Velbrück was born at Garath Castle near Düsseldorf on 11 June 1719. In 1735, when he was 16, his brother made over to him a prebend of Saint Lambert's Cathedral, Liège.[1] A year later, Velbrück was received onto the cathedral chapter by procuration. He did not reside in Liège until 1745. In 1756 he was appointed archdeacon of Hesbaye and later the same year Scel des Grâces (keeper of the prince-bishop's seal).[1]
In 1757 he was put in charge of a diplomatic mission to the court at Vienna. In 1759 he became grand master of the household and prime minister to Johann Theodor of Bavaria, the prince-bishop of Liège and the head of a sumptuous court.[1] Velbrück was also made a prebendary canon of Münster Cathedral in 1757. Velbrück, who had been a conduit of French influence in Liège, lost his position at court after Johann Theodor's death in 1763 and the election of his rival, Charles-Nicolas d'Oultremont, as prince-bishop.[1] In 1765 Louis XV of France made him commendatory abbot of the royal abbey of Saint-Nicolas at Cheminon, Champagne.[1] At Oultremont's death in 1772, Velbrück was unaninously elected to succeed him.[1]
Prince-bishop of Liègeedit
His reign saw the birth of several social, artistic and intellectual initiatives. As an 'enlightened despot' receptive to the progressive ideas arising in the last decades of France's Ancien Régime, he tried to introduce Enlightenment ideas to the Principality of Liège, but a lack of money or power meant that these projects were not always successful. A certain lethargy and narrowness of vision then reigned in the principality, preventing any real progress. He made several attempts to combat poverty and class inequality but was unable to make a real difference to the deplorable situation. He tried to make changes in several areas, such as public health by setting up the Hôpital général Saint-Léonard as a place where the needy would be welcomed and assisted, a free midwifery course and establishments to combat disease.
Velbrück also reformed education, making it open to all by creating free charity schools for poor children and an Education Plan for the Youth of the Country of Liège. Put in charge of executing the decree for the suppression of the Jesuits in Liège in 1773, he handed over their Collège en Isle over to his clergy in 1786 to use as a seminary. He modernised teaching by giving more importance to physical sciences and mathematics and the human sciences, which provided the students with useful objectives for their critical judgment. He also planned to create a large public library. Velbrück was a great protector of the arts and his actions were essential to the renaissance in arts in the bishopric. In 1774 he launched the construction of a public academy of painting, sculpture and engraving.
Finally, his most notable work was the 1779 foundation of the Société littéraire de Liège and the Société d’Emulation, a meeting-place for Liège's intelligentsia and for them to come into contact with foreign scholars – these societies' many activities included presentations of scientific discoveries and artists' and poets' works.
It was later claimed that he was also a freemason, effectively a member of a Liège lodge, the Parfaite Intelligence et l'Etoile Réunies, but proof has never been produced. The Master of this lodge, Dwelshauwers-Dery, wrote in his history of freemasonry in Liège: Après avoir fouillé nombre d'archives inconnues jusqu'ici, je n'ai trouvé aucune preuve que le Prince de Velbrück ait été franc-maçon. This has not been convincingly contradicted since.
He died at Hex Castle, near Tongeren, on 30 April 1784, and was buried in Liège.[1] His mausoleum escaped destruction during the Liège Revolution in which his remains, unlike those of his predecessors, were not thrown into a ditch. His restored mausoleum has since 15 June 2000 been in the cloister of St. Paul's Cathedral, Liège. The epitaph bears witness to the great regard he was held in by the people of the bishopric:
The people were instructed by his care, his kindness / He welcomed the arts, advanced their progress, / At the Emulation he opened a sanctuary, / Was its protector and tutelary god. / Good, affable and humane, Velbrück was at once / Both an Augustus and a Maecenas in the midst of the people of Liège[2]
^Le peuple fut instruit par ses soins, ses bienfaits, Il accueillit les arts, avança leurs progrès, A l'Emulation ouvrit un sanctuaire, En fut le protecteur et le dieu tutélaire. Bon, affable et humain, Velbrück fut à la fois Un Auguste, un Mécène au milieu des Liégeois
Bibliographyedit
Joseph Daris, Histoire du diocèse et de la principauté de Liège, Liège, 1868, tome I : François-Charles de Velbruck, p. 261 et suiv.
Reynier, Éloge de feu Son Altesse Célcissime Monseigneur François-Charles des comtes de Velbruck, 1785.
