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mors-amor.bsky.social
Exploring art, faith, economy and politics of the 16th-century Low Countries and their global surroundings.
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#OTD Charles V was born in Ghent, Flanders, part of the Burgundian realm. On Oct 23, 1520, he was crowned King of the Romans in Aachen, following the tradition of Holy Roman Emperors at Charlemagne’s tomb. The regalia & cathedral set the stage for his rule. My pictures from yesterday.

Het Kelmishuis of Das Grosse Haus von Aachen in Aken. Gebouwd omstreeks in 1526 door Aert Proenen van de Antwerpse firma Schetz, Vleminck & Proenen als factor-en stapelhuis voor Kalamijn en messing (of geelkoper).

#OTD 1567: The Minnenbroederskerk began to burn in Antwerp and the fire bell began to sound. But those who lived near the church, stopped it, fearing the commotion and believing the fires were caused by the Calvinists, but the governors and the prince of Orange … were quickly on horseback there…

Dit jaar, en in het bijzonder dit weekend, viert de KU Leuven haar 600ste verjaardag. Joannes Goropius Becanus promoveerde er in 1539 tot licentiatus artium, ging nadien aan het Drietalencollege studeren en gaf er nog later even filosofie. Dit schreef hij er 30 jaar later over in zijn Origines:

#OTD 1568… “the young Count of Buren, who is the son of the Prince of Orange, whom he had retained from his first wife, the Countess of Buren, was brought from Leuven to Antwerp by order of Ducdalbe, in order to send him to Spain at the first wind, …”

#OTD 1568… “werdt den jongen grave van Buren, welck is den sone van den prinsche van Oraengien, die hy behouden heeft van syn eerste huysvrouwe, de gravinne van Buren, gebrocht van Loven tot Antwerpen doer bevel van Ducdalbe, om dien metten eersten wint na Spaengien te seynden, …”

“The St. Bernard Abbey of Hemiksem played a key role in renaissance Antwerp. Its monks supplied white sandstone for city landmarks, managed farmland, and preserved knowledge in their library. Positioned on the Scheldt, it was vital for trade and construction.

“Ipsa voluptati est quæ spes non fallit amorem: Qua frustratus amor, magnus amator erit.” “Ware liefde is de enige vreugde die nooit teleurstelt; En wie in de liefde gefaald heeft, zal des te vuriger liefhebben.” Uit gedicht Mors&Amor, Jan Vleminck, +- 1550

#OTD in 1515 Charles was inaugurated as Duke of Brabant and Margrave of the Holy Roman Empire. At the border of the Freedom of Antwerp, the prince declares under oath that he will respect their privileges. Charles is accompanied by his aunt Margareth, the governor, and his sisters Eleonora and Maria

According to local folklore, the castle and its inhabitabts were defended by the “Nine-eyer”, described as a gigantic eel-like creature possessing nine eyes. This mythical being was believed to inhabit the waters surrounding the castle, serving as its guardian during times of turmoil.

Cleydael Castle, located in Aartselaar, Belgium, is a historic moated castle with origins dating back to the 14th C.. In 1556, it was owned by Antonio del Rio, the treasurer of seizures under Fernando Álvarez de Toledo. In 1576, the castle was besieged and plundered by troops of the States General.

No doubt one of Charles V’s favourites, by Luis de Narváez (c. 1500–1555), a vihuelist at his court youtu.be/nLRhFXX-v0s?...

“Tourdion” by Adrian le Roy (1551). He lived and worked in Paris, but his work was known and printed in Louvain and Antwerp, the latter being a European centre for printed music. youtu.be/SRZ8b6B-RNk?...

The conference at Brughes had long intervals that More used to visit other cities in the Southern Low Countries. It was there that he began drafting his Utopia and he completed it after his return to London. The book was first published at Leuven in December 1516.

#OTD 1477 Sir Thomas More was born in London. He was a gifted interpreter, spokesman and negotiator. In 1509 on behalf of a number of London companies with the representative of the Antwerp merchants. In 1515 he was appointed to a delegation to revise an Anglo-Flemish commercial treaty in Brughes.

Juan de Flandes, as his name suggests, was likely born in the Low Countries and later moved to Spain, where he became a court painter to Queen Isabella I of Castile. His style reflects the influence of the Flemish tradition.

Juan de Flandes depicted Juan, Prince of Asturias, and his wife, Marguerite of Austria (17 at the time) as the bridal couple in The Marriage Feast at Cana (1500–1504). They were briefly married (1497). The widowed Marguerite later became Governor of the Habsburg Low Countries.

Alas ! On the 3rd of February 1731, one of the grandest palaces in Europe went down in flames: the Coudenberg Palace in Brussels was no more.

You can still visit his print shop in Antwerp. It is the only (!) museum on the Unesco World Heritage List. museumplantinmoretus.be/en/page/plan...

#OTD 1468, Johannes Gutenberg (born 14th century, Mainz) died in Mainz. He was a German craftsman and inventor who originated a method of printing from movable type. His most famous work is the Gutenberg Bible (1455). He is buried in the Franciscan church in Mainz.

Their failed plot irretrievably injured the cause for which they felt such devotion. Laws against Roman Catholics were immediately increased in severity, and the gradual advance toward religious toleration was put back for centuries. The plot bitterly intensified Protestant suspicions of Catholics.

#OTD 1606 Guy Fawkes was executed. Before the Gunpowder Plot, Guy Fawkes fought in the Eighty Years’ War (1568–1648) on the side of the Spanish Habsburgs. His experience with explosives and siege warfare, gained in the Low Countries, made him a valuable asset to the Gunpowder Plot. Image N. Visscher

“Love is a fragile, broken thing, Full of sorrow, grief, and death; For he who lets his heart be bound By love, will never find true rest.” By Jan Van Der Noot (Brabant, 1539-1595).

Gedichtendag: “De liefd’ is een gebrekkig ding, Vol droefheid, rou en stervingh; Want wie zijn herte laat omringh Met min, hij vindt geen laveningh.” Jan Van Der Noot (Brabant, 1539-1595)

“Item den 27 January werden tot Brusel 2 personen om saecken der religien aengaende onthalst, d'een was van Gent, d'ander van Dornick. Men seyde dat het beeldenstormers waeren, maer nochtans dat gesciet sonder bloetstorten.” Godevaert Van Haecht, Antwerpen 27 januari 1569

Pope Alexander VII described her as "a queen without a realm, a Christian without faith, and a woman without shame." But she obviously was a very intelligent, erudite woman. However, her reputatiojn for spendthrift was somewhat confirmed, as there are still some unpaid bills in Antwerp’s archives :)

The city boulevard the "Meir" in Antwerp, around 1660 by Erasmus De Bie, with the light on the princely carriage rolling over the Meir. It is probably Christina of Sweden who stayed some months in Antwerp after her abdication. Her life was once filmed with Greta Garbo in the lead role.

The architect of the Royal Exchange was also from the (southern) Low Countries: Henrik Van Paessche.

Copy of a portrait by Lucas Horenbout +_1580, of William Carey (c. 1495-1528), a courtier to Henry VIII (1491-1547). In 1520, Carey married Mary Boleyn (c. 1499-1543), sister of Anne Boleyn (c. 1507-1536). Horenbout became Carey’s protege in England www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6...