Jan Bartholomeus Rubens

Peter Paul Rubens

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rubens was born in Siegen, Westphalia, to Jan Rubens and Maria Pypelincks. His father, a Calvinist, and mother fled Antwerp for Cologne in 1568, after increased religious turmoil and persecution of Protestants during the rule of the Spanish Netherlands by the Duke of Alba. Jan Rubens became the legal advisor (and lover) to Anna of Saxony, the second wife of William I of Orange, and settled at her court in Siegen in 1570. Following Jan Rubens' imprisonment for the affair, Peter Paul Rubens was born in 1577.

Anna of Saxony

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

She took up with her lawyer, Jan Rubens, in 1570 and gave birth to their illegitimate daughter, Christina, on 22 August 1571. News of this indiscretion reached her husband, who refused to acknowledge Christina as his own. Rubens was arrested, and William removed his and Anna's children, who never saw their mother again. Later, Rubens was released and returned to his wife, by whom he was father of Peter Paul Rubens.

Sources:

  1. JSF Nob des P-B t 3 p 1692

  2. Intermédiaire des généalogiste , nr 190, 1977, p 243