Aubert le Mire, Latinized Aubertus Miraeus (30 November 1573 – 19 October 1640) was an ecclesiastical historian in the

Spanish Netherlands The Spanish Netherlands (; ; ; ) (historically in Spanish: , the name "Flanders" was used as a '' pars pro toto'') was the Habsburg Netherlands ruled by the Spanish branch of the Habsburgs from 1556 to 1714. They were a collection of States of t ...

Life

Miraeus was born 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 ...

. His father was Guillaume le Mire and his mother Joanna Speeckaert, sister to the Capuchin preacher Bonaventura Speeckaert. P. Hildebrand, ''De Kapucijnen in de Nederlanden en het Prinsbisdom Luik'', vol. 7 (Antwerp, 1952), p. 144. After studying at

Douai Douai ( , , ; ; ; formerly spelled Douay or Doway in English) is a city in the Nord (French department), Nord département in northern France. It is a Subprefectures in France, sub-prefecture of the department. Located on the river Scarpe (rive ...

and

Leuven Leuven (, , ), also called Louvain (, , ), is the capital and largest City status in Belgium, city of the Provinces of Belgium, province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located about east of Brussels. The municipalit ...

he was made canon of

Antwerp cathedral The Cathedral of Our Lady () is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Antwerp, Belgium. Today's seat of the Diocese of Antwerp started in 1352 and, although the first stage of construction was ended in 1521, has never been 'completed'. It was construct ...

in 1608 and secretary to his uncle, Joannes Miraeus, who was then Bishop of Antwerp. In 1611 he was appointed

almoner An almoner () is a chaplain or church officer who originally was in charge of distributing money to the deserving poor. The title ''almoner'' has to some extent fallen out of use in English, but its equivalents in other languages are often used f ...

and librarian to Archduke Albert of Austria, then sovereign of the Netherlands, and in 1624 he became dean of the cathedral of Antwerp and

vicar general A vicar general (previously, archdeacon) is the principal deputy of the bishop or archbishop of a diocese or an archdiocese for the exercise of administrative authority and possesses the title of local ordinary. As vicar of the bishop, the vica ...

of the diocese. He remained in Antwerp until his death. He wrote numerous works in the fields of history, ecclesiastical history, and related disciplines. Some have suggested that his works lack thoroughness and accuracy.

Published works

Obituaries, biographies and funeral orations

*''Vita Justi Lipsii'', Antwerp, 1609 (an obituary of

Justus Lipsius Justus Lipsius (Joest Lips or Joost Lips; October 18, 1547 – March 23, 1606) was a Flemish Catholic philologist, philosopher, and humanist. Lipsius wrote a series of works designed to revive ancient Stoicism in a form that would be compatibl ...

, one of Miraeus's teachers at Louvain), dedicated to (1553–1633), bishop of

Kamianets-Podilskyi Kamianets-Podilskyi (, ; ) is a city on the Smotrych River in western Ukraine, western Ukraine, to the north-east of Chernivtsi. Formerly the administrative center of Khmelnytskyi Oblast, the city is now the administrative center of Kamianets ...

1607–1614 (Revised editio
on Google Books
*''Gentis Spinulae illustrium elogia'', Cologne, 1611 (a compendium on the

Spinola family The House of Spinola, or Spinola family, is a Genoese noble family which played a leading role in the Republic of Genoa. Their influence was at its greatest extent in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Notable members Guido Spinola was ...

, in memory of Federico Spinola), dedicated to

Ambrogio Spinola Ambrogio Spinola Doria, 1st Marquess of Los Balbases and 1st Duke of Sesto (1569 – 25 September 1630) was an Italian military leader and nobleman of the Republic of Genoa, who served as a Spanish general and won a number of important battles. ...

on Google Books
*''Laudatio funebris Rudolphi II'', Antwerp, 1612 (funeral oration for

Rudolph II Rudolf II (18 July 1552 – 20 January 1612) was Holy Roman Emperor (1576–1612), King of Hungary and Kingdom of Croatia (Habsburg), Croatia (as Rudolf I, 1572–1608), King of Bohemia (1575–1608/1611) and Archduke of Austria (1576–16 ...

delivered in Antwerp Cathedral on 13 March 1612) –
on Google Books
*''De vita Alberti pii, sapientis, prudentis Belgarum principis commentarius'', Antwerp, 1622 (an obituary for

Albert VII, Archduke of Austria Albert VII (; 13 November 1559 – 13 July 1621) was the ruling Archduke of Austria for a few months in 1619 and, jointly with his wife, Isabella Clara Eugenia, sovereign of the Habsburg Netherlands between 1598 and 1621. Prior to this, he had ...