J. de Theux, Le chapitre de Saint-Lambert, Bruxelles, 1872, vol. IV, p. 49.
Georges de Froidcourt, Velbrück prince-évêque philosophe, Liège, Gothier et fils, 1948. In-8°, 83 p., tirage limité à 301 exemplaires don't 300 sur vélin anglais.
Paul Harsin, "Velbruck, sa carrière politique et son élection à l'épiscopat liégeois", dans, La Vie wallonne, décembre 1924 et janvier 1925.
Paul Harsin, "Velbruck, le prince, l'évêque", dans, La Terre wallonne, mai 1929, p. 70.
Ophoven, Continuation du Recueil héraldique des Seigneurs bourgmestres de Liége, 1783, p. 207 et seq.
Th. Gobert, Liège à travers les âges, volume V, p. 499 et seq.
J. Kuntziger, Essai historique sur la propagande des Encyclopédistes Français en Belgique au XVIIIe siècle, Bruxelles, Hayez, 1879.
Henri Francotte, La propagande des Encyclopédistes français au Pays de Liège, Bruxelles, Hayez, 1880).
Jules Helbig, Éloge académique du Prince de Velbruck, 1881.
Georges de Froidcourt, François-Charles, comte de Velbruck, prince-évêque de Liège, Franc-maçon, Liège, 1936.
Ulysse Capitaine, Aperçu historique sur le Franc-Maçonnerie à Liège avant 1830, iège, 1853
A. Cordier, Histoire de l'Ordre Maçonnique en Belgique, Mons, 1854
Dwelshauwers-Dery, Histoire de la Franc-Maçonnerie à Liège avant 1820, Bruxelles, 1879.
Paul Duchaine, La Franc-Maçonnerie Belge au XVIIIe siècle, Bruxelles, 1911
Bertrand Van der Schelden, La franc-maçonnerie belge sous le régime autrichien, Louvain, 1923
Un siècle de franc-maçonnerie dans nos régions, 1740–1840, Bruxelles, 1983
françois, charles, velbrück, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, november, 2018, learn, when, remove, this, templa. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations November 2018 Learn how and when to remove this template message Francois Charles de Velbruck 1719 1784 was a German ecclesiastic He was prince bishop of Liege from 16 February 1772 to his death on 30 April 1784 Contents 1 Early life 2 Prince bishop of Liege 3 Footnotes 4 Bibliography 5 External linksEarly life editVelbruck was born at Garath Castle near Dusseldorf on 11 June 1719 In 1735 when he was 16 his brother made over to him a prebend of Saint Lambert s Cathedral Liege 1 A year later Velbruck was received onto the cathedral chapter by procuration He did not reside in Liege until 1745 In 1756 he was appointed archdeacon of Hesbaye and later the same year Scel des Graces keeper of the prince bishop s seal 1 In 1757 he was put in charge of a diplomatic mission to the court at Vienna In 1759 he became grand master of the household and prime minister to Johann Theodor of Bavaria the prince bishop of Liege and the head of a sumptuous court 1 Velbruck was also made a prebendary canon of Munster Cathedral in 1757 Velbruck who had been a conduit of French influence in Liege lost his position at court after Johann Theodor s death in 1763 and the election of his rival Charles Nicolas d Oultremont as prince bishop 1 In 1765 Louis XV of France made him commendatory abbot of the royal abbey of Saint Nicolas at Cheminon Champagne 1 At Oultremont s death in 1772 Velbruck was unaninously elected to succeed him 1 Prince bishop of Liege editHis reign saw the birth of several social artistic and intellectual initiatives As an enlightened despot receptive to the progressive ideas arising in the last decades of France s Ancien Regime he tried to introduce Enlightenment ideas to the Principality of Liege but a lack of money or power meant that these projects were not always successful A certain lethargy and narrowness of vision then reigned in the principality preventing any real progress He made several attempts to combat poverty and class inequality but was unable to make a real difference to the deplorable situation He tried to make changes in several areas such as public health by setting up the Hopital general Saint Leonard as a place where the needy would be welcomed and assisted a free midwifery course and establishments to combat disease Velbruck also reformed education making it open to all by creating free charity schools for poor children and an Education Plan for the Youth of the Country of Liege Put in charge of executing the decree for the suppression of the Jesuits in Liege in 1773 he handed over their College en Isle over to his clergy in 1786 to use as a seminary He modernised teaching by giving