In the 18th century, the States General was literally the government of the United Provinces of the Netherlands, the predecessor state of modern day Netherlands. It consisted of seven provinces, namely the Duchy of Guelders, the County of Holland, the County of Zeeland, the Lordship of Utrecht, the Lordship of Overijssel, the Lordship of Frisia, and the Lordship of Groningen as well as territories under the direct control of the States General known as Generality Lands.