in the Dutch Revolt against Charles' successor Philip II in 1579 becoming a part of the Dutch Republic