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Engelbert Maes

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Engelbert Maes
Funeral cortege of Archduke Albert (1622), Engelbert Maes at furthest left (detail from Jacob Franquart, Pompa funebris Alberti Pii Austriaci, Brussels, 1623).
President of the Privy Council of the Habsburg Netherlands
In office
1614–1630
MonarchsArchdukes Albert and Isabella (1598–1621)
Philip IV of Spain (1621–1665)
Governor GeneralIsabel Clara Eugenia (1621–1633)
Preceded byJean Richardot
Succeeded byPieter Roose
Personal details
Born1545 (1545)
Antwerp, Duchy of Brabant, Habsburg Netherlands
Died9 October 1630(1630-10-09) (aged 84–85)
Brussels, Duchy of Brabant, Spanish Netherlands
Resting placeChurch of St Gudula, Brussels
SpousePauline Schoyte
RelationsKarel Maes (brother); Philips Maes (brother)
Children3
Parent(s)Jacobus Maes and Aleide de Tassis
Educationcivil law
Alma materLeuven University

Engelbert Maes (1545–1630), was chief-president of the Privy Council of the Habsburg Netherlands and Council of State from 1614 to 1630, making him a central figure in the government of the Habsburg Netherlands for sixteen years.[1]

Career

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Engelbert was the son of Jacobus Maes, a member of the Council of Brabant, and Aleyde de Tassis. He was born in Antwerp and studied civil law at Leuven University, where he matriculated on 17 October 1560.[2] After graduation he served as pensionary of the city of Antwerp. Under Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma he became auditor general of the Army of Flanders and a member of the Great Council of Mechelen. In 1603 the Archdukes Albert and Isabella appointed him to their Privy Council, and in 1614 as president of the Privy Council and the Council of State.

He married Pauline Schoyte and together they had three children: Jean-Baptiste, later a member of the Council of Finance, and two daughters, Adrienne and Hélène, who married the brothers Jean and Charles della Faille. His wife died in 1618, he himself on 9 October 1630. He was buried in the Magdalen chapel of the Church of St Gudula (now Brussels cathedral).

References

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  1. ^ Joseph Lefèvre, "Maes (Engelbert)", Biographie Nationale de Belgique, vol. 37 (Brussels, 1971), 566-569.
  2. ^ Björn Volckaert, De leden van de Geheime Raad der Zuidelijke Nederlanden onder het bewind van de aartshertogen en Filips IV, 1609-1653. Een prosopografische studie. Deel 2, thesis for the degree of licentiate of History, Ghent University, 2004.