Conrad (or Coenraad) Schetz de Grobbendonck, later Conrad d'Ursel (1553–1632) was a nobleman in the

Habsburg Netherlands Habsburg Netherlands were the parts of the Low Countries that were ruled by sovereigns of the Holy Roman Empire's House of Habsburg. This rule began in 1482 and ended for the Northern Netherlands in 1581 and for the Southern Netherlands in 1797. ...

and in 1604–1609 the first ordinary ambassador to England for the Archdukes

Albert Albert may refer to: Companies * Albert Computers, Inc., a computer manufacturer in the 1980s * Albert Czech Republic, a supermarket chain in the Czech Republic * Albert Heijn, a supermarket chain in the Netherlands * Albert Market, a street mar ...

and

Isabella Isabella may refer to: People and fictional characters * Isabella (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters * Isabella (surname), including a list of people Places United States * Isabella, Alabama, an unincorpo ...

Ursel family

The 5th son of

Gaspard II Schetz Gaspar Schetz (1513–1580), Lord of Grobbendonk, Hereditary Marshal of Brabant was a financier and statesman in the Habsburg Netherlands. For reasons that are unknown he was nicknamed "Corvinus". Life Gaspar Schetz was born in Antwerp on 20 July ...

and Catharina d'Ursel, daughter of

Lancelot II of Ursel Ladislaus / Lanseloet', sometimes Lanschot van Ursele or Lancelot II of Ursel (1499–1573), Knight, was Mayor of Antwerp. Family His ancestors were all members of political dynasties in Antwerp, his father John III of Ursel was Schepen of An ...

, he was baptised in Antwerp on 19 March 1553. His parents had 21 children in total, eight of whom survived to adulthood. He was the fifth son. His father was the chief banker in Antwerp, financing several merchants who traded to Russia and Brazil, as well as being banker to

Philip II of Spain Philip II (21 May 152713 September 1598), sometimes known in Spain as Philip the Prudent (), was King of Spain from 1556, King of Portugal from 1580, and King of Naples and List of Sicilian monarchs, Sicily from 1554 until his death in 1598. He ...

, which gave him a political role and made him a leading figure in the Antwerp of the second half of the 16th century. In 1617 he inherited the estates of his aunt, Barbara of Ursel, last heir of

, on the condition that he and his heirs in perpetuity change their name and coat of arms to d'Ursel.

Descendants

* Conrad, 1st Count of Ursel, 2nd Baron of Hoboken, Vicomte of Vives-St-Eloy, Zennegem,

Oostkamp Oostkamp (; ) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the villages of Hertsberge, Oostkamp proper, Ruddervoorde and Waardamme. On January 1, 2019, Oostkamp had a total population o23,698 The ...

, Lord of Highene, Lord of

Rumst Rumst (, old spelling: ''Rumpst'') is a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality located in the Belgium, Belgian province of Antwerp (province), Antwerp. Since 1976 the municipality not only comprises Rumst proper but also the towns of (old spell ...

, Lord of

Opdorp Opdorp is one of the three towns making up the municipality of Buggenhout in East Flanders, Belgium. Sometimes it's classified in the Denderstreek. Opdorp is at the geographical centre of Flanders, Belgium. It is also the point at which three prov ...

, Lord of

Beernem Beernem (; ) is a rural Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Belgium, Belgian province of West Flanders, located southeast of Bruges. The municipality comprises the towns of Beernem proper, Oedelem and Sint-Joris, Beernem, Sint-Joris. On ...

, Grand Forrestier of Flanders and became a Count of the Holy Roman Empire in 1638. Married to Anne Maria de Robles. Died 1659. ** Francois, 2nd Count of Ursel, 3rd Baron of Hoboken and Grand Forrestier of Flanders, married to Honorine Maria Dorothea, Princess of Horne. *** Conrad-Albert, 1st Duke d'Ursel, 1st Duke of Hoboken, married to Eleonora von Salm

Career

In his youth Conrad was engaged in mercantile affairs, but in 1582 he obtained a government position as councillor and commissioner extraordinary for Domains and Finances. In 1584 he was appointed comptroller of artillery, and in 1587 superintendent of munitions in fortified places. 1587 was also the year that Conrad married Françoise, the daughter of

Jean Richardot Jean Grusset dict Richardot, knight (1540 – 3 September 1609) was a statesman and diplomat from the Franche-Comté, who held high political office during the Dutch Revolt and played an important role in restoring Habsburg rule in the South ...

, president of the

Brussels Privy Council The Privy Council or Secret Council (, ) 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 Habsburg Netherlands. Based in Brussels, i ...

. In 1588 he was knighted and became an ordinary councillor of the Council of Finance in Brussels. In 1600 he was created Baron Hoboken, and in 1604 appointed archducal ambassador to England. He remained in this post until 1609. His wife Françoise Grusett, Madame de Hoboken, had an audience with

Anne of Denmark Anne of Denmark (; 12 December 1574 – 2 March 1619) was the wife of King James VI and I. She was List of Scottish royal consorts, Queen of Scotland from their marriage on 20 August 1589 and List of English royal consorts, Queen of Engl ...

Hampton Court Hampton Court Palace is a Listed building, Grade I listed royal palace in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, southwest and upstream of central London on the River Thames. Opened to the public, the palace is managed by Historic Royal ...

in October 1605. They resided at Stepney. In 1632 he, alongside the

Duke of Aarschot The Duke of Aarschot (or ''Aerschot'') was one of the most important aristocratic titles in the Low Countries, named after the Brabantian city of Aarschot. The title was held by the House of Croÿ and the House of Arenberg. The present Duke is Leo ...

, represented the nobility of Brabant in the Estates General.

Louis Prosper Gachard Louis Prosper Gachard (12 March 1800 – 24 December 1885), Belgian man of letters, was born in Paris. He entered the administration of the national archives in 1826, and was appointed director-general in 1831, a post which he held for fifty-f ...

, ''Actes des États Généraux de 1632'' (Brussels, 1853), p. 63.

Ancestors

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Schetz, Conrad 1553 births 1632 deaths Ursel family People from Antwerp Ambassadors of the Spanish Netherlands People of the Eighty Years' War Nobility of the Spanish Netherlands