Portrait of Robert van Croÿ by Willem Key
Robert van Croÿ (1500 - 31 August 1556) was Bishop of Kamerijk from 1519 to 1556.
He was a younger son of Hendrik van Croÿ and Charlotte de Châteaubriand, and thus a grandson of Philip I and the younger brother of Philip II and Willem.
Robert was named at Bishop's bishop at young age to follow his brother Willem, who was named Archbishop of Toledo and Cardinal. Thus, the diocese could remain in the Croÿ family, and thus within the influence of Habsburg. This was important for the power politics of Emperor Karel V, as the diocese Kamerijk at that time included a significant part of the Southern Netherlands, with the whole province of Hainaut and parts of the county of Flanders and the Duchy of Brabant, especially the ancient Bracbatensis pagoda and the market district of Antwerp.
Robert was initially not intended for the mental state and would devote himself to studies of classics and theology in the next few years, with teacher Juan Luis Vives as a teacher.
Only in 1529 Robert was installed as a bishop. He immediately hosted the signing of the Ladies' Peace of Kamerijk. Robert was one of the participants in the Council of Trente. He organized a synod in 1550, where also the mystic Blosius was present, and where he announced the interim of Augsburg in his diocese.
Bishop Robert van Croÿ was buried in the old cathedral of Kamerijk.
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