), dedicated to

Philip IV of Spain Philip IV (, ; 8 April 160517 September 1665), also called the Planet King (Spanish: ''Rey Planeta''), was King of Spain from 1621 to his death and (as Philip III) King of Portugal from 1621 to 1640. Philip is remembered for his patronage of the ...

on Google Books
*''Serenissimae principis Isabellae Clarae Eugeniae Hispaniarum Infantis laudatio funebris'', Antwerp, 1634 (a funeral oration for the Infanta

Isabella Clara Eugenia Isabella Clara Eugenia (; 12 August 1566 – 1 December 1633), sometimes referred to as Clara Isabella Eugenia, was sovereign of the Spanish Netherlands, which comprised the Low Countries and the north of modern France, with her husband Albert ...

), dedicated to the

Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand of Austria Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand (also known as Don Fernando de Austria, Cardenal-Infante Fernando de España and as Ferdinand von Österreich; 16 May 1609 – 9 November 1641) was a Spanish and Portuguese prince (Infante of Spain, Infante of Portugal (u ...

on Google Books

History and ecclesiastical history

*''Origines coenobiorum Benedictorum in Belgio'', Antwerp, Hieronymus Verdussen, 1606 (on the origins of

Benedictine The Benedictines, officially the Order of Saint Benedict (, abbreviated as O.S.B. or OSB), are a mainly contemplative monastic order of the Catholic Church for men and for women who follow the Rule of Saint Benedict. Initiated in 529, th ...

monasticism in the Low Countries), dedicated to Nicolas Mainfroy, abbot of Saint-Bertin
on Google Books
*''Rerum toto orbe gestarum chronica a Christo nato ad haec usque tempora'', Antwerp, Hieronymus Verdussen, 1608 (containing the chronicles of

Eusebius Eusebius of Caesarea (30 May AD 339), also known as Eusebius Pamphilius, was a historian of Christianity, exegete, and Christian polemicist from the Roman province of Syria Palaestina. In about AD 314 he became the bishop of Caesarea Maritima. ...

, St. Jerome,

Sigebert of Gembloux Sigebert or Sigibert of Gembloux ( or ; – 5 October 1112) was a medieval author, known mainly as a pro-Imperial historian of a universal chronicle, opposed to the expansive papacy of Gregory VII and Pascal II. Early in his life he became a ...

, Anselm of Gembloux, and others up to the year 1200, and a continuation of these chronicles by Miraeus up to 1608); dedicated to Joannes del Rio
on Google Books
*''Equitum redemtoris Jesu Christi ordo'', Antwerp, Hieronymus Verdussen, 1608 (on the foundation of the Order of Knights of the Redeemer), dedicated to

Vincenzo Gonzaga Vincenzo Gonzaga may refer to: *Vincenzo I Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua (1562–1612) *Vincenzo II Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua (1594–1627) *Vicente de Gonzaga y Doria (1602–1694), known in Italian as Vincenzo Gonzaga Doria *Vincenzo Gonzaga, Duke of Gua ...

on Google Books
*

Mathias Lambrecht Mathias Lambrecht (1539–1602) was the third bishop of Bruges. Life Lambrecht was born at Sint-Laureins in the Brugse Vrije around 1539. On 7 January 1569 he graduated Licentiate of Sacred Theology at Old University of Leuven, Leuven University. ...

, ''Historia Ecclesiastica. Oft een kerckelijcke historie'', revised and updated by Miraeus (Antwerp, Hieronymus Verdussen, 1609)
on Google Books
*''Origines equestrium sive militarium ordinum libri duo'', Antwerp, David Marten, 1609 (a volume on the origins of the military orders)
on Google Books
**published in French as ''Origine des chevaliers et ordres militaires'', Antwerp, David Marten, 1609, dedicated to Gaston Spinola, count of Bruay
on Google Books
; *''Politia ecclesiastica, sive de statu religionis Christianae per totum orbem'', Cologne, 1609; Lyon, Antoine Hillepotte, 1620
on Google Books
*''Ordinis carmelitani, ab Elia propheta primum incohati, ab Alberto patriarcha Ierusolymitano vitae regula temperati, a B. Teresia virgine Hispana ad primaevam disciplinam revocati, origo atque incrementa'', Antwerp, David Marten, 1610 (on the origins and history of the

Carmelite order The Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel (; abbreviated OCarm), known as the Carmelites or sometimes by synecdoche known simply as Carmel, is a mendicant order in the Catholic Church for both men and women. Histo ...

), dedicated to

, Infanta of Spain
on Google Books
*''Notitia episcopatuum orbis christiani'', Antwerp,

Plantin Press The Plantin Press at 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 ...

