Eustace Chapuys facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eustace Chapuys
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Eustace Chapuys
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| Born | c. 1489/90/92 |
| Died | 21 January 1556 (63-67 years of age) |
| Resting place | Chapel of the College of Savoy |
| Title | Imperial ambassador to the court of Henry VIII |
| Predecessor | Íñigo López de Mendoza y Zúñiga |
| Successor | François van der Delft |
| Children | Césare |
| Parent(s) | Louis Chapuys Guigonne Dupuys |
Eustace Chapuys (born around 1489–1492 – died January 21, 1556) was an important diplomat from Savoy. He worked for Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, as the Imperial ambassador to England. He served from 1529 to 1545. Chapuys is famous for his many detailed letters, which tell us a lot about history.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Eustace Chapuys was one of six children. His father, Louis Chapuys, was a notary, which is like a legal assistant. His mother was Guigonne Dupuys. People believe he was born in Annecy, a town in the Duchy of Savoy, which is now part of France.
Chapuys started his schooling in Annecy. In 1507, he went to the University of Turin for five years. He decided to study law and continued his education at the University of Valence around 1512. In 1515, he went to the Sapienza University of Rome. There, he earned a special degree in both civil and church laws.
Chapuys was a humanist. This means he believed in the importance of human values and learning. He was friends with many thinkers of his time. These included Thomas More and John Fisher from England. He also wrote letters to Erasmus, a very famous scholar. They respected each other greatly, even though they never met in person.
Career as a Diplomat
In the next two years, Chapuys became a priest. In 1517, he became a canon at the St. Pierre Cathedral in Geneva. He also became a dean in Viry. He worked for the diocese of Geneva. Later, he served the Duke of Savoy and Charles de Bourbon.
By 1526, Chapuys was an ambassador for the Duke of Bourbon. He visited England for the first time in September 1526. After the Duke of Bourbon died in 1527, Chapuys began working for Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. Charles V then appointed him as his ambassador to England in 1529.
Ambassador to England
Chapuys arrived in England in late August 1529. He took over as the main ambassador for Charles V. He stayed in this important job until 1545. He lived in Austin Friars in London. His neighbor was Thomas Cromwell, a powerful advisor to King Henry VIII. Chapuys and Cromwell became friends. Chapuys also found other people in the king's court to give him information.
Chapuys had a strong legal background. This made him a good choice to help King Henry VIII's wife, Catherine of Aragon. Catherine was also the aunt of Emperor Charles V. King Henry wanted to end his marriage to Catherine. This was called the "King's Great Matter". It eventually led to England breaking away from the Roman Catholic Church. Catherine specifically asked for Chapuys's help. She knew he was good with laws and spoke Latin well.
Chapuys tried hard to help Catherine, but he was not successful. King Henry married Anne Boleyn. Catherine died in January 1536. Chapuys was very loyal to Charles V. He was also a good observer of people. He spoke French well, but he really disliked the French. This was because they wanted to control his home country, Savoy.
Chapuys was very devoted to Catherine. He also cared deeply for her daughter, Mary. He thought the king treated Mary very badly. Mary trusted Chapuys and relied on him during tough times in her life.
In 1539, Chapuys started having health problems, like gout. But he continued his work as ambassador in England. He kept Emperor Charles V informed about what was happening in England. He left England briefly in 1539 and 1542. When he returned, he worked to improve relations between England and the Holy Roman Empire. He helped with an important agreement in 1543. This agreement led to Henry VIII and Charles V declaring war on France. Chapuys even went with Henry VIII's men to France. His health got worse in 1544, and he asked to leave his post. The Emperor allowed him to go only after his replacement, François van der Delft, arrived. Chapuys was finally released from service in July 1545.
Later Years
After he retired, Chapuys lived in Leuven, which is now in Belgium. By 1545, he was a very rich man. He earned money from his ambassador pensions. He also inherited land in Annecy. He had several church jobs that paid him well. He also made smart investments in Antwerp.
Chapuys used his wealth to help others. In 1548, he set up a college in Leuven. This "College of Savoy" was for smart students from his home region. Today, only the gateway of this college remains. It is part of the M – Museum Leuven, the city's museum. He also started a grammar school in Annecy in 1551.
Even in retirement, Chapuys continued to advise Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. He gave advice between 1547 and 1549. He wrote a very smart analysis of the political situation when Henry VIII was dying in 1547. He was also asked to remember details about Mary I's possible marriage. Chapuys wrote that Mary hoped to be married by the Emperor's choice.
Chapuys had a son named Césare. Césare died in 1549. Because his son passed away, Chapuys decided that his college and grammar school would receive his large fortune after his death. In 1555, he decided that his English pension should help create a scholarship for English students at Leuven.
Death
Eustace Chapuys died on January 21, 1556. He was buried in the chapel of the College of Savoy. There is a portrait of Chapuys at the musée-château d'Annecy in Annecy. It might have been painted when he was alive.
Fictional Portrayals
- Chapuys appears as a character in William Shakespeare's play The Famous History of the Life of King Henry VIII. He is called Capucius in the play.
- He is a main character in Robert Bolt's play A Man for All Seasons. However, he is not in the film version.
- Chapuys was played by Edward Atienza in the TV series The Six Wives of Henry VIII.
- In the Showtime TV series The Tudors, Chapuys is a supporting character. He is played by Anthony Brophy. He is shown as a strong supporter of Catherine of Aragon. He openly disliked Anne Boleyn. He also develops a close friendship with Mary Tudor.
- He is a big part of Hilary Mantel's books Wolf Hall, Bring Up the Bodies, and The Mirror and the Light. He was played by Mathieu Amalric in the television adaptation.
- Chapuys's role during Henry VIII's reign is shown in David Starkey's documentary, Henry VIII: Mind of A Tyrant.
