Thomas Philip Wallrad de Hénin-Liétard d'Alsace

Thomas Philip Wallrad de Hénin-Liétard d'Alsace named Cardinal d'Alsace[2] (Brussels, 12 November 1679 – 5 January 1759), was a Cardinal and Archbishop of Mechelen, Belgium. He participated in 4 conclaves; during the conclave of 1758, in which he did not participate, he was Cardinal Proto-Priest.

His Eminence Thomas de Hénin-Liétard Cardinal d'Alsace
Cardinal, Archbishop of Mechelen Primate of the Low Countries
Church	Roman Catholic
Archdiocese	Mechelen
In office	1715–1759
Predecessor	Humbertus Guilielmus de Precipiano
Successor	Joannes-Henricus de Franckenberg
Other posts	Cardinal-Priest of San Lorenzo in Lucina[1]
Orders
Consecration	1716 by Giorgio Cardinal Spínola
Created cardinal	1719
Rank	Cardinal Priest
Personal details
Born	12 November 1679
Died	5 January 1759
Buried	Mechelen Cathedral
Motto	Estote Miserecordes

Tomb in Mechelen Cathedral

Family

His father, Philippe-Louis de Hénin, 7th Count of Bossu was Knight of the Golden Fleece. He was the 11th Prince of Chimay: his family belongs to the family of Hénin-Liétard,[3][4] His grandmother was a Princess of Arenberg and Chimay, she was a granddaughter of Charles de Ligne, 2nd Prince of Arenberg. Louis-François Verreycken, 1st Baron of Bonlez was his great-grandfather.

The brother of the Cardinal was married to Charlotte de Rouvroy, daughter of the Duke of Saint-Simon, who mentioned the Cardinal in his writings.[5] One of his nephews Charles-Alexandre de Hénin-Liétard d'Alsace, Count of Beaumont dies in 1794 in Paris by guillotine.

Career

In 1696 he was a noble Canon of the Chapter of Ghent. He completed his studies in Cologne and was ordained as a priest on 15 October 1702, in Rome. He was created in 1712 a papal prelate of honour of Clement XI. In 1714 he was approved by emperor Charles VI as Bishop of Mechelen, his appointed of Archbishop took place on 16 December 1715. In 1716 he was ordained in Vienna by the Apostolic Nuncio to Austria: Mgr. Giorgio Cardinal Spínola. On 29 Nov 1719, age 40, he was named Cardinal, after his support in favor of the Bull of Unigenitus. Cardinal d'Alcase was the first cardinal taking residence in Mechelen, since Cardinal de Granvelle died. He went to Rome to receive the biretta, by hands of the pope himself. The people of Mechelen rejoiced to have again a cardinal, and he was very loved by them. During the episcopate of Cardinal d'Alcase he constructed several important buildings: he had the episcopal palace rebuilt and a new diocesan seminary constructed in Mechelen.[6]

In 1747 he pleaded with King Louis XV who entered Brussels to have mercy on the poor inhabitants of Brussels. The king requested a Te Deum in honour of the victory, but the Cardinal replied: "Only the blood of Christ flows on the altar!"[7]

After the anti-government disturbances, the Great Council produced a high number of death penalties, the cardinal begged the emperor for mercy in 1720. This request was honoured by the Emperor.[8]

Upon the death of Cardinal Ruffo on 18 February 1753, Cardinal d'Alsace became the last surviving Cardinal created by Pope Clement XI.

Consecrations

He consecrated Bishop during his career.

• Hendrik Jozef van Susteren, bishop of Bruges. † (1716)
• Charles d’Espinoza, O.F.M. Cap, bishop of Antwerp. † (1723)
• Giuseppe Cardinal Spinelli † (1725)
• Thomas John Francis de Strickland de Sizorghe † (1727)
• Wilhelmus Delvaux, bishop of Ypres. † (1732)
• Maximiliaan Antoon van der Noot, Bishop of Ghent. † (1743)
• Guillaume-Philippe de Herzelles, bishop of Antwerp. † (1743)
• Jan-Baptist de Castillion, bishop of Bruges † (1743)
• Daniel O’Reilly † (1748)
• Jan-Robert Caïmo, bishop of Bruges † (1754)

Culture

He participated in the 1721 conclave. In 1738 he sent his private library of 9000 books to the collection of the diocese and chapter of St Rumbold.[9] This collection was recognised as Flemish heritage last year and was conserved by the support of the Fund Baillet Latour.[10] He left an important gold embroidered pontifical ornement that he brought from Rome, and was restored by Henri Van Severen.

He was buried inside the cathedral and succeeded by Cardinal Joannes-Henricus de Franckenberg.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Thomas Philip Wallrad de Hénin-Liétard d'Alsace

8. Maximilien II de Hénin, 5th Count of Bossu 4. Eugène de Hénin, 6th Count of Bossu 9. Alexandrin-Françoise of Gavre 2. Philippe-Louis de Hénin, 7th Count of Bossu; Prince of Chimay 10.Alexander of Arenberg, 7th Prince of Chimay; (1590–1629) 5. Anna-Isabella of Arenberg, Princess of Chimay 11.Magdalene of Egmont 1. Thomas, Cardinal d'Alcase 12. Louis-François Verreycken, 1st Baron of Bonlez, Lord of Impden 6. Charles Verreycken, 1st Baron of Impden 13. Anne-Marie of Buysleden, Lady of Rode 3. Anne-Louise Verreycken, Baroness of Impden 14. Philippe of Schoonhoven, Lord of Waenrode 7. Marguerite of Schoonhoven 15. Josine of Blehen d'Abée

References

1. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bdalsace.html
2. Le cardinal Thomas-Philippe d'Alsace, archevêque de Malines et le Saint-Siège: correspondance tirée des Archives du Vatican, 1703-1759
3. see also Jean-François-Gabriel de Hénin-Liétard
4. Nationaal Biografisch Woordenboek
5. http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/le_coin_du_bibliophile_henin_lietard_cle491caa.pdf
6. https://toerisme.mechelen.be/en/archiepiscopal-palace
7. Lionel Chénedé 15 mai 2015 Thomas-Philippe-Louis de Hénin-Liétard d’Alsace-Boussu de Chimay appelé le cardinal d’Alsace (1679–1759)
8. Noord en Zuid: Maendschrift voor Kunsten, letteren en wetenschappen, Volume 2
9. http://theo.kuleuven.be/gbib_en_old2/news/cardinal-dalsace
10. http://deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws/cultuur%2Ben%2Bmedia/kunsten/1.2845927

Sources

• Thomas Philip Wallrad d'Alsace-Boussut de Chimay