, 1611, 1613, dedicated to

Guido Bentivoglio Guido Bentivoglio d'Aragona (4 October 15797 September 1644) was an Italian cardinal, statesman and historian. Early years A member of the Ferrara branch of the influential Bentivoglio family of Bologna, he was the younger son of marchese Co ...

on Google Books
*''Origines Benedictinae'', Cologne, Bernardus Gualterus, 1614 (on the origins of Benedictine monasticism), dedicated to Philippus Caverellius, abbot of St Vaast
on Google Books
*''Canonicorum regularium ordinis S. Augustini origines ac progressus'', Cologne, 1614 (a history of the Augustinian canons regular), dedicated to Remigius de Zaman, prior of Lo
on Google Books
*''De collegiis canonicorum'', Cologne, 1615 (on colleges of canons), dedicated to Charles Philippe de Rodoan,

bishop of Bruges The Diocese of Bruges (; ) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in Belgium. It is a suffragan in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolis (religious jurisdiction), metropolitan Archdiocese of Mechelen ...

on Google Books
*''Geographia ecclesiastica'', Lyon, 1620 (an alphabetic list of Catholic dioceses throughout the world), dedicated to Gaspard de Mornieu
on Google Books
*''De bello Bohemico Ferdinandi II. feliciter gesto Commentarius'', Cologne, 1622 (a pro-Habsburg account of the

Bohemian Revolt The Bohemian Revolt (; ; 1618–1620) was an uprising of the Kingdom of Bohemia, Bohemian Estates of the realm, estates against the rule of the Habsburg dynasty that began the Thirty Years' War. It was caused by both religious and power dispu ...

), dedicated to Lucio Sanseverino
on Google Books
*''Ordinis Praemonstratensis chronicon'', Cologne, 1623 (chronicle of the

Premonstratensian The Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré (), also known as the Premonstratensians, the Norbertines and, in Britain and Ireland, as the White Canons (from the colour of their habit), is a religious order of canons regular in the Catholic Chur ...

order), dedicated to Adrianus Stalpartius, abbot of Tongerlo Abbey
on Google Books
*''Originum monasticarum libri IV'', Cologne, 1620 (on the origins of monastic orders), dedicated to Philippus Caverellius, abbot of St Vaast
on Google Books
*''De rebus Bohemicis liber singularis'', Lyon, 1621 (an overview of Czech history), dedicated to

Johann Lohel Johann Lohelius (1549 – November 2, 1622), better known as Johann Lohel, was the archbishop of Prague from September 18, 1612, until his death. Early life Born in 1549 in a poor family, Johann was piously brought up. At fifteen he was engaged a ...

on Google Books
*''Rerum Belgicarum Annales'', Brussels, 1624, dedicated to

Alexander I de Bournonville Alexander, duke of Bournonville (1585–1656) was a nobleman, soldier, diplomat and conspirator with estates in both the Kingdom of France and the Low Countries. Life Bournonville was born on 4 November 1585, only son of Oudart de Bournonville, b ...

on Google Books
*''Notitia ecclesiarum Belgii'', Antwerp, 1630, dedicated to

on google books
; (this work, together with other works of Miraeus on the ecclesiastical history of the Netherlands, was re-edited by Johannes Franciscus Foppens, under the title of ''Miraei opera diplomatica et Historica'', 4 vols., Brussels, 1723–48) *''De congregationibus clericorum in communi viventium'', Cologne, 1632 (a history of the origins of congregations of

clerks regular In the canon law of the Catholic Church, clerics regular or clerks regular are clerics (mostly priests) who are members of a religious order under a rule of life (regular). Clerics regular differ from canons regular in that they devote themselves ...

, such as the

Theatines The Theatines, officially named the Congregation of Clerics Regular (; abbreviated CR), is a Catholic order of clerics regular of pontifical right for men founded by Archbishop Gian Pietro Carafa on 14 September 1524. Foundation The order wa ...

Jesuits The Society of Jesus (; abbreviation: S.J. or SJ), also known as the Jesuit Order or the Jesuits ( ; ), is a religious order (Catholic), religious order of clerics regular of pontifical right for men in the Catholic Church headquartered in Rom ...

Barnabites The Barnabites (), officially named as the Clerics Regular of Saint Paul (), are a religious order of clerics regular founded in 1530 in the Catholic Church. They are associated with the Angelic Sisters of Saint Paul and the members of the Ba ...

Oratorians An Oratorian is a member of one of the following religious orders: * Oratory of Saint Philip Neri (Roman Catholic), who use the postnominal letters C.O. * Oratory of Jesus (Roman Catholic) * Oratory of the Good Shepherd (Anglican) * Teologisk Orator ...

