Ferdinand van Boisschot

Boisschot was born in Brussels on 26 June 1570 as the son of Jan Baptist van Boisschot and Catharina van den Troncke.[1] His father was a member of the Council of Brabant and was killed in the early stages of the Dutch Revolt during disturbances in Brussels in 1577/78.[2] His family took refuge in Cologne, where Ferdinand commenced his studies. He studied law at the University of Cologne and at the University of Leuven and obtained the degree of doctor at law. He then became a member of the magistrature.[3]

In 1592, Boisschot was appointed auditor general of the Army of Flanders, a post he held until 1611. From the beginning of 1611 until the end of 1615, he was the diplomatic representative in London of the Sovereign Archdukes Albert and Isabella. In 1615, Philip III of Spain made him a knight in the order of Santiago. He spent a further four years as resident ambassador of the Archdukes in Paris, and was appointed to the Privy Council and the Council of State in Brussels.[2]

In 1621, Boisschot was raised to the peerage, being awarded the lordship of Zaventem, and he went on to acquire Fontaine Castle and Groot-Bijgaarden Castle, and the lordships of Nossegem, Sterrebeek and Sint-Stevens-Woluwe. In 1644, he became count of Erps. He was appointed Chancellor of Brabant, the highest civilian function in the duchy of Brabant, in October 1625, succeeding Petrus Peckius the Younger.

Boisschot married Anna Maria de Camudio in 1607. His wife was a member of a prominent Basque family, who had come to Brussels as a lady-in-waiting to Archduchess Isabella. She was later made countess of Erps. The couple had one son, Frans van Boisschot, Count of Erps, who married Anne Marguerite, countess of Lannoy. He had two granddaughters, from whom the counts of Konigsegg-Rothenfels-Erps descend.

Boisschot died in Brussels on 24 November 1649 and was buried in the Church of Our Lady on the Zavel.