Illustrious Brotherhood of Our Blessed Lady
The Illustrious Brotherhood of Our Blessed Lady was a religious confraternity founded in 1318 in 's-Hertogenbosch to promote the veneration of the Mother of God. The brotherhood was organized around a carved wooden image of the Virgin Mary in St John’s Cathedral in 's-Hertogenbosch. The Brotherhood had two types of members: ordinary members and sworn members, also called 'swan-brethren' because they used to donate a swan for the yearly banquet. Sworn members were clerics in principle; in fact they were often chosen among the nobility, the magistrates, etc. As a result, the Brotherhood also functioned as an important social network.
Well-known members
- Hieronymus Bosch, painter.
- Nycasius de Clibano, singer and composer
- Jheronimus de Clibano, singer and composer
- Jan Heyns, architect
- Frans Crabbe van Espleghem, Flemish artist
- Jan van Wintelroy, composer and choirmaster
- Matthaeus Pipelare, composer and choirmaster
- Frederik van Egmond, Count of Buren and lord of IJsselstein
- William the Silent, leader of the Dutch Revolt