Jan Frans Vonck
Encyclopedia
Johannes Franciscus Vonck (29 November 1743 – 1 December 1792) was a lawyer and one of the leaders of the Brabant Revolution
from 1789-1790. This Revolution led to the founding of the United States of Belgium
in January 1790. Vonck was the leader of the Vonckists faction which was named after him. They were inspired by the French Revolution
, pleaded for the abolition of the feudal government of the state based on privileges and were in favour of a more centralised government.
, the son of a well-to-do farming couple, Jan Vonck and Elisabeth van Nuffel. He had a brother who later became priest, Benedictus Hieronymus, and three sisters: Maria Anna Josepha, Anna Margaretha and Maria Theresia. Vonck studied humanities
at the college of the Jesuits in Brussels
. Afterwards, he attended the gymnasium in Geel
. From 24 January 1763 onwards, he studied law in Leuven
at the college "De Valk", ("the falcon"). After graduating, he was able to start his successful career as a lawyer.
and his faction of the Statists. In the course of the Revolution, Hendrik van der Noot became Voncks’ opponent as Van der Noot strived for the restoration of old privileges such as the "Joyous Entry
", the "Blijde Inkomst". Vonck, influenced by developments in France on the other hand, aimed for less privileges. He pleaded for more democracy
and separation between legislative, executive
and judicial powers. Vonck formulated his ideas in the Considérations impartiales sur l'état actuel du Brabant, which appeared in January 1790. Vonck aimed to reform the existing structures rather than an Assemblee nationale as established by the French Revolution. Vonck wanted to extend the representation of the three social classes in the States General
of the Netherlands
: clergy, nobility and the bourgeoisie. The clergy had to increase in number with secular representatives and the nobility also had to increase in number. According to Vonck, the representation of the third class, the bourgeoisie, who consisted of patricians, had to be extended to the higher middle class. Van der Noot wanted to preserve the privileges of the nobility
and the church
. He considered Vonck to be a danger and started to pursue him as he did with other opponents. The house of Vonck was looted. On 17 March 1790, Vonck had to go into hiding in Brussels. Together with some comrades, Vonck had to leave France, where he eventually arrived in Lille
. Meanwhile, Vonck got a passport under the name of Van Nuffel, the name of his mother. There he translated his Considerations into Dutch as Onzeydige Aenmerkingen over den tegenwoordige ghesteltenis van Brabant and he added to it a Kort historisch verhael tot inleyding uytgegeven door den advocaat Vonck. Shortly afterwards, he died in Lille
.
. His resting place was rediscovered accidentely later on. In 1923, while digging, a gravedigger discovered a leaden coffin. In the coffin, he found Vonck’s skeleton, his wig and a well kept nightcap
. That nightcap is nowadays carefully kept in the municipal archives and a monument now stands on his tomb. He bequeathed to the poor of the municipality among others and gave orders for a scholarship to be founded which still exists and which is managed by the East-Flanders province in Flanders. His partisan and bosom friend Jan Baptist Chrysostomus Verlooy
(1747-'97), also a Brussels lawyer, wrote in 1788 an essay on d'onacht der moederlycke tael, the first sign of life of the Flemish movement
: a plea for the native language, but also for freedom and democracy.
Brabant Revolution
The Brabant Revolution took place between January 1789 and December 1790, when a popular revolt broke in the Austrian Netherlands against the unpopular reforms of the Emperor Joseph II...
from 1789-1790. This Revolution led to the founding of the United States of Belgium
United States of Belgium
The United States of Belgium, part of Brabant.In October, he invaded Brabant and captured Turnhout, defeating the Austrians in the Battle of Turnhout on October 27. Ghent was taken on November 13, and on November 17 the imperial regents Albert of Saxony and Archduchess Maria Christina fled Brussels...
in January 1790. Vonck was the leader of the Vonckists faction which was named after him. They were inspired by the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
, pleaded for the abolition of the feudal government of the state based on privileges and were in favour of a more centralised government.
Childhood
Jan Frans Vonck was born in BaardegemAalst, Belgium
Aalst is a city and municipality on the Dender River, 19 miles northwest from Brussels. It is located in the Flemish province of East Flanders in the Denderstreek. The municipality comprises the city of Aalst itself and the villages of Baardegem, Erembodegem, Gijzegem, Herdersem, Hofstade,...
, the son of a well-to-do farming couple, Jan Vonck and Elisabeth van Nuffel. He had a brother who later became priest, Benedictus Hieronymus, and three sisters: Maria Anna Josepha, Anna Margaretha and Maria Theresia. Vonck studied humanities
Humanities
The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
at the college of the Jesuits in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
. Afterwards, he attended the gymnasium in Geel
Geel
Geel is a city located in the Belgian province of Antwerp which acquired the status of a city in the 1980s.It comprises Central-Geel which is constituted of 4 old parishes a/o towns : Sint-Amand, Sint-Dimpna, Holven and Elsum...
