Rombertus van Uylenburgh
Encyclopedia
Rombertus van Uylenburgh or Rombout van Uylenborgh (1554 – 4 June 1624) is best known as the father of Saskia van Uylenburgh, the wife of Rembrandt. Rombertus was one of the founders of the University of Franeker
in 1585. Gerrit van Uylenburgh, who may have been Rombertus' brother, tended to Mennonitism
, left for Poland to become the royal furniture maker in Crakow, and became the father of the art-dealer Hendrick van Uylenburgh
.
or Heidelberg
and graduated in the year 1578. In this same year, he became a lawyer in Leeuwarden. He married Siuckien Ulckedr Aessinga (or Sjoukje Osinga) and probably had three sons and four daughters: Jeltje, Romke, Ulke, Antje, Edzert, Hiskje (= Hiskia) and Saakje (= Saskia). With a career constantly on the rise, he became a pensionaris
and mayor of Leeuwarden. He was also chosen in 1584 as a delegate of the states of Friesland
and one of the Frisian envoys in the Hague
. Because votes were per region, the number of delegates made no difference.
Van Uylenburgh was present at Delft
on the day of the murder of prince William of Orange
— 10 July 1584 — for discussions with the prince over difficulties in the Frisian States. Rombertus, embarrassed, was invited to the lunch, because there were no other guests. At the end of the meal, William of Orange stumbled on the stair, and was then murdered with a pistol by Balthasar Gerards. Cornelis van Aarsens
— according to Uylenburgh not present at the event — jotted down the prince's last words. The bishop Morillon wrote "Je le tiens mentir de ce qu' auroit dit ledict Orangier estant féru, puisqu' il advint après boire, lorsqu' il estoit tousiours raoust."
Until 1591 Uylenburgh rose as a state lawyer (landsadvocaat), but was forced — because of the variety of positions he held — to give up that post. In his later legal career he became the supreme-court lawyer (raadsheer) at the Court of Friesland. In 1595 he bought a house on the Ossekop, where Saskia was born. (Today the building is in use by the famous twins and lawyers Wim and Hans Anker.) Van Uylenburgh owned two farms, one in Rijperkerk, the other in Gaasterland. Two sons became lawyers, one son-in-law was the Polish theological professor Johannes Maccovius
, and the other was Gerrit van Loo, municipal secretary in Het Bildt
, the place where Rembrandt and Saskia married in 1634. Uylenburgh died at Leeuwarden.
University of Franeker
The University of Franeker was a university in Franeker, Friesland, presently part of the Netherlands. It was the second oldest university of the Netherlands, founded shortly after Leiden University....
in 1585. Gerrit van Uylenburgh, who may have been Rombertus' brother, tended to Mennonitism
Mennonite
The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptist denominations named after the Frisian Menno Simons , who, through his writings, articulated and thereby formalized the teachings of earlier Swiss founders...
, left for Poland to become the royal furniture maker in Crakow, and became the father of the art-dealer Hendrick van Uylenburgh
Hendrick van Uylenburgh
Hendrick van Uylenburgh was an influential Dutch Golden Age art dealer who helped launch the careers of Rembrandt, Govert Flinck, Ferdinand Bol and other painters....
.
Life
Rombertus was born at Bergum. He studied law at the Catholic University of LeuvenCatholic University of Leuven
The Catholic University of Leuven, or of Louvain, was the largest, oldest and most prominent university in Belgium. The university was founded in 1425 as the University of Leuven by John IV, Duke of Brabant and approved by a Papal bull by Pope Martin V.During France's occupation of Belgium in the...
or Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
and graduated in the year 1578. In this same year, he became a lawyer in Leeuwarden. He married Siuckien Ulckedr Aessinga (or Sjoukje Osinga) and probably had three sons and four daughters: Jeltje, Romke, Ulke, Antje, Edzert, Hiskje (= Hiskia) and Saakje (= Saskia). With a career constantly on the rise, he became a pensionaris
Pensionary
A pensionary was a name given to the leading functionary and legal adviser of the principal town corporations in the Netherlands because they received a salary, or pension.-Historical development:...
and mayor of Leeuwarden. He was also chosen in 1584 as a delegate of the states of Friesland
Friesland
Friesland is a province in the north of the Netherlands and part of the ancient region of Frisia.Until the end of 1996, the province bore Friesland as its official name. In 1997 this Dutch name lost its official status to the Frisian Fryslân...
and one of the Frisian envoys in the Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
. Because votes were per region, the number of delegates made no difference.
Van Uylenburgh was present at Delft
Delft
Delft is a city and municipality in the province of South Holland , the Netherlands. It is located between Rotterdam and The Hague....
on the day of the murder of prince William of Orange
William the Silent
William I, Prince of Orange , also widely known as William the Silent , or simply William of Orange , was the main leader of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish that set off the Eighty Years' War and resulted in the formal independence of the United Provinces in 1648. He was born in the House of...
— 10 July 1584 — for discussions with the prince over difficulties in the Frisian States. Rombertus, embarrassed, was invited to the lunch, because there were no other guests. At the end of the meal, William of Orange stumbled on the stair, and was then murdered with a pistol by Balthasar Gerards. Cornelis van Aarsens
Cornelis van Aarsens
Cornelis van Aerssen was a statesman in Holland. From 1611 he was Heer van Spijk and was the father of Frans van Aarsens....
— according to Uylenburgh not present at the event — jotted down the prince's last words. The bishop Morillon wrote "Je le tiens mentir de ce qu' auroit dit ledict Orangier estant féru, puisqu' il advint après boire, lorsqu' il estoit tousiours raoust."
Until 1591 Uylenburgh rose as a state lawyer (landsadvocaat), but was forced — because of the variety of positions he held — to give up that post. In his later legal career he became the supreme-court lawyer (raadsheer) at the Court of Friesland. In 1595 he bought a house on the Ossekop, where Saskia was born. (Today the building is in use by the famous twins and lawyers Wim and Hans Anker.) Van Uylenburgh owned two farms, one in Rijperkerk, the other in Gaasterland. Two sons became lawyers, one son-in-law was the Polish theological professor Johannes Maccovius
Johannes Maccovius
Johannes Maccovius , also known as Jan Makowski, was a Polish Reformed theologian...
, and the other was Gerrit van Loo, municipal secretary in Het Bildt
Het Bildt
het Bildt is a municipality in the province of Friesland in the northern Netherlands; its capital is Sint Annaparochie. As of 1 November 2006 it had a population of 10,975. Het Bildt has 15.4 kilometers of coastline...
, the place where Rembrandt and Saskia married in 1634. Uylenburgh died at Leeuwarden.