Nicasius de Sille

Doctor Nicasius de Sille
Flag of the Dutch Republic
Netherlands Special Ambassador to England, Denmark, France, and Germany
In office 1587–1600
Deputy to the States-General of the Netherlands
In office 1585–1587
Secretary of State of the Netherlands
In office 1578–1585
Representative of Namur in the Assembly of Brussels
In office 1577–1578
Personal details
Born	August 3, 1543 Mechlin, Belgium
Died	August 22, 1600 Amsterdam, Netherlands
Spouse(s)	Genovefere de Romaignan
Children	Laurens de Sille

Dr. Nicasius de Sille (1543–1600) was a 16th-century statesman from Belgium who served as a Special Ambassador from the Netherlands to several nations, and as Secretary to future-Holy Roman Emperor Matthias.

Early life

Nicasius was born in Mechlin, Belgium in 1543, the son of Nicolas de Sille and Barbara van der Goes. His grandfather, Antonius de Sille, was a page for Philip, Duke of Burgundy.^[1]

He spent his early life studying, eventually becoming a Doctor Juris and practicing at the Superior Court of Mechlin.^[1]

Political career

In 1576 Nicasius was sent by the state to annex Gelderland. In 1577, he became the Pensionary of Namur, and represented the city at the Assembly of Brussels. The following year he signed the Union of Brussels.^[2]

In 1578, he became Secretary to the Council of State for Archduke Matthias, who had become Governor-General of the Netherlands as a result of the Dutch revolt, and Secretary for the General States.^[2] After the fall of the Southern Provinces, de Sille removed to Holland where he became Pensionary of Amsterdam while maintaining his duties as Secretary.^[2] In 1579, on a mission to secure Mechlin, he was arrested and imprisoned out of revenge, but was released shortly thereafter.

In 1584, de Sille made up the conditions of homage of Prince William to negotiate with the Earl of Leicester pertaining to control of the Netherlands. Later that year Nicasius was sent as a Deputy to the States-General, marking the first of repeated terms until his death in 1600.^[3]

In 1587, de Sille was sent as a Special Ambassador to England, appearing at the embassy before Queen Elizabeth.^[3] He is mentioned in Elizabeth's "Calendar of State Papers Foreign" on several occasions.^[4][5] Following the successful mission, Nicasius was sent as a Special Ambassador several times to Denmark, Germany, and France. He would also serve twice as a Commissioner of the Army.

Marriage and family

On January 31, 1571, he married Genovefere de Romaignan, daughter of Laurens de Romaignan and Philippotte le Noire. Genovefere died the following year, leaving Nicasius a son:

• Laurens de Sille, who became Burgomeister of Arnheim and married Walburga Merwyns

De Sille remarried to Johanna de Thrello, and had two daughters:

• Johanna de Sille, who married Sir Daniel van Hofdik, Lord of Middlehamis
• Clara de Sille

He died in 1600, receiving a noble burial at the Oude Kerk in Amsterdam.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Genealogy of Long Island Families, Vol. 1, p. 328-335: The de Sille Family of Holland.
2. ^ ^{a b c} "The New York genealogical and biographical record", p.26. Retrieved 23 jan 2010.
3. ^ ^{a b} "Documents relating to the colonial history of the State of New York", Retrieved 23 jan 2010.
4. ^ "'Elizabeth: September 1585, 21-25', Calendar of State Papers Foreign, Elizabeth, Volume 20: September 1585-May 1586 (1921)", pp. 30-43. British History Online, Retrieved 23 jan 2010.
5. ^ "'Elizabeth: March 1582, 1-5', Calendar of State Papers Foreign, Elizabeth, Volume 15: 1581-1582 (1907)", pp. 510-534. British History Online, Retrieved 23 jan 2010.

Persondata
Name	De sille, Nicasius
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	August 3, 1543
Place of birth	Mechlin, Belgium
Date of death	August 22, 1600
Place of death	Amsterdam, Netherlands