Jean Carondelet
Encyclopedia
Jean II Carondelet was a Burgundian cleric, politician, jurist and one of the most important advisors to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
. He was a patron of Erasmus and a brother of Ferry Carondelet
.
, he studied Canon Law
and Roman Law
in his city of birth. He had a brother named Claude I Carondelet and a nephew named Claude II Carondelet. He entered a religious life in 1493, starting his renowned career as dean of the University of Franche-Comté
in Besançon
. In 1497 he became councillor of the Great Duchal Council of Philip the Fair
. In 1504 he became clerical councillor of the newly created Great Council of Mechelen
. Finally in 1508 he was made member of the Secret Council, the highest government institution of the Burgundian Netherlands
.
Prince Charles's mother, Juana of Castile was insane, and his aunt Archduchess Margaret of Austria, the regent
of the Burgundian Netherlands
, was his guardian. Prince Charles became acquainted with Jean Carondelet through his brother Ferry, who was the confessor to Margaret of Austria. Jean Carondelet soon became a close advisor to Prince Charles, and in 1517-1519, after Charles had assumed the Spanish throne, Jean Carondelet accompanied him to Spain as a member of his privy council.
In 1522 Charles named him chairman of the Secret Council. In this function he formed, together with Archduchess Margaret of Austria, the center of Burgundian control over the Low Countries. After the death of the regentes in 1530, Jean, together with Antoine I de Lalaing
led the government of the Burgundian Netherlands until Mary of Austria was appointed as the next regentes. When Charles V put through thorough reforms of the governmental institutions in 1531 (such as the creation of the so called Collateral Councils), Carondelet managed to retain his position: he remained head of the Secret Council and became chairman of the Council of State
in Brussels
. Until his resignation in 1540, he remained a central figure in the government of the Burgundian Netherlands
.
, which also included the primacy of Sicily
, a function he kept until his death. The fact that he never visited the archbishopric, and never put a foot on Sicilian soil, did not prevent him from receiving the numerous revenues connected to the bishopric.
In 1520 he became provost in the St. Donatian's Cathedral
in Brugge
, one of the richest benefices of the church in the Low Countries. Other functions he filled included provost of Sint-Walburgis in Veurne
and provost of Sint-Piatus in Seclin
, as well as canon
of the Sint-Guidochurch in Anderlecht
; and he succeeded his brother Ferry Carondelet
as abbot of Montbenoît
. The cumulation of all these functions brought him a large income. He erected a large building, the Hof van Palermo, in the Zakstreet in Mechelen
, where he died in 1545.
Carondelet's wealth and influences enabled him to build up an extensive mecenaat. He was very generous to his friends, amongst whom was Erasmus. Painters including Jan van Scorel
, Bernard van Orley
and Jan Gossaert received commissions from him. His region of birth, Franche-Comté
, also profited from his generosity, specifically the cathedral of Besançon and the collegiate church of Dôle.
in Bruges under an impressive monument, part of which is still extant, and can be seen in the St. Salvator's Cathedral.
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
. He was a patron of Erasmus and a brother of Ferry Carondelet
Ferry Carondelet
Ferry Carondelet was a Habsburg diplomat, advisor to Margaret of Austria and abbot at Montbenoît. He was the younger brother of Jean Carondelet.-Biography:...
.
Life
The second son of jurist Jan I CarondeletJan I Carondelet
Jan I Carondelet was a Burgundian jurist and politician. He was the son of Jean Carondelet and Jeanne de Basan.-Life:...
, he studied Canon Law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
and Roman Law
Roman law
Roman law is the legal system of ancient Rome, and the legal developments which occurred before the 7th century AD — when the Roman–Byzantine state adopted Greek as the language of government. The development of Roman law comprises more than a thousand years of jurisprudence — from the Twelve...
in his city of birth. He had a brother named Claude I Carondelet and a nephew named Claude II Carondelet. He entered a religious life in 1493, starting his renowned career as dean of the University of Franche-Comté
University of Franche-Comté
The University of Franche-Comté is a French university in the Academy of Besançon with five campuses: Besançon , Belfort , Montbéliard , Vesoul , and Lons-le-Saunier ....
in Besançon
Besançon
Besançon , is the capital and principal city of the Franche-Comté region in eastern France. It had a population of about 237,000 inhabitants in the metropolitan area in 2008...
. In 1497 he became councillor of the Great Duchal Council of Philip the Fair
Philip I of Castile
Philip I , known as Philip the Handsome or the Fair, was the first Habsburg King of Castile...
. In 1504 he became clerical councillor of the newly created Great Council of Mechelen
Great Council of Mechelen
From the 15th century onwards, the Great Council of the Netherlands at Mechelen was the highest court in the Burgundian Netherlands. It was responsible for the Dutch-, French- and German-speaking areas...
. Finally in 1508 he was made member of the Secret Council, the highest government institution of the Burgundian Netherlands
Burgundian Netherlands
In the history of the Low Countries, the Burgundian Netherlands refers to a number of Imperial and French fiefs ruled in personal union by the House of Valois-Burgundy and their Habsburg heirs in the period from 1384 to 1482...
.
Prince Charles's mother, Juana of Castile was insane, and his aunt Archduchess Margaret of Austria, the regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
of the Burgundian Netherlands
Burgundian Netherlands
In the history of the Low Countries, the Burgundian Netherlands refers to a number of Imperial and French fiefs ruled in personal union by the House of Valois-Burgundy and their Habsburg heirs in the period from 1384 to 1482...
