Pedro Coloma, Baron of Bornhem explained

Don Pedro Coloma (Nájera, 16 August 1556 - Brussels, 27 December 1622[1]), Baron of Bornhem (currently Bornem) and Lord of Bobadilla, was a Spanish officer in the Army of Flanders who established a noble line in the Habsburg Netherlands, a branch of the famous House of Coloma.

Family

Coloma was the son of Juan Coloma, a knight in the Order of Santiago, and Doña Maria Fernandez, Lady of Bobadilla.[2] In 1585 he married Jeanne l'Escuyer, Viscountess of Dourlens (currently Doullens), with whom he had three sons: Alexander, a captain of light cavalry, who succeeded him but died childless in 1625; Diego, who served as a gentleman in the household of Philip III of Spain; and Pierre, who continued the line.[2]

Career

Coloma arrived in the Low Countries in 1577, to fight against the Dutch Revolt, and in 1586 bought the lordship of Bornhem in Flanders. He built a manor house on the site of Bornem Castle.[3] He also restored and improved the medieval duck decoy[3] [4] on the estate, and in 1603 founded a religious community that is now Bornem Abbey.[5]

Notes and References

  1. The authors give 1621 as the year of Pedro Coloma's death, while his grave indicates 1622.
  2. [Jean Charles Joseph de Vegiano]
  3. Web site: Kasteeldomein Marnix van Sint-Aldegonde . erfgoed.net . Flemish organization for Immovable Heritage.
  4. Web site: Eendenkooi aan de Oude Schelde te Bornem en Weert . erfgoed.net . Flemish organization for Immovable Heritage.
  5. Web site: Sint-Bernardusabdij . erfgoed.net . Flemish organization for Immovable Heritage.