Thomas Perrenot de Granvelle

Thomas Perrenot de Granvelle (Besançon, 22 May 1514 – Besançon, 13 February 1571), Lord of Chantonnay, Count of Cantecroy, was a diplomat in Habsburg service. He was Spanish Ambassador in London, Paris, and Vienna.

Life He belonged to the illustrious family of Franche-Comté that faithfully served the House of Austria in high positions, specifically Emperor Charles V and his son Philip II. He was the eldest son of Nicolas Perrenot de Granvelle, who was Charles V's chief minister. Thomas was therefore the brother of Cardinal Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle, Philip II's minister.

Like the other members of his family, he was highly skilled in foreign affairs, which he demonstrated at a young age. He traveled to England in 1542 with the mission of persuading King Henry VIII to join the Emperor in the war against France. In 1547, by order of Charles V, he returned to England, this time to convey to the new monarch, King Edward VI, his condolences on the death of his father. They also entrusted him with missions among the princes of the House of Austria, participating in the negotiations and proxy marriage of the Infanta Maria, daughter of Emperor Charles V, to her cousin, Archduke Maximilian, son of Ferdinand I. This allowed him to develop a close personal relationship with the Archduke, the future Emperor Maximilian II. Other diplomatic missions on behalf of Charles V took him to visit the emperor's niece, Princess Christina of Lorraine, in 1552.

In 1564 Queen Catherine de' Medici's pleas for his release finally persuaded Philip II to recall him from France. The King, who was very pleased with Chantonnay's loyalty and service, decided to send him as his ambassador to the imperial court of his Habsburg relatives in Vienna.

Marriage and children Chantonnay had married Helena de Brederode, daughter of Reinoud III van Brederode, in 1549. They had : Octavio Perrenot de Granvelle, killed in the Battle of the Scheldt (1574) Nicolas Perrenot de Granvelle, Comte de Cantecroix, died in Naples François Perrenot de Granvelle, Comte de Cantecroix, Lord of Chantonnay, died 1607 in Prague Jean Thomas Perrenot de Granvelle, killed on the Spanish Armada (1588) Petronelle, married Pierre-Antoine d'Oiselay, baron de la Villeneuve, had issue.