Count Charles of Limburg Stirum

Charles de Limburg Stirum

Count Charles Gaëtan Corneille Marie François-Xavier Ghislain of Limburg Stirum, GCVO, GCSG (September 15, 1906–June 14, 1989), a Count of the Holy Roman Empire and Knight of the Golden Fleece (Austrian branche), was a member of the House of Limburg-Stirum. During his life he was a Belgian Senator and Grand Master of the Royal Households of King Leopold III.

Life

Charles was born in Huldenberg, Belgium, and was the second son of Evrard Philippe, Count of Limburg Stirum (October 29, 1868 - May 8, 1938) and Louise, Baronne Gericke d'Herwijnen (April 17, 1881 - September 6, 1969). He was later adopted by his aunt, Marie of Limburg Stirum who was without descent, to inherit the castle of Bois Saint Jean in the South of Belgium.

During World War II, he fought as a captain with the Belgian panzer troops and was made prisoner by the Germans. Released, he took an active part to the armed resistance against the occupier. Bois Saint Jean became an important drop point of material and arms to the Belgian resistance. During the Von Rundstedt Offensive in winter 1944, Bois Saint Jean was overtaken by the Germans and later the castle was bombed to the ground by the US air force.

After the war, he rebuilt the castle of Bois Saint Jean, though in a different style than the original building. Charles de Limburg Stirum served as Senator, then was appointed Grand Master of the King Leopold III after King Leopold’s abdication. He held this office until 1971.

He died in Brussels.

Marriage and Descent

He married on June 13, 1932 in Křimice (Bohemia) Marie Kunigunde Princess of Lobkowicz, a daughter of Jaroslav, 11th Prince of Lobkowicz, Duke of Roudnice (March 26, 1877 - October 24, 1953) and Marie-Thérèse Countess of Beaufort-Spontin (August 6, 1885 - February 22, 1942).

They had 8 children:

• Marie, married to Gobert-Leopold Count d'Aspremont Lynden;
• Gabrielle, married to Didier Count Cornet d'Elzius du Chenoy;
• Bernard, married 1st Nathalie Countess de la Boëssiere-Thiennes; 2nd Régine Roberti;
• Emmanuel, married to Nadine Countess d'Ursel;
• Sibylle, married to Pietro del Vaglio Rosati;
• Jacqueline, married to Bonifatius Baron von Twickel;
• Jean;
• Louise, married to Engelbert Count von und zu Westerholt und Gysenberg.

Honours and awards

Belgian honours

• Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown
• Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold II
• Knight of the Order of Leopold

Belgian awards

• Croix de Guerre with bronze lion
• Volunteer Medal 1940-1945
• Commemorative Medal of the War 1940-1945 with crossed swords
• Prisoner of War Medal 1940-1945
• Resistance Medal 1940-1945
• Honorary Insignia of Work

Foreign honours

• Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece (Austrian Branch)
• Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (United Kingdom) (GCVO)
• Grand Cross of the Pontifical Order of St Gregory the Great (Holy See) (GCSG)
• Grand Cross of the Order of the Oak Crown (Luxembourg)
• Grand Cross of the Order of the Southern Cross (Brazil)
• Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun (Japan)
• Grand Cross of the Order of the House of Orange (Netherlands)
• Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (Austria)
• Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (Senegal)
• Commander Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Polar Star (Sweden)
• Grand Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog (Denmark)
• Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of St Olav
• Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Thailand
• Grand Officer of the Order of the Yugoslav Flag

Foreign awards

• French Liberation Medal
• Various foreign awards

Honorific eponyms

• Mount Limburg Stirum

Ancestry

Charles's ancestors in three generations

Charles de Limburg Stirum	Father: Evrard, Count of Limburg Stirum	Paternal Grandfather: Thierry, Count of Limburg Stirum, Senator	Paternal Great-grandfather: Willem Bernard, Count of Limburg Stirum
			Paternal Great-grandmother: Albertine de Pret Roose de Calesberg
		Paternal Grandmother: Marie, Countess de Thiennes Leyenburg et de Rumbeke	Paternal Great-grandfather: François Joseph, Count de Thiennes Leyenburg et de Rumbeke, Chambellan of King Guillaume of The Netherland
			Paternal Great-grandmother: Asterie, Baroness de Draeck
	Mother: Louise, Baroness Gericke d'Herwijnen	Maternal Grandfather: Charles, Baron Gericke d'Herwijnen, Ambassador and Chambellan of the Queen of The Netherland	Maternal Great-grandfather: Joseph (Louis), Baron Gericke d'Herwijnen, Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador
			Maternal Great-grandmother: Lady Elisabeth Huughe de Peutevin
		Maternal Grandmother: Marie, Countess du Chastel de la Howarderie	Maternal Great-grandfather: Robert, Count du Chastel de la Howarderie, Chambellan of the King of The Netherland
			Maternal Great-grandmother: Gabrielle, Baroness de Vinck de Westwesel

External links

• Entry at ThePeerage.com

Persondata
Name	Charles, Count of Limburg Stirum
Alternative names
Short description	Count of Limburg Stirum
Date of birth	September 15, 1906
Place of birth	Huldenberg, Belgium
Date of death	June 14, 1989
Place of death	Brussels

French Liberation Medal