, was his guardian. Prince Charles became acquainted with Jean Carondelet through his brother Ferry, who was the confessor to Margaret of Austria. Jean Carondelet soon became a close advisor to Prince Charles, and in 1517-1519, after Charles had assumed the Spanish throne, Jean Carondelet accompanied him to Spain as a member of his privy council.
In 1522 Charles named him chairman of the Secret Council. In this function he formed, together with Archduchess Margaret of Austria, the center of Burgundian control over the Low Countries. After the death of the regentes in 1530, Jean, together with Antoine I de Lalaing
Antoine I de Lalaing
Antoine I de Lalaing , 1st count of Hoogstraten and of Culemborg, was a Hainautese nobleman who held various offices in the court of the Dukes of Burgundy.-Life:...
led the government of the Burgundian Netherlands until Mary of Austria was appointed as the next regentes. When Charles V put through thorough reforms of the governmental institutions in 1531 (such as the creation of the so called Collateral Councils), Carondelet managed to retain his position: he remained head of the Secret Council and became chairman of the Council of State
Council of State
The Council of State is a unique governmental body in a country or subdivision thereoff, though its nature may range from the formal name for the cabinet to a non-executive advisory body surrounding a head of state. It is sometimes regarded as the equivalent of a privy council.-Modern:*Belgian...
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...
. Until his resignation in 1540, he remained a central figure in the government of the Burgundian Netherlands
Burgundian Netherlands
In the history of the Low Countries, the Burgundian Netherlands refers to a number of Imperial and French fiefs ruled in personal union by the House of Valois-Burgundy and their Habsburg heirs in the period from 1384 to 1482...
.
Numerous profitable functions
Through the influence of the landlords, Carondelet was able to rise in the church hierarchy without much effort. In 1519 he was named archbishop of PalermoPalermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
, which also included the primacy of Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, a function he kept until his death. The fact that he never visited the archbishopric, and never put a foot on Sicilian soil, did not prevent him from receiving the numerous revenues connected to the bishopric.
In 1520 he became provost in the St. Donatian's Cathedral
St. Donatian's Cathedral
The St. Donatian's Cathedral was a Roman Catholic cathedral in Bruges, Belgium. Located on the Burg, one of the main squares in the city, it was the largest church in Bruges...
in Brugge
Brügge
Brügge is a municipality in the district of Rendsburg-Eckernförde, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.Its small church and market square are noted for their beauty....
, one of the richest benefices of the church in the Low Countries. Other functions he filled included provost of Sint-Walburgis in Veurne
Veurne
Veurne is a city and municipality in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the town of Veurne proper and the settlements of Avekapelle, Booitshoeke, Bulskamp, De Moeren, Eggewaartskapelle, Houtem, Steenkerke, Vinkem, Wulveringem, and Zoutenaaie.-Origins in the 15th...
and provost of Sint-Piatus in Seclin
Seclin
Seclin is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.It is part of the Urban Community of Lille Métropole.Ghana national football team footballer Andre Ayew was born in Seclin.-Twin towns — Sister cities:...
, as well as canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of the Sint-Guidochurch in Anderlecht
Anderlecht
Anderlecht is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region.There are several historically and architecturally distinct districts within the Anderlecht municipality.-Pronunciation:* Dutch: * French:...
; and he succeeded his brother Ferry Carondelet
Ferry Carondelet
Ferry Carondelet was a Habsburg diplomat, advisor to Margaret of Austria and abbot at Montbenoît. He was the younger brother of Jean Carondelet.-Biography:...
as abbot of Montbenoît
Montbenoît
Montbenoît is a commune in the Doubs department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.-Geography:The commune lies north of Pontarlier in the Jura mountains.-History:...
. The cumulation of all these functions brought him a large income. He erected a large building, the Hof van Palermo, in the Zakstreet in Mechelen
Mechelen
Mechelen Footnote: Mechelen became known in English as 'Mechlin' from which the adjective 'Mechlinian' is derived...
, where he died in 1545.
Carondelet's wealth and influences enabled him to build up an extensive mecenaat. He was very generous to his friends, amongst whom was Erasmus. Painters including Jan van Scorel
Jan van Scorel
Jan van Scorel was an influential Dutch painter credited with the introduction of High Italian Renaissance art to the Netherlands.-Biography:He was born in Schoorl, north of Alkmaar and close to Egmond Abbey...
, Bernard van Orley
Bernard van Orley
Bernard van Orley , also called Barend or Barent van Orley, Bernaert van Orley or Barend van Brussel, was a Flemish Northern Renaissance painter and draughtsman, and also a leading designer of tapestries and stained glass...
and Jan Gossaert received commissions from him. His region of birth, Franche-Comté
Franche-Comté
Franche-Comté the former "Free County" of Burgundy, as distinct from the neighbouring Duchy, is an administrative region and a traditional province of eastern France...
, also profited from his generosity, specifically the cathedral of Besançon and the collegiate church of Dôle.
Tomb
Carondelet was buried in the St. Donatian's CathedralSt. Donatian's Cathedral
The St. Donatian's Cathedral was a Roman Catholic cathedral in Bruges, Belgium. Located on the Burg, one of the main squares in the city, it was the largest church in Bruges...
in Bruges under an impressive monument, part of which is still extant, and can be seen in the St. Salvator's Cathedral.
Literature
- L. P. GACHARD, Jean Carondelet, in: Biographie nationale de Belgique, Tome III, 1872, col. 348-350.
- Erasmus, Desiderius (1979) The Correspondence of Erasmus Vol. 5 Letters 594-841 University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Canada, ISBN 0-8020-1981-1, p. 353.