William de Croÿ (bishop) facts for kids

A 1610 picture of Cardinal Croÿ. It's not known if it looks exactly like him!

Guillaume de Croÿ (born in 1497 – died on January 6, 1521) was an important church leader. He was part of the powerful House of Croÿ family. From 1516 to 1519, he served as the Prince-Bishop of Cambrai. Later, from 1517 to 1521, he became the Archbishop of Toledo. He was born in the Habsburg Netherlands and passed away in Worms, Germany.

Growing Up and Family Life

Guillaume de Croÿ was the son of Henry de Croÿ, who was a count. His mother was Charlotte de Châteaubriant. He had a very influential uncle named William de Croÿ, Lord of Chièvres. This uncle was a main advisor to the future Holy Roman Emperor, Charles of Ghent. Another uncle, Jacques de Croÿ, was also a church leader. He was the prince-bishop of Cambrai before Guillaume.

Young Guillaume was taught by a Spanish scholar named Juan Luis Vives. He started studying at the University of Leuven in 1511. Later, two books were dedicated to him. These books were written by his former teachers, Vives and Jacobus Latomus.

Becoming a Church Leader

In 1516, when Guillaume was only 18, he was chosen as the bishop of Cambrai. He took over from his uncle Jacques. This important job also made him the duke of Cambrai and a prince in the Holy Roman Empire.

In 1517, Pope Leo X made him a cardinal deacon. This was another very high position in the church. From 1518, he also became the Abbot of Affligem. This meant he was the most important church leader in the area of Brabant.

Archbishop of Toledo: A Big Job

In 1517, the Archbishop of Toledo, Cardinal Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros, died. The Archbishopric of Toledo was the richest and most powerful church position in Spain. Many people wanted this job.

However, King Charles, who was only seventeen, was greatly influenced by Guillaume's uncle, the Lord of Chièvres. His uncle helped Guillaume, who was twenty years old, get the job. This made Guillaume the most important church leader in Spain. He also became the chancellor of Castile.

This decision was made quickly. But there was a problem: Queen Isabella I of Castile had said that foreigners should not get church jobs in Spain. To fix this, King Charles said that Guillaume was now a Spanish citizen. The Pope also gave permission for Guillaume to hold the job without living in Spain.

Why People Were Upset

Guillaume's appointment caused a huge scandal in Spain. Cardinal Cisneros, the previous archbishop, was well-liked and respected. But Guillaume was a young foreigner whom no one knew.

People were very angry about this decision. It was one of the reasons for the Revolt of the Comuneros in 1520. People at a meeting in Valladolid in 1518 complained. They demanded that no more foreigners get Spanish jobs. They also wanted Guillaume to live in Toledo.

King Charles agreed to these demands. Guillaume gave up his job in Cambrai to his brother. But Guillaume never actually visited Spain or Toledo.

His Final Days

On January 6, 1521, Guillaume was hurt when he fell from his horse while hunting. He was in Worms, Germany, at the time. He was there to attend an important meeting with the Emperor, called the Diet of Worms. Guillaume died later that same day. He was only 23 years old.

His death was not announced until January 11. That's why some people mistakenly think he died on the 11th. After a funeral in Worms, his body was taken to the Low Countries. He was buried in a church in Heverlee. His father had helped build that church.

News of Guillaume's death reached Spain by January 25. People there were very excited. A rebel leader named Antonio Osorio de Acuña tried to become the new Archbishop of Toledo. However, the rebels were defeated. In 1523, Alonso III Fonseca became the new Archbishop of Toledo. Most people in Spain did not mourn Guillaume's death.

Sources

See also

In Spanish: Guillermo de Croy (arzobispo) para niños