Charles de Hovyne (1596–1671), lord of Gouvernies, Granbray, Winckel, Steenkercke, etc., was president of the

Privy Council of the Habsburg Netherlands The Privy Council or Secret Council ( nl, Geheime Raad, french: Conseil Privé) was one of the three "collateral councils" (along with the Council of Finance and Council of State) that together formed the highest government institutions of the Habs ...

from 1653 to 1671, and a key participant in and commentator upon the government of the

Habsburg Netherlands Habsburg Netherlands was the Renaissance period fiefs in the Low Countries held by the Holy Roman Empire's House of Habsburg. The rule began in 1482, when the last House of Valois-Burgundy, Valois-Burgundy ruler of the Netherlands, Mary of Burgu ...

. Emile Van Arenbergh, "Hovyne (Charles de)", ''

Biographie Nationale de Belgique The ''Biographie nationale de Belgique'' ( French; "National Biography of Belgium") is a biographical dictionary of Belgium. It was published by the Royal Academy of Belgium in 44 volumes between 1866 and 1986. A continuation series, entitled the ' ...

''
vol. 9
(Brussels, 1887), 563–567.

Life

Charles de Hovyne, son of Laurent de Hovyne, counsel to the States of Tournai, was baptized in the church of St Jacques, Tournai, on 20 April 1596. After studying civil law at Leuven University, he became a barrister in pleas before the

Great Council of Mechelen From the 15th century onwards, the Great Council of the Netherlands at Mechelen (Dutch: ''De Grote Raad der Nederlanden te Mechelen''; French: ''le grand conseil des Pays-Bas à Malines''; German: ''der Grosse Rat der Niederlände zu Mecheln'') w ...

, and in 1628 a member of the court. In 1642 he became a privy councillor, and in 1647 a councillor of state. In 1653 he replaced

Pieter Roose Pieter Roose (1585 or 1586 – 27 February 1673), lord of Froidmont, Han and Jemeppe, was president of the Privy Council from 1632 to 1653, and a key actor in the government of the Habsburg Netherlands for over twenty years. Career He was born in ...

as president of the Privy Council. He died in Brussels on 13 April 1671, and was buried in the

Chapel Church nl, Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-ter-Kapellekerk , native_name_lang = , image = Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-ter-Kapellekerk Brussel 30-4-2017 08-20-19.JPG , imagesize = , imagealt = , caption = Chapel ...

, where a monumental tomb designed by Jan van Delen was erected. He was married to Marie de Gaule with whom he had two sons: Laurent de Hovynes, who became a member of the

Council of Brabant The Council of Brabant was the highest law court in the historic Duchy of Brabant. It was presided over by the Chancellor of Brabant. One of its functions was to determine that new legislation was not contrary to the rights and liberties establis ...

, and Charles de Hovyne, who became chancellor of Leuven University.

Writings

For the benefit of the King of Spain, ruler of the Habsburg Netherlands, he composed a ''Mémoire touchant la forme du gouvernement politique des Pays-Bas, et des conseils et officiers qui en composent le ministère'' (Memorandum touching the form of political government of the Low Countries, and the councils and officers that make up the ministry). Several manuscript copies are preserved in the

Royal Library of Belgium The Royal Library of Belgium (french: Bibliothèque royale de Belgique, nl, Koninklijke Bibliotheek van België, abbreviated ''KBR'' and sometimes nicknamed in French or in Dutch) is the national library of Belgium. The library has a history t ...

. At an unknown date (postulated variously to be 1623, 1662 or 1685) a modified version of this was published in Leiden by Abraham Gogar as ''Gouvernement politique des provinces des Pays-Bas sous l'obéissance de Sa Majesté Catholique'' (Political government of the provinces of the Low Countries under obedience to His Catholic Majesty). Accusations of corruption and abuse of his office were levelled against Hovyne in 1664. While successful in his defence, he felt the court had not gone far enough in exonerating him. He therefore wrote a remonstrance to put his side of the case in full: ''Humble remonstrance et briefve déduction de Messire Charles Hovyne du Conseil d'Estat et chef-président du Conseil privé de Sa Majesté'', printed in 1668 without specifying place or printer.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hovyne, Charles de Presidents of the Privy Council of the Habsburg Netherlands 1596 births 1671 deaths