César-Constantin-François de Hoensbroeck
Encyclopedia
César-Constantin-François de Hoensbroeck or Hoensbroech (28 August 1724 - 3 June 1792) was a German ecclesiastic of the Van Hoensbroeck
family, most notable as prince bishop of Liege from 1784 to 1792, in which post he was nicknamed the "bourreau roux" or "red executioner".
, now in Dutch Limburg
), he studied at Heidelberg
and became a canon in the cathedral chapter of Aachen Cathedral
before becoming prince bishop of Liege in 1784, succeeding François-Charles de Velbrück
, whose progressive reforms he tried to undo. Hoensbroeck reestablished all the privileges of the clergy and nobility, sharing none of the third estate's liberal aspirations and showing little sympathy with the misery of the prince-bishopric's people. This all made him most unpopular, with the inhabitants of the bishopric nicknaming him the "tyrant of Seraing
", after the prince bishops' summer palace.
His popularity continued to plummet until a mob came to try to take him from Seraing to the Prince-Bishops' Palace
in Liège
itself. On 13 September 1790 he fled into Germany before being restored to his episcopal throne by Austrian troops on 13 February 1791. On his death he was succeeded by his nephew François de Méan, who was also unsympathetic to the French Revolution
.
Van Hoensbroeck
Van Hoensbroeck is an aristocratic family with medieval origins in the town of Hoensbroek near Heerlen in Limburg, The Netherlands. Nicolaes Hoen is the first known ancestor of the family; he was killed in the Battle of Baesweiler in 1371. During many centuries, the family owned and lived on...
family, most notable as prince bishop of Liege from 1784 to 1792, in which post he was nicknamed the "bourreau roux" or "red executioner".
Life
The son of Ulric Antoine de Hoensbroeck (whose family originated in the village of HoensbroeckHeerlen
Heerlen is a city and a municipality in the southeastern Netherlands. The municipality is the second largest in the province of Limburg. It forms part of Parkstad Limburg, , an agglomeration of about 220,000 inhabitants.After its early Roman beginnings and a rather modest medieval period, Heerlen...
, now in Dutch Limburg
Limburg (Netherlands)
Limburg is the southernmost of the twelve provinces of the Netherlands. It is located in the southeastern part of the country and bordered by the province of Gelderland to the north, Germany to the east, Belgium to the south and part of the west, andthe Dutch province of North Brabant partly to...
), he studied at Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
and became a canon in the cathedral chapter of Aachen Cathedral
Aachen Cathedral
Aachen Cathedral, frequently referred to as the "Imperial Cathedral" , is a Roman Catholic church in Aachen, Germany. The church is the oldest cathedral in northern Europe and was known as the "Royal Church of St. Mary at Aachen" during the Middle Ages...
before becoming prince bishop of Liege in 1784, succeeding François-Charles de Velbrück
François-Charles de Velbrück
François Charles de Velbrück was a German ecclesiastic. He was prince bishop of Liege from 16 February 1772 to 1784.-Life:...
, whose progressive reforms he tried to undo. Hoensbroeck reestablished all the privileges of the clergy and nobility, sharing none of the third estate's liberal aspirations and showing little sympathy with the misery of the prince-bishopric's people. This all made him most unpopular, with the inhabitants of the bishopric nicknaming him the "tyrant of Seraing
Seraing
Seraing is a Walloon municipality of Belgium in Province of Liege. The municipality of Seraing includes the old communes of Boncelles, Jemeppe-sur-Meuse, and Ougrée. With Liège, Herstal, Saint-Nicolas, Ans, and Flémalle it forms the greater Liège agglomeration...
", after the prince bishops' summer palace.
His popularity continued to plummet until a mob came to try to take him from Seraing to the Prince-Bishops' Palace
Prince-Bishops' Palace (Liège)
The Prince-Bishops' Palace of Liège is on place Saint-Lambert in the centre of Liège, Belgium. It once faced St. Lambert's Cathedral.-History:...
in Liège
Liège
Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium....
itself. On 13 September 1790 he fled into Germany before being restored to his episcopal throne by Austrian troops on 13 February 1791. On his death he was succeeded by his nephew François de Méan, who was also unsympathetic to the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
.