Anthony van Stralen (1521 - executed,

Vilvoorde Vilvoorde (; ; ; historically known as ''Filford'' in English) is a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality and City status in Belgium, city in the Halle-Vilvoorde district (''arrondissement'') of the Provinces of Belgium, province of Flemish Bra ...

, 24 September 1568), Lord of Merksem, Lord of Dambrugghe was a Mayor of

Antwerp Antwerp (; ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of Antwerp Province, and the third-largest city in Belgium by area at , after ...

. 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, 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 William the Silent or William the Taciturn (; 24 April 153310 July 1584), more commonly known in the Netherlands as William of Orange (), was the leader of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish Habsburg Netherlands, Habsburgs that set off the ...

, 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 question ...

until Horne was back in

Brussels Brussels, officially the Brussels-Capital Region, (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) is a Communities, regions and language areas of Belgium#Regions, region of Belgium comprising #Municipalit ...

. 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 Ferdinand is a Germanic name composed of the elements "journey, travel", Proto-Germanic , abstract noun from root "to fare, travel" (PIE , "to lead, pass over"), and "courage" or "ready, prepared" related to Old High German "to risk, ventu ...

, 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

, 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 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 from the Habsburg Netherlands