. From 24 January 1763 onwards, he studied law in Leuven
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
at the college "De Valk", ("the falcon"). After graduating, he was able to start his successful career as a lawyer.
Brabant Revolution
During the Brabant Revolution, Vonck initially cooperated with Hendrik van der NootHendrik Van der Noot
Hendrik Karel Nicolaas van der Noot was a jurist, lawyer and politician from Brabant. He was one of the main players of the Brabant Revolution against the Austrian rule of Emperor Joseph II)...
and his faction of the Statists. In the course of the Revolution, Hendrik van der Noot became Voncks’ opponent as Van der Noot strived for the restoration of old privileges such as the "Joyous Entry
Joyous Entry of 1356
The Joyous Entry of 1356 into Brussels is the charter of liberties granted to the Duchy of Brabant following the death in 1355 of Duke John III, by his daughter Joanna, the new Duchess, and her husband Wenceslaus, Duke of Luxembourg...
", the "Blijde Inkomst". Vonck, influenced by developments in France on the other hand, aimed for less privileges. He pleaded for more democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
and separation between legislative, executive
Executive (government)
Executive branch of Government is the part of government that has sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state bureaucracy. The division of power into separate branches of government is central to the idea of the separation of powers.In many countries, the term...
and judicial powers. Vonck formulated his ideas in the Considérations impartiales sur l'état actuel du Brabant, which appeared in January 1790. Vonck aimed to reform the existing structures rather than an Assemblee nationale as established by the French Revolution. Vonck wanted to extend the representation of the three social classes in the States General
States-General of the Netherlands
The States-General of the Netherlands is the bicameral legislature of the Netherlands, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The parliament meets in at the Binnenhof in The Hague. The archaic Dutch word "staten" originally related to the feudal classes in which medieval...
of the Netherlands
Low Countries
The Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany....
: clergy, nobility and the bourgeoisie. The clergy had to increase in number with secular representatives and the nobility also had to increase in number. According to Vonck, the representation of the third class, the bourgeoisie, who consisted of patricians, had to be extended to the higher middle class. Van der Noot wanted to preserve the privileges of the nobility
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
and the church
Christian Church
The Christian Church is the assembly or association of followers of Jesus Christ. The Greek term ἐκκλησία that in its appearances in the New Testament is usually translated as "church" basically means "assembly"...
. He considered Vonck to be a danger and started to pursue him as he did with other opponents. The house of Vonck was looted. On 17 March 1790, Vonck had to go into hiding in Brussels. Together with some comrades, Vonck had to leave France, where he eventually arrived in Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
. Meanwhile, Vonck got a passport under the name of Van Nuffel, the name of his mother. There he translated his Considerations into Dutch as Onzeydige Aenmerkingen over den tegenwoordige ghesteltenis van Brabant and he added to it a Kort historisch verhael tot inleyding uytgegeven door den advocaat Vonck. Shortly afterwards, he died in Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
.
Vonck’s nightcap
Vonck was buried in the village where he was born, in Baardegem near AalstAalst, Belgium
Aalst is a city and municipality on the Dender River, 19 miles northwest from Brussels. It is located in the Flemish province of East Flanders in the Denderstreek. The municipality comprises the city of Aalst itself and the villages of Baardegem, Erembodegem, Gijzegem, Herdersem, Hofstade,...
. His resting place was rediscovered accidentely later on. In 1923, while digging, a gravedigger discovered a leaden coffin. In the coffin, he found Vonck’s skeleton, his wig and a well kept nightcap
Nightcap
Nightcap: The Unreleased Masters 1972-1991 is a Jethro Tull double CD album released on 22 November 1993 with older and previously unreleased material. The first CD contains material recorded in August 1972, much of which would be re-recorded and re-arranged as their sixth album, A Passion Play...
. That nightcap is nowadays carefully kept in the municipal archives and a monument now stands on his tomb. He bequeathed to the poor of the municipality among others and gave orders for a scholarship to be founded which still exists and which is managed by the East-Flanders province in Flanders. His partisan and bosom friend Jan Baptist Chrysostomus Verlooy
Jan-Baptist Verlooy
Jan-Baptist Chrysostomus Verlooy was a jurist and politician from the Southern Netherlands.-Childhood and descent:...
(1747-'97), also a Brussels lawyer, wrote in 1788 an essay on d'onacht der moederlycke tael, the first sign of life of the Flemish movement
Flemish movement
The Flemish Movement is a popular term used to describe the political movement for emancipation and greater autonomy of the Belgian region of Flanders, for protection of the Dutch language, and for the over-all protection of Flemish culture and history....
: a plea for the native language, but also for freedom and democracy.