Anthony van Stralen (1521 -
executed,
Vilvoorde, 24 September 1568),
Lord of Merksem, Lord of Dambrugghe was a Mayor of
Antwerp
Antwerp (; nl, Antwerpen ; french: Anvers ; es, Amberes) is the largest city in Belgium by area at and the capital of Antwerp Province in the Flemish Region. With a population of 520,504, . Although he was Roman Catholic, he became a famous victim of the terror of the
Duke of Alva.
Family
He was the son of Goswin von Straelen, born in Cologne and Anna Draeck, Lady of Merksem. His grandfather was the major
Willem Draeck, Lord of Merksem. His wife's sister, Mathilde, was married to
Melchior I Schetz
Melchior is the name traditionally given to one of the biblical Magi appearing in the Gospel of Matthew. There are many notable people with this name, or close variations.
As a first name
* Melchior Anderegg (1828–1914), Swiss mountain guide
* ...
, lord of Rumpst and treasurer of Antwerp. He was related to Isabella van Stralen (1577-1660), known as Isabel de Jesús Christo.
Career
He became Lord of Merksem on 23 September 1561. Van Stralen was mayor of Antwerp from 1555 to 1557, in 1561 and in 1565. After the
Iconoclastic Fury he became a refugee in Germany. The
Duke of Alva ordered his arrest. He was a friend and correspondent of
William the Silent, and the Spanish government suspected him of treason. His letters were confiscated by the Count of Lodron.
In 1565 he acquired his main residence, ''Huysinge de Groote Robijn''. After his execution his complete fortune, 400,000 guilders and the lordship, were forfeited to the Spanish Crown.
Execution
The duke of Alba waited with his
arrest
An arrest is the act of apprehending and taking a person into custody (legal protection or control), usually because the person has been suspected of or observed committing a crime. After being taken into custody, the person can be questi ...
until Horne was back in
Brussels. Van Stralen never left Antwerpen, he was convinced that his contact with Oranje was official on request of the City. Lord van Stralen was arrested in 1567 during a "fake" dinner with Don
Ferdinand, Alba's son. Alba ordered his arrest and Lord van Stralen stood trial; afterward, with permission from Alba he was subject to extreme torture.
[file://sw-pmiocc-dc110.ids.ads.thomascook.com/Users-PMIOCC$/T9900167/Downloads/BURG_ANTOON_VANSTRALEN.pdf] The city of Antwerp protested his execution, in panic many merchants left the city in fear of the duke of Alva. An official delegation went to the duke to beg for the freedom of Lord van Stralen.
He was executed after a trial before the
Council of Troubles. After being tortured he was beheaded on 24 September 1568 in
Vilvoorde, together with
John of Casembroodt, Lord of Backerzele, and Alfons de La Loi, secretary to the Count of Horne.
In 1885 a painting of him by
Auguste Delfosse Auguste may refer to:
People Surname
* Arsène Auguste (born 1951), Haitian footballer
* Donna Auguste (born 1958), African-American businesswoman
* Georges Auguste (born 1933), Haitian painter
* Henri Auguste (1759–1816), Parisian gold an ...
was hung in the mayor's office.
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stralen, Anthony Van
Mayors of Antwerp, Belgium
Nobility of the Habsburg Netherlands
Art collectors from Antwerp
People executed by Spain by decapitation
1521 births
1568 deaths
Politicians of the Habsburg Netherlands