Guillaume de Pamele or Willem van Pamele (1528–1591) was a royal office-holder 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. ...

during the

Dutch Revolt The Eighty Years' War or Dutch Revolt (; 1566/1568–1648) was an armed conflict in the Habsburg Netherlands between disparate groups of rebels and the Spanish government. The causes of the war included the Reformation, centralisation, exc ...

. He served as president of the Council of Flanders and of the

Privy Council of the Habsburg Netherlands 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 ...

Life

Pamele was born in Bruges on 29 November 1528, the son of Adolphe de Joigny, called de Pamele, and Madeleine Vanden Heede. His father was a councillor of state and privy councillor. Émile de Borchgrave, "Pamele (Guillaume de)", ''

Biographie Nationale de Belgique The ''Biographie nationale de Belgique'' (; ) 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 ''Nouvelle Biographie Nationale'' (, ...

'',
vol. 16
(Brussels, 1901), 526-528. Guillaume himself entered public service as

pensionary A pensionary (or syndic) was a name given to the leading functionary and legal adviser of the principal town corporations in the Low Countries because they received a salary or pension. History The office originated in Flanders. Initially, the r ...

of the city of Bruges, and in this capacity was present at the abdication of

Charles V Charles V may refer to: Kings and Emperors * Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1500–1558) * Charles V of Naples (1661–1700), better known as Charles II of Spain * Charles V of France (1338–1380), called the Wise Others * Charles V, Duke ...

. By letters patent of

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 ...

dated 14 May 1561, he was appointed master of requests to 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 ...

. The same year, he married Anne Winnocq (1532–1596). The couple remained childless. In 1575 he became president of the Council of Flanders. At the rebel coup in Ghent on 28 October 1577, he was able to evade capture. On 16 December 1579, the

Prince of Parma The Duke of Parma and Piacenza () was the ruler of the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza, a List of historic states of Italy, historical state of Northern Italy. It was created by Pope Paul III (Alessandro Farnese) for his son Pier Luigi Farnese, Du ...

ordered loyal Catholic members of the Council of Flanders to convene at Douai under Pamele's presidency. The loyalist councillors would continue to meet in Douai until 1585, when they were able to return to Ghent. Pamele himself was knighted by letters patent of 20 September 1581, and the same year became president of the Privy Council. He died in Brussels on 21 January 1591. His heirs were his brothers, Jean and Adolphe, who erected a monumental tomb in

Brussels minster The Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula (; ), usually shortened to the Cathedral of St. Gudula or St. Gudula by locals, is a medieval Catholic cathedral in central Brussels, Belgium. It is dedicated to Saint Michael and Saint Gudula, the pa ...

recording his achievements. After his death his wife founded a Capuchin house in Bruges. After her own death she was buried with him in Brussels.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pamele, Willem van 1528 births 1591 deaths Politicians from Bruges Presidents of the Privy Council of the Habsburg Netherlands Politicians from the Habsburg Netherlands