Gerard van Groesbeeck

Gerard van Groesbeeck was born at Kuringen Castle outside Hasselt in 1517. His parents were Jan, Baron of Groesbeek (in Guelders), and Berthe de Ghoër. As a young man, he became a canon of Aachen Cathedral, and in 1548 the dean of the cathedral chapter of St. Lambert's Cathedral, Liège. Groesbeeck was appointed coadjutor to prince-bishop Robert de Berghes in 1562, and was named his successor on 6 March 1563, while negotiations were in progress for Berghes' resignation. Groesbeeck became the administrator of the diocese on 11 April 1564. ==Prince-Bishop==

On 5 June 1564 Groesbeeck was elected Prince-Bishop of Liège; his election was preconized by Pope Pius IV on 23 February 1565. In 1574, a letter from Pope Gregory XIII congratulating Groesbeeck on his conduct was published. In 1576, he became Prince-Abbot of Stavelot. Gregory made him a cardinal priest in the consistory of 21 February 1578, but he never traveled to Rome to receive the red hat or a titular church. In 1577, when Margaret of Valois was travelling to Spa, Groesbeeck lent her his palace, himself temporarily moving to the Abbey of Saint-Jacques. The royal visit was the occasion for a series of celebrations, banquets and exchanges of gifts. She described her host as "a lord accompanied by much virtue, prudence and goodness, who speaks French well; agreeable of person, honourable, magnificent and agreeable company." He died on 29 December 1580 and was buried in St. Lambert's Cathedral, Liège. ==References==