The Privy Council or Secret Council (Dutch: Geheime Raad, French: Conseil Privé) 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.[1] Based in Brussels, it was particularly charged with legal and administrative questions.[2]
History
The Council was founded on 1 October 1531 by Emperor Charles V.[3] He prescribed a president, eight councillors, and a secretary.
Philip V of Spain abolished the council in 1702, but it was later restored by the archduchess-governess Maria Christina, Duchess of Teschen and finally abolished by the Brabant Revolution.
Personnel
Presidents
- 1531-1540: Jean Carondelet.
- 1531-1540: Pieter Tayspil
- 1540-1548: Lodewijk van Schore
- 1549-1569: Viglius van Aytta
- 1569-1573: Charles de Tisnacq
- 1573-1575: Viglius van Aytta
- 1575-1583: Arnoud Sasbout
- 1587-1592: Willem van Pamele
- 1592-1595: Jan van der Burch
- 1597–1609: Jean Richardot
- 1614–1630: Engelbert Maes
- 1632–1653: Pieter Roose
- 1653–1671: Charles de Hovyne
- 1672–1684: Léon-Jean de Paepe
- 1684-1694: Pieter Frans Blondel
- 1694-1702: Albert de Coxie, baron of Moorsele.
- 1725-1732: Christophe-Ernest, 1st Count of Baillet
- 1733-1739: Jean Alphonse, 1st Count de Coloma
- 1739-1758: Gilles-Augustin de Steenhault
Councillors
- Ferdinand van Boisschot
- Jean Grivel
- Guillaume de Grysperre
- Antoine Reniers
- Louis-Alexander Scockart
- Willem van Steenhuys