Frans Van Cranevelt on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
Frans van Cranevelt (
Cranevelt was the son of Herman van Cranevelt (1442–1518), secretary of three successive dukes of
Nijmegen
Nijmegen ( , ; Nijmeegs: ) is the largest city in the Dutch province of Gelderland and the ninth largest of the Netherlands as a whole. Located on the Waal River close to the German border, Nijmegen is one of the oldest cities in the ...
, 3 February 1485 – Mechelen
Mechelen (; ; historically known as ''Mechlin'' in EnglishMechelen 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 context. T ...
, 8 September 1564), also known as Franciscus Craneveldius, was a Flemish humanist and lawyer.
Life
Cranevelt was the son of Herman van Cranevelt (1442–1518), secretary of three successive dukes of Guelders
The Duchy of Guelders (; ; ) is a historical duchy, previously county, of the Holy Roman Empire, located in the Low Countries.
Geography
The duchy was named after the town of Geldern (''Gelder'') in present-day Germany. Though the present pr ...
, and Irma van Heusden-Helshout (died 1528). In 1509 he married Elisabeth van Baussele (d.1545) from Leuven, who bore him at least eleven children, and in 1560 he married the widow Catherine de Plaine.
After having received home education, together with Gerard Geldenhouwer, and having studied at the Latin school in Deventer
Deventer (; Sallaans dialect, Sallands: ) is a List of cities in the Netherlands by province, city and Municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality in the Salland historical region of the Provinces of the Netherlands, province of Overijssel, ...
, in 1497 he went to Cologne
Cologne ( ; ; ) is the largest city of the States of Germany, German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the List of cities in Germany by population, fourth-most populous city of Germany with nearly 1.1 million inhabitants in the city pr ...
for his university studies. At that time he was barely thirteen and when he completed his studies in 1500 he was not awarded a degree because he was too young. He then went to Leuven University
KU Leuven (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven) is a Catholic research university in the city of Leuven, Belgium. Founded in 1425, it is the oldest university in Belgium and the oldest university in the Low Countries.
In addition to its main campus ...
, where he studied under Johannes Despauterius and Adriaan Floriszoon, the future Pope Adrian VI
Pope Adrian VI (; ; ; ), born Adriaan Florensz Boeyens (2 March 1459 – 14 September 1523), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 9 January 1522 until his death on 14 September 1523. The only Dutch people, Du ...
. In 1505 he graduated licentiate of philosophy as the top of his year (''primus''). In 1506 he became a licentiate in civil and canon law and in 1510 doctor of laws. From 1507 he taught law.
In 1515 he took up the position of city pensioner of Bruges
Bruges ( , ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders, in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is in the northwest of the country, and is the sixth most populous city in the country.
The area of the whole city amoun ...
and in this capacity he pronounced speeches to welcome important guests to the city, including King Christian II of Denmark
A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the world. The words '' Christ'' and ''C ...
, Emperor Charles V
Charles V (24 February 1500 – 21 September 1558) was Holy Roman Emperor and Archduke of Austria from 1519 to 1556, King of Spain (as Charles I) from 1516 to 1556, and Lord of the Netherlands as titular Duke of Burgundy (as Charles II) fr ...
, and Cardinal Thomas Wolsey
Thomas Wolsey ( ; – 29 November 1530) was an English statesman and Catholic cardinal (catholic), cardinal. When Henry VIII became King of England in 1509, Wolsey became the king's Lord High Almoner, almoner. Wolsey's affairs prospered and ...
. On 27 September 1522, Emperor Charles V appointed him a councillor in the Great Council of Mechelen
From the 15th century onwards, the Great Council of the Netherlands at Mechelen (Dutch: ; French: ; German: ) was the highest court in the Burgundian Netherlands. It was responsible for the Dutch-, French- and German-speaking areas. In Luxembourg ...
. He continued to exercise this office until his death. On the Council and at the Court in Mechelen he became a man of considerable influence.
Despite his political responsibilities Cranevelt maintained a lively correspondence with many of the most important humanists of his time, such as Erasmus
Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus ( ; ; 28 October c. 1466 – 12 July 1536), commonly known in English as Erasmus of Rotterdam or simply Erasmus, was a Dutch Christian humanist, Catholic priest and Catholic theology, theologian, educationalist ...
, Thomas More
Sir Thomas More (7 February 1478 – 6 July 1535), venerated in the Catholic Church as Saint Thomas More, was an English lawyer, judge, social philosopher, author, statesman, theologian, and noted Renaissance humanist. He also served Henry VII ...
, Adrianus Barlandus
Adriaan van Baarland or Adrianus Barlandus or Hadrianus Barlandus (1486–1538) was a Dutch historian. He was born in the village of Baarland, from which he took his name. He studied at Ghent and Leuven, at which latter place he was elected profes ...
, and his close friend Juan Luis Vives
Juan Luis Vives y March (; ; ; ; 6 March 6 May 1540) was a Spaniards, Spanish (Valencian people, Valencian) scholar and Renaissance humanist who spent most of his adult life in the southern Habsburg Netherlands. His beliefs on the soul, insigh ...
. He enjoyed the esteem of all not only because of his erudition, but also for his sound judgment, his pleasant character and the good mood he kept in all circumstances.
Bibliography
* Peter G. Bietenholz, Thomas Brian Deutscher Eds. (1987). Contemporaries of Erasmus: A Biographical Register of the Renaissance and Reformation, Volumes 1-3. University of Toronto Press. * Vocht, H. (1953). History of the Foundation and the Rise of the Collegium Trilingue Lovaniense 1517-1550 - Part 2 The development. Humanistica Lovaniense - vol.11, pp. pp. 95–224. * Vocht, H. (1928) Litterae ad CraneveldiumReferences