William Hugonet (french: Guillaume Hugonet, nl, Willem Hugonet, died April 1477) was

chancellor Chancellor ( la, cancellarius) is a title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the or lattice work screens of a basilica or law cou ...

of Charles the Bold, the Duke of Burgundy. After the death of Charles the Bold, he was imprisoned and executed by citizens of Ghent, who blamed him for policies undermining the position of the urban elites during his time as chancellor.

Biography

Hugonet came from a non-noble family from Mâcon, and was educated in law at the university. In 1455 he entered the service of

Philip the Good Philip III (french: Philippe le Bon; nl, Filips de Goede; 31 July 1396 – 15 June 1467) was Duke of Burgundy from 1419 until his death. He was a member of a cadet line of the Valois dynasty, to which all 15th-century kings of France belonge ...

. In 1467 he married Louise de Layé, who came from an aristocratic family in Beaujolais. After the death of Philip the Good, his son Charles the Bold became Duke of Burgundy. During his reign, the career of Hugonet was further advanced and in 1471 he was ennobled and promoted to chancellor, or head of the administration, of Burgundy. He acquired several titles and the lordship of Middelburg, as well as houses in

Mechelen Mechelen (; french: Malines ; traditional English name: MechlinMechelen has been known in English as ''Mechlin'', from where the adjective ''Mechlinian'' is derived. This name may still be used, especially in a traditional or historical contex ...

, Brussels and Bruges. Following the death of the Duke at the Battle of Nancy, Hugonet was imprisoned, and in April 1477 executed, by the citizens of Ghent, who blamed him for having reduced the independence and power of the urban elites during the reign of Charles the Bold.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hugonet, William 1477 deaths People from Mâcon Duchy of Burgundy