Prince of Ligne

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Prince of Ligne
Armoiries de la Maison de Ligne.png
Current region Belgium
Place of originLigne in Hainaut
Estate(s) Château de Belœil
Chateau de Beloeil Birdhouse swan lake.jpg
Château de Belœil

Prince of Ligne is a title of Belgian nobility that belongs to the House of Ligne, which goes back to the eleventh century. It owes its name to the village in which it originated, between Ath and Tournai. [1] The lords of Ligne belonged to the entourage of the Count of Hainaut at the time of the Crusades. [2]

Contents

The Ligne family began a progressive rise in the nobility, first as barons in the twelfth century, then counts of Fauquemberg and princes of Épinoy in the sixteenth century. Lamoral I received the titles of Prince of Ligne and Prince of the Holy Roman Empire in the early seventeenth century from Emperor Rudolf II. The Princes of Ligne are also Grandees of Spain, but this dignity is held personally rather than in conjunction with the title.

Barons de Ligne

Comtes de Ligne (1545–1601)

Princes de Ligne (1601–present)

Knights of the Golden Fleece

Many of the Princes de Ligne have also been knights of the Order of the Golden Fleece. The following list is of those princes, along with their year of investiture:

References

  1. "Castle history". Château de Belœil. Retrieved 2020-11-04.
  2. "Ducal and princely houses of Belgium - Belgium Travel Guide - Eupedia". Eupedia.