Illustrious Brotherhood of Our Blessed Lady

The Illustrious Brotherhood of Our Blessed Lady (Illustre Lieve Vrouwe Broederschap) was a religious confraternity founded in 1318 in 's-Hertogenbosch to promote the veneration of the Mother of God. The brotherhood was organized around a carved wooden image of the Virgin Mary in St John’s Cathedral in 's-Hertogenbosch.The Brotherhood had two types of members: ordinary members and sworn members, also called 'swan-brethren' because they used to donate a swan for the yearly banquet. Sworn members were clerics in principle; in fact they were often chosen among the nobility, the magistrates, etc. As a result, the Brotherhood also functioned as an important social network.

Well-known members

 * Hieronymus Bosch (c. 1450 – 1516), painter.
 * Nycasius de Clibano (? – 1497), singer and composer
 * Jheronimus de Clibano (c. 1459 – 1503), singer and composer
 * Jan Heyns (? – 1516), architect
 * Frans Crabbe van Espleghem (c. 1480 – 1553), Flemish artist
 * Jan van Wintelroy (? – 1576), composer and choirmaster
 * Matthaeus Pipelare (c. 1450 – c. 1515), composer and choirmaster
 * Frederik van Egmond (c. 1470 – 1539), Count of Buren and lord of IJsselstein
 * William the Silent (1533 – 1584), leader of the Dutch Revolt

The brotherhood, founded by the catholic clergy of Den Bosch in honour of the virgin Mary, was also known as the Brotherhood of the Swan: the monks were given a swan for their table by members of the aristocracy.

The title of Brother of the Swan still exists although swans are no longer on the menu, but can now only be applied to members of the royal family who, to this day, are members of the brotherhood. The brotherhood remains a strictly male affair, apart from female monarchs.

The society’s mission became, and remains, ‘to care for its age-old material and immaterial cultural heritage, the promotion of Christian solidarity and brotherly ties while taking into account modern-day developments and problems.’

Apart from 36 monks, the members list of 120 includes such influential Dutch families as Fentener van Vlissingen, Van Lanschot and De Roy van Zuydewijn. Painter Jeroen Bosch was also a member, as were Charles V and William of Orange.