Jean Curtius facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jean Curtius
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Jean Curtius in 1607
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| Born |
Jean de Corte
1551 Liège, Principality of Liège
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| Died | July 12, 1628 (aged 76–77) |
| Other names | Curtius |
| Occupation | industrialist (arms dealer) |
| Spouse(s) | Pétronille de Brazz |
| Children | Pierre, Michel |
| Parent(s) | Jacques de Corte, Helwy de Doerne |
| Relatives | 3 brothers |
Jean Curtius, also known as Jean De Corte, was a smart businessman from Liège (in what is now Belgium). He was born in 1551 and passed away in Spain in 1628. Jean Curtius became very important because he had a special agreement to supply gunpowder to the Spanish army. This meant he was the only one allowed to sell gunpowder to them!
The beautiful house he built next to the Meuse River in Liège is now a famous place called the Curtius Museum.
Contents
Jean Curtius: A Life in Business
Jean Curtius was the youngest of four brothers. He was a very busy person! He managed a coal mine and also made gunpowder and metal products. His businesses were very important for making weapons.
Moving His Business to Spain
In 1613, Jean Curtius faced some money problems. This happened because a time of peace ended between Spain, France, England, and the Dutch Republic. When peace ended, the Spanish army needed more weapons.
Curtius mostly worked for the Spanish army. So, he decided to move his business closer to them. He first tried to set up his factories in Biscay, a region in Spain. But he was not allowed to build his industries there.
So, he kept looking for a new place. He finally found a good spot in Liérganes, a town in Cantabria, Spain. There, he built a mill and a forge. A forge is a place where metal is shaped using heat. He also bought many forests. These forests provided the raw materials, like wood, that he needed for his factories.
His Legacy and Factories
Jean Curtius passed away in 1628. After his death, another businessman named Jorge de Bande took over his factories. These factories grew even bigger and became very important. They were known as the Royal Artillery Factory of La Cavada. This factory was one of the main places that made weapons for the powerful Spanish Empire.
Photo gallery
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Maison Curtius, around 1642. -
The Curtius Museum, after being restored in 2003 . -
The back of the Maison Curtius . -
The gate of Curtius's La Cavada factory in Cantabria, Spain (1890) .
See also
In Spanish: Jean Curtius para niños
