Claude Lamoral, Prince of Ligne

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 .

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. [ Samuel Pepys diaries describe the impressive preparations and Royal audience, between september 1 and 17 1660) [http://www.pepysdiary.com/archive/1660/09/] ]

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. [ Description (in Italian) of the actions by the prince de Ligne in Sicily against the Turks. [http://www.trapaniantica.it/accardi/bando%20claude%20lamoral/bando%20claude%20lamoral%20principe%20di%20ligne.htm] ] .

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. [ [http://www.infohub.com/forums/showpost.php?p=231&postcount=1 History of the Chateau of Belœil, in English] ] [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/main.jhtml?xml=/gardening/2003/05/03/gfron03.xml A description of the present gardens of Belœil in The Telegraph] ]

External links

[http://web.genealogie.free.fr/Les_dynasties/Les_dynasties_celebres/Benelux/Dynastie_de_Ligne.htm Genealogy of the Belgian house de Ligne, in French]

References