The Lordship of Utrecht is formed in 1528 when Charles V of Habsburg conquers the Bishopric of Utrecht, during the Guelders Wars.

In 1528, at the demand of Henry of the Palatinate, Prince-Bishop of Utrecht, Habsburg forces under Georg Schenck van Toutenburg liberate the Bishopric, which had ben occupied by the Duchy of Guelders since 1521-1522.

On October 20, 1528, Bishop Henry hands over power to Charles of Habsburg.

The Bishopric of Utrecht comes to an end and is divided into the Lordship of Utrecht and the Lordship of Overijssel, both ruled by a Habsburg Stadtholder.

Between 1528 and 1584 the Stadtholder of Utrecht is the same as the Stadtholder of the County of Holland.

The Lordship becomes part of the Burgundian Circle by the Pragmatic Sanction of 1549, and one of the Seventeen Provinces.

During the Eighty Years' War, Utrecht joins the revolt against Charles's son Philip II of Spain from the beginning.

It is at the center of the Union of Utrecht in 1579 (not to be confused with the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713).

When the Batavian Republic is created in 1795, the Lordship of Utrecht is abolished.