François de Busleyden

François of Busleyden (French: François de Busleyden; Dutch: Frans van Busleyden) or Frans (died 23 August 1502) was a Roman Catholic Archbishop of Besançon, provost, and a politician.

François of Busleyden
Archbishop of Besançon
Native name	Frans van Busleyden
Personal details
Born	François van Busleyden c. 1455 Arlon, Burgundian Netherlands
Died	23 August 1502 Toledo, Spain
Parents	Gilles I de Busleyden

Biography

François de Busleyden was born around c. 1455 in Arlon to an old Luxembourgish family from Bauschleyden. His parents were Gilles I and Jeanne Elisabeth de Mussey of Marville, Meuse.^[1] His brothers were Gilles II, Valérien, and Jérôme de Busleyden.^[2]

François de Busleyden was named canon of Saint Lambert's Cathedral, Liège before 1485 by the Old University of Leuven, replacing J de Herbeys, and on 22 August 1485, he was elected provost of the Liége chapter, succeeding Jean de Lalaing.^[3]

Maximilian I employed François de Busleyden, known for his education, in times of need.^[4] François de Busleyden was then appointed as the tutor of Prince Philip, father of Charles V.^[5] In reward for his services, he was granted the bishopric of Besançon.^[4]

François de Busleyden acquired the land for the Hof van Busleyden in Mechelen in 1494.^[6] In 1496, the city, wishing to recognize his services, granted him land adjoining his residence.^[7] Construction began in 1503 and finished in 1507.^[6]

On 12 October 1498, he became Archbishop of Besançon. Succeeding Charles de Neufchâtel, he held the position until his death. He became a cardinal. Under his episcopate, two acts from 1499 and 1501 regulated the curial rights of the church of Mandeure, agreed upon by Archbishop François de Busleyden and Richard Tissot.^[8]

In Brussels in 1501, he was among the signors of Margaret of Austria, Duchess of Savoy's third matrimonial contract.^[9] He also acted as a signor of the marriage contract between Claude and Charles V on 10 August 1501 in Lyon.

On 3 November 1501, Archbishop François left Brussels for Spain with Philip the Handsome, King of Castille.^[10]

Death

François de Busleyden died on 23 August 1502 in Toledo, Spain.^[8] He passed away at the cloister of St. Bernard lez Thoulette.^[11] Among his estate, inherited by his three brothers, was a large house with outbuildings and gardens on rue des Vaches in Mechelen.^[7]