, etc.), dedicated to Nicolaus Albertus de Oleksow Gniewosz envoy to the court of the

Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia of Spain Isabella Clara Eugenia (; 12 August 1566 – 1 December 1633), sometimes referred to as Clara Isabella Eugenia, was sovereign of the Spanish Netherlands, which comprised the Low Countries and the north of modern France, with her husband Archd ...

and later bishop of Kujawy
on Google Books
*''Rerum Belgicarum chronicon'', Antwerp, Willem Lesteens, 1636 (a chronicle of the history of the Low Countries from 58 BC to AD 1635), dedicated to the

on Google Books

Bibliography and diplomatics

*''Elogia Belgica sive illustrium Belgii scriptorum'', Antwerp, 1609, dedicated to the city council of Antwerp
on Google Books
*''Elenchus historicorum et aliorum scriptorum, nondum typis editorum, qui in Belgicis potissimum bibliothecis manuscripti exstant'', Brussels, 1622 (a handlist of authors of manuscripts in Belgian libraries) -
on Google Books
*''Codex donationum piarum'', Brussels, 1624 (an anthology of medieval dotations), dedicated to Petrus Peckius
on Google Books
*''Diplomatum Belgicorum libri duo'', Brussels, 1628 (a collection of

diplomatics Diplomatics (in American English, and in most anglophone countries), or diplomatic (in British English), is a scholarly discipline centred on the critical analysis of documents, especially historical documents. It focuses on the conventions, pr ...

), dedicated to Cardinal de la Cueva
on Google Books
*''Donationum Belgicarum libri II'', Antwerp, 1629 (an anthology of medieval dotations), dedicated to

City of Brussels The City of Brussels is the largest List of municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region, municipality and historical City centre, centre of the Brussels, Brussels-Capital Region, as well as the capital of the French Community of Belgium, the ...

, baron of

Zaventem Zaventem () is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is located in the Dijleland area, one of the three large recreational areas which together form the '' Groene Gordel'' ("Green Belt") around th ...

on Google Books
*''Bibliotheca ecclesiastica'', 2 vols, Antwerp, 1639–49; a compilation of short sketches of ecclesiastical writers by

Jerome Jerome (; ; ; – 30 September 420), also known as Jerome of Stridon, was an early Christian presbyter, priest, Confessor of the Faith, confessor, theologian, translator, and historian; he is commonly known as Saint Jerome. He is best known ...

Gennadius of Massilia Gennadius of Massilia (died c. 496), also known as Gennadius Scholasticus or Gennadius Massiliensis, was a 5th-century Christian priest, monk, and historian. His best-known work is ''De Viris Illustribus'' ("Of Famous Men"), a biography of over 9 ...

Isidore of Seville Isidore of Seville (; 4 April 636) was a Spania, Hispano-Roman scholar, theologian and Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seville, archbishop of Seville. He is widely regarded, in the words of the 19th-century historian Charles Forbes René de Montal ...

Ildefonsus Ildefonsus or Ildephonsus (rarely ''Ildephoses'' or ''Ildefonse''; Spanish: San Ildefonso; c. 8 December A.D. 607 – 23 January A.D. 667) was a scholar and theologian who served as the metropolitan (religion), metropolitan Bishop of Toledo fo ...

Honorius Augustodunensis Honorius Augustodunensis (c. 1080 – c. 1140), commonly known as Honorius of Autun, was a 12th-century Christian theologian. Life Augustodunensis said that he is ''Honorius Augustodunensis ecclesiae presbyter et scholasticus''. "Augustodunensis" ...

, and

Henry of Ghent Henry of Ghent ( 1217 – 29 June 1293), also known as Henricus de Gandavo and Henricus Gandavensis, was a scholastic philosopher who acquired the nickname of '' Doctor Solemnis'' (the "Solemn Doctor"). Life Henry was born in the district of ...

, furnished with notes by Miraeus; dedicated to

Gaspar de Guzmán, Count-Duke of Olivares Gaspar de Guzmán y Pimentel, 1st Duke of Sanlúcar, 3rd Count of Olivares, , known as the Count-Duke of Olivares (taken by joining both Count of Olivares, his countship and Duke of Sanlúcar la Mayor, subsequent dukedom) (6 January 1587 – 2 ...

on Google Books

Letters

Some of his letters were published by Burbure in ''Messager des Sciences Historiques de Belgique'' (1859)

References

;Attribution *. Cites: *C.-B. De Ridder, ''Aubert Le Mire, sa vie, ses écrits: mémoire historique et critique''. Mémoires couronnés et mémoires des savants étrangers, publiés par l’Académie royale des sciences, des lettres et des beaux-arts de Belgique, 31; Brussels: Hayez, 1863. {{DEFAULTSORT:Miraeus, Aubert 1573 births 1640 deaths 17th-century historians from the Holy Roman Empire Writers from Brussels Old University of Leuven alumni University of Douai alumni Writers from the Spanish Netherlands