more importance to physical sciences and mathematics and the human sciences which provided the students with useful objectives for their critical judgment He also planned to create a large public library Velbruck was a great protector of the arts and his actions were essential to the renaissance in arts in the bishopric In 1774 he launched the construction of a public academy of painting sculpture and engraving Finally his most notable work was the 1779 foundation of the Societe litteraire de Liege and the Societe d Emulation a meeting place for Liege s intelligentsia and for them to come into contact with foreign scholars these societies many activities included presentations of scientific discoveries and artists and poets works It was later claimed that he was also a freemason effectively a member of a Liege lodge the Parfaite Intelligence et l Etoile Reunies but proof has never been produced The Master of this lodge Dwelshauwers Dery wrote in his history of freemasonry in Liege Apres avoir fouille nombre d archives inconnues jusqu ici je n ai trouve aucune preuve que le Prince de Velbruck ait ete franc macon This has not been convincingly contradicted since He died at Hex Castle near Tongeren on 30 April 1784 and was buried in Liege 1 His mausoleum escaped destruction during the Liege Revolution in which his remains unlike those of his predecessors were not thrown into a ditch His restored mausoleum has since 15 June 2000 been in the cloister of St Paul s Cathedral Liege The epitaph bears witness to the great regard he was held in by the people of the bishopric The people were instructed by his care his kindness He welcomed the arts advanced their progress At the Emulation he opened a sanctuary Was its protector and tutelary god Good affable and humane Velbruck was at once Both an Augustus and a Maecenas in the midst of the people of Liege 2 Footnotes edit a b c d e f g Georges de Froidcourt Velbruck Francois Charles comte de in Biographie Nationale de Belgique vol 26 Brussels 1936 1938 523 531 Le peuple fut instruit par ses soins ses bienfaits Il accueillit les arts avanca leurs progres A l Emulation ouvrit un sanctuaire En fut le protecteur et le dieu tutelaire Bon affable et humain Velbruck fut a la foisUn Auguste un Mecene au milieu des LiegeoisBibliography editJoseph Daris Histoire du diocese et de la principaute de Liege Liege 1868 tome I Francois Charles de Velbruck p 261 et suiv Reynier Eloge de feu Son Altesse Celcissime Monseigneur Francois Charles des comtes de Velbruck 1785 J de Theux Le chapitre de Saint Lambert Bruxelles 1872 vol IV p 49 Georges de Froidcourt Velbruck prince eveque philosophe Liege Gothier et fils 1948 In 8 83 p tirage limite a 301 exemplaires don t 300 sur velin anglais Paul Harsin Velbruck sa carriere politique et son election a l episcopat liegeois dans La Vie wallonne decembre 1924 et janvier 1925 Paul Harsin Velbruck le prince l eveque dans La Terre wallonne mai 1929 p 70 Ophoven Continuation du Recueil heraldique des Seigneurs bourgmestres de Liege 1783 p 207 et seq Th Gobert Liege a travers les ages volume V p 499 et seq J Kuntziger Essai historique sur la propagande des Encyclopedistes Francais en Belgique au XVIIIe siecle Bruxelles Hayez 1879 Henri Francotte La propagande des Encyclopedistes francais au Pays de Liege Bruxelles Hayez 1880 Jules Helbig Eloge academique du Prince de Velbruck 1881 Georges de Froidcourt Francois Charles comte de Velbruck prince eveque de Liege Franc macon Liege 1936 Ulysse Capitaine Apercu historique sur le Franc Maconnerie a Liege avant 1830 iege 1853 A Cordier Histoire de l Ordre Maconnique en Belgique Mons 1854 Dwelshauwers Dery Histoire de la Franc Maconnerie a Liege avant 1820 Bruxelles 1879 Paul Duchaine La Franc Maconnerie Belge au XVIIIe siecle Bruxelles 1911 Bertrand Van der Schelden La franc maconnerie belge sous le regime autrichien Louvain 1923 Un siecle de franc maconnerie dans nos regions 1740 1840 Bruxelles 1983External links editBiography of Velbruck Archived 30 March 2020 at the Wayback MachineCatholic Church titlesPreceded byCharles Nicolas d Oultremont Prince bishop of Liege1772 1784 Succeeded byCesar Constantin Francois de Hoensbroeck Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Francois Charles de Velbruck amp oldid 1182636664, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
