Martin Van Neyt, 5th Baron Neyt, (22 May 1633 - 4 December 1700) was a Brunanter nobleman, statesman and military officer. One of the first nobles to break with King Willem II, he was involved in the Civil War on the side of Karl Van Draak. Van Neyt was later Chief Minister under the new king. He was married twice and had six children.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Van Neyt was born in Grijzestad, the son of Pieter Van Neyt, 4th Baron Neyt, and Princess Maria Anna, a daughter of King Adrian I and Philippa of Saxony. Martin's mother died giving birth to him. In 1640, Martin inherited his father's lands and titles.
A military officer, Van Neyt deeply disliked King Willem II, his uncle. The king accused him of plotting against the state. Martin was briefly arrested in 1655. Van Neyt was able to remain in the king's good graces due to his favor, but in 1657, was sent as a military ambassador to Libertas to keep him far away from the royal court and the Cortes in Grijzestad.
Civil War[]
The Baron Neyt played an important role in the Civil War of 1663. He was one of the first nobles to declare his support for his first cousin, Karl Van Draak, the king's nephew, and break allegiance with King Willem II.
Van Neyt participated in the Battle of Grunbeck and the Siege of Groenveld Castle as a military officer. He was heavily wounded in the Battle of Grijzestad, the final battle of Van Draak's conquest.
Later life[]
In 1670, Van Neyt was named Chief Minister to the new king, the first person to hold this office. He was dismissed in 1677; King Karl refused to allow him as much control as he sought and this came to a head in 1677. In 1686, however, Martin was named Chief Minister again, with the king seeking him to secure Brunant's position through renewed alliances. This time, he succeeded his relative Johan Alexander Neyt. Van Neyt resigned in 1693, citing his advanced age.
Before his death in 1700, Martin Van Neyt wrote his memoirs, which have been of significant cultural, historical and social importance and give a broad view on Brunanter politics in the second half of the 17th century.
Marriage and family[]
In April 1659, he married Mathilde De Meester (1640-1684), a great-granddaughter of King Robert I of Libertas through his daughter Elisabeth (1593-1634) and granddaughter Emma (1617-1650). The couple had four children:
- Gerardus (1660-1663)
- Fernanda (1663-1699)
- Henrietta (1670-1742)
- Philip (1684-1744)
Mathilde died in 1684 in childbirth, giving Martin an heir. Van Neyt remarried shortly after to Diana (maiden name unknown) in 1685, who may have been his mistress prior to that. It was noted that she was of poor background and likely worked in his household. They had two sons and a daughter:
Both Adrian and Franciscus inherited very little on their father's death, and were removed from the family home by the 6th Baron Neyt, Philip.