Simon de Mirabello van Halen

Simon de Mirabello, also known as Simon van Halen, was born as an illegitimate son of a Lombard merchant of Asti who moved to the Low Countries around 1300.

He followed his father’s steps, and became active in moneylending business giving loans to monarchs, like Eduard III of England and the duke of Flanders, churches, patricians and cities. By 1307, Simon also operated a lending establishment at Ghent, and owned property throughout Flanders and Brabant. Since he was burgher of Ghent, Dendermonde and Mechelen, he owned properties in each city and provided loans for the counts and city governments. During the dictatorship of Jacob van Artevelde, he began his political engagement supporting Jacob van Artevelde against the duke of Flanders.

He married twice; in 1324 with Isabella Van Lierde (de Nevers) and for the second time with an unknown woman. His daughters were married into the Ghent aristocracy, and the family remained wealthy and prestigious in Flanders.

He was killed in 1346 by the political opponents.