Gregorius Thiels, O Praem., was the 43rd abbot of

Averbode Abbey Averbode Abbey is a Premonstratensian abbey situated in Averbode, in the municipality Scherpenheuvel-Zichem ( Flemish Brabant), in the Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussels in Belgium. It was founded about 1134, suppressed in 1797, and reestablished ...

, the last before the

French Revolution The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in November 1799. Many of its ideas are considere ...

. Thiels entered Averbode abbey in 1762. He studied theology at Louvain University. In 1774 after his ordination he received the name Gregorius. He was elected abbot in 1770, and by permission of the Emperor sat in the

States of Brabant The States of Brabant were the representation of the three estates (nobility, clergy and commons) to the court of the Duke of Brabant. The three estates were also called the States. Supported by the economic strength of the cities Antwerp, Bruss ...

as a member for the

First Estate The estates of the realm, or three estates, were the broad orders of social hierarchy used in Christendom (Christian Europe) from the Middle Ages to early modern Europe. Different systems for dividing society members into estates developed and ...

. Four years later the monks were chased out of their abbey. In 1808 the abbot returned. He died there in 1822. His portrait painted by

Andreas Bernardus de Quertenmont Andreas Bernardus de Quertenmont (1 February 1750, in Antwerp – 3 June 1835, in Antwerp) was a Flemish painter, copyist, engraver and etch artist. He was also an art educator and administrator as he held positions as a professor and director ...

is kept inside Averbode Abbey.

References

Abbots of the Austrian Netherlands Members of the States of Brabant 1742 births 1822 deaths {{RC-clergy-stub