Claude Lamoral (Prince de Ligne)

Wikipedia

Claude Lamoral Prince of Ligne (Belœil, October 8, 1618 — Madrid, December 21, 1679), was a Belgian nobleman, military and diplomate in the service of Philip IV of Spain and Charles II of Spain .

[edit] Biography

He succeeded his brother Albert Henry (1615-1641), as third Prince of Ligne. He married in 1642 his brother's widow Claire Marie of Nassau-Siegen, countess of Nassau (Brussels, October 1621 - Belœil, September 2, 1695).
He also held, amongst others, the titles of Prince of Epinoy, Marquis of Roubaix and Count of Fauquemberg. He was a Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, Grandee of Spain and Knight in the Order of the Golden Fleece (1646).

Between 1649 and 1669, he was Captain General of the Spanish Cavalry in the Spanish Netherlands, which was the third highest military position after Captain General and Governor of the Arms.

In 1660, he was sent as representative of the Spanish King to the Royal court of Charles II of England as first foreign recognition of the newly restored English monarchy.^[1]

He became Viceroy of Sicily (1670-1674), where he fortified the costal defences against Turkish pirates, who attacked the local population to abduct and sell them into slavery. ^[2].

Later he was appointed Governor of the Duchy of Milan (1674-1678).

Claude Lamoral, and after his death his wife Claire Marie, enlarged the Chateau of Belœil and it's spectacular French-styled 25 ha garden, which has a 6 ha. lake in front of the castle. Today the gardens are partially open to the public. ^{[3] [4]}

[edit] External links

Genealogy of the Belgian house de Ligne, in French

[edit] References

1. ^ Samuel Pepys diaries describe the impressive preparations and Royal audience, between september 1 and 17 1660) [1]
2. ^ Description (in Italian) of the actions by the prince de Ligne in Sicily against the Turks. [2]
3. ^ History of the Chateau of Belœil, in English
4. ^ A description of the present gardens of Belœil in The Telegraph

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Annotations

• N vincent on Tue 7 Oct 2003, 03:43am

  the event by J. EvelynJ. 17th sept
  Eveyln’s version of this spendid event “Thence forth to see the Prince de Ligne, Spanish Embassador, come in to his Audience, which was done in very great state.”
  “I went to Lond: to see the Splendid audience of the Prince de Lignes Ambassador extraord: frome Spaine, who was accompanied with 17 Coaches 6 horses of his owne, besides a very greate Corteggio of English &c: greater bravery, in my whole life[had] I [never]seene: He was Gen: of the Span: Kings horse in Flanders, accompanied with divers greate persons of Flanders, & an innumerable retinue: The King receivd him in the Banqueting house in exceeding state , all the greate officers of Court &c: attending &c:
  note spelling differences

  
  

• N Emilio on Thu 19 Feb 2004, 05:24pm

  This is the ambassador for the Spanish Netherlands in 1660. The event vincent refers to above is his state visit in Sept., which was the first foreign recognition of the newly restored English monarchy. For more info, see the annos for 1 Sept. 1660, especially this one from Paul Brewster:

  per Wheatley (Braybrooke): “Charles Lamoral, Prince de Ligne, had commanded the cavalry in the Low Countries, was afterwards Viceroy of Sicily and Governor of Milan. He died at Madrid in 1679. He had married, by dispensation, his cousin Maria Clara of Nassau, widow of his brother Albert Henry, who had died without issue. In our own time his descendant, the Prince de Ligne was Ambassador Extraordinary from Belgium at the coronation of Queen Victoria.”
  

• N Emilio on Thu 19 Feb 2004, 05:42pm

  This Prince is the 3rd of the line, which continues to this day. Not to be confused with Charles Lamoral II, 1685-1766, his great grandson and 6th Prince de Ligne. The most famous of the line is Charles-Joseph, well-known writer and the “charmer of Europe”.

  Here are some highlights from the family genealogy, to be found here - http://membres.lycos.fr/behgnam2/ligne-b.htm

  FLORENT [1588-1622] - Prince de Ligne et du Saint Empire
  ALBERT HENRI [1615-1641] - 2e Prince de Ligne Pce du Saint Empire
  CLAUDE LAMORAL I [1618-1679] - 3e Prince de Ligne et du Saint Empire
  CLAUDE LAMORAL II [1685-1766] - 6e Prince de Ligne et du Saint Empire
  CHARLES-JOSEPH [1735-1814] - 7e Prince de Ligne et du Saint Empire

  Here’s a picture of our Prince:
  http://www.portrait-hille.de/kap07/Bild.asp?catnr1=1125&seqnr=1782
  

• N Emilio on Thu 19 Feb 2004, 05:49pm

  That would be Claude Lamoral, not Charles of course.
  

References in the diary

1660

Sep: 1, 17
Oct: 6