House of Arenberg
Encyclopedia
The House of Arenberg is an aristocratic lineage that is constituted by three successive families who took their name from Arenberg
, a small principality of the Holy Roman Empire
in the Eifel
. The inheritance of the House of Croÿ-Aarschot
made the Arenbergs the most influential and most wealthy noble family of the Habsburg Netherlands
. The Arenbergs were mediatized
in 1811. The present head of the house bears the title of Duke of Arenberg, while all other members are princes or princesses. They all enjoy the style of Serene Highness
.
stipulated that their offspring would abandon the name of Ligne
and adopt the name and arms of Arenberg. On 5 March 1576, Emperor Maximilian II
raised Margaret and her son Charles to the rank of Princely Counts
(in German: Gefürstete Graf). As such the Arenbergs sat and voted on the bench of secular princes in the Imperial Diet
. On 9 June 1644, Emperor Ferdinand III
bestowed the title of Duke of Arenberg to Charles' grandsons, Philip-Francis and Charles-Eugene, as well as to all legitimate descendants of Charles and his brother Robert of Arenberg, prince of Barbançon.
Meanwhile, the marriage of Princely Count Charles to Anne de Croÿ, the sister and heiress of the last Croÿ Duke of Aarschot
, had brought the Arenbergs a series of titles as well as vast estates in the Habsburg Netherlands
in 1612. The senior title was that of Duke of Aarschot
. It had been created in 1534, was the first (and until 1627 only) ducal title in the Netherlands and it carried the dignity of a Spanish Grandee
. The estates of the Arenbergs gave them a seat in second estate of the Provincial States of Brabant and of Hainaut. Since they were now indisputably the first among the nobility of the Habsburg Netherlands, it became customary for the Dukes to receive the Order of the Golden Fleece
shortly after their succession to the title. Staunch supporters of the Habsburgs, they held high offices at the Court of Brussels, sat on the Counsel of State, were employed on embassies (notably the embassy to King James I
that negotiated the Treaty of London of 1604) and acted as provincial governors in Hainaut and the Franche-Comté. Occupying high military commands could likewise be called something like their birthright.
In 1605 Charles of Arenberg and Anne de Croÿ bought the Land of Enghien
of King Henry IV of France
and made it their principal seat in the Netherlands. Initially inspired by the example set by Robert Cecil
at Theobalds House
, the Arenbergs created gardens at Enghien that came to enjoy an international reputation. In testimony of the patronage given to the Capuchins
, the order's convent at Enghien became the necropolis of the Arenbergs. With the duchy of Aarschot came the secondary country seat of Heverlee
and the vast forest of Meerdaal. In keeping with their status, the dukes likewise owned a hotel in Brussels. After its destruction in the bombardment of 1695, the dukes had to settle with rented accommodation until acquiring the stately Egmont Palace
in 1754. It was to remain in the family's possession until 1918.
Arenberg
Arenberg, also spelled as Aremberg or Ahremberg, is a historic county, principality and finally duchy located in modern Germany. The Dukes of Arenberg remain a prominent Belgian aristocratic family.- History :...
, a small principality of the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
in the Eifel
Eifel
The Eifel is a low mountain range in western Germany and eastern Belgium. It occupies parts of southwestern North Rhine-Westphalia, northwestern Rhineland-Palatinate and the south of the German-speaking Community of Belgium....
. The inheritance of the House of Croÿ-Aarschot
House of Croÿ
The House of Croÿ is an international family of European mediatized nobility which held a seat in the Imperial Diet from 1486, and was elevated to the rank of Imperial Princes in 1594...
made the Arenbergs the most influential and most wealthy noble family of the Habsburg Netherlands
Southern Netherlands
Southern Netherlands were a part of the Low Countries controlled by Spain , Austria and annexed by France...
. The Arenbergs were mediatized
German Mediatisation
The German Mediatisation was the series of mediatisations and secularisations that occurred in Germany between 1795 and 1814, during the latter part of the era of the French Revolution and then the Napoleonic Era....
in 1811. The present head of the house bears the title of Duke of Arenberg, while all other members are princes or princesses. They all enjoy the style of Serene Highness
Serene Highness
His/Her Serene Highness is a style used today by the reigning families of Liechtenstein and Monaco. It also preceded the princely titles of members of some German ruling and mediatised dynasties as well as some non-ruling but princely German noble families until 1918...
.
Lords of Arenberg
| Name (birth–death) | Notes | |
| 1032 | Ulrich, Viscount of Cologne | |
| 1061–1074 | Franco I. | |
| 1082–1135 | Arnold | |
| 1106–1135 | Franco II. | |
| 1136–1159 | Heinrich I. | |
| Gerhard | ||
| 1166/67–1197 | Heinrich II. de Arberg | |
| Eberhard (1200-1218) ∞ Aleidis of Molsberg Molsberg Molsberg is an Ortsgemeinde – a community belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde – in the Westerwaldkreis in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.- Location :... |
also Countess of Freusburg Freusburg Freusburg is a castle high above the Sieg Valley, which also gives its name to a village . It lies between Mudersbach and Kirchen and has belonged since 1969 to the town of Kirchen. Before that, Freusburg was a self-governing municipality... |
|
| Heinrich III. (1220-1252) | ||
| Gerhard ∞ Mechthild von Holte | ||
| Johann (1267-1280) | married Johanna von Jülich, sold Viscounty of Cologne | |
| Mechthild | In 1299, married Count Engelbert II. von der Mark. |
Counts of Arenberg
| Date | Name (birth–death) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1299–1328 | Count Engelbert II von der Mark | |
| 1328–1387 | Count Eberhard von der Mark, Lord of Aremberg | |
| 1387–1454 | Count Eberhard II von der Marck-Arenberg | |
| 1454–1480 | Count Johann von der Marck-Arenberg | |
| 1480–1496 | Count Eberhard III von der Marck-Arenberg | |
| 1496–???? | Count Robert I von der Marck-Arenberg | |
| ????–1536 | Count Robert II von der Marck-Arenberg | |
| 1536–1541 | Count Robert III von der Marck-Arenberg | After the extinction of the male line, his sister Margarethe (1541-1596) married in 1547 Count Jean de Ligne, Duke of Aremberg Jean de Ligne, Duke of Aremberg Jean de Ligne, Duke of Arenberg was Baron of Barbançon, founder of the House of Arenberg and stadtholder of the Dutch provinces of Friesland, Groningen, Drenthe and Overijssel from 1549 until his death.... |
| 1541–1547 | Countess Margaretha von der Marck-Arenberg (1527-1599) | |
| 1568–1616 | Charles 2nd Princely Count of Arenberg Charles de Ligne, 2nd Prince of Arenberg Princely Count Charles of Arenberg, duke of Aarschot , baron of Zevenbergen, knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece, was the second Princely Count of Arenberg and a leading aristocrat of the Habsburg Netherlands, who served as a courtier, soldier, minister and diplomat.-Background and early... |
In 1576 elevated to Princely Count Fürst Fürst is a German title of nobility, usually translated into English as Prince.The term refers to the head of a principality and is distinguished from the son of a monarch, who is referred to as Prinz... |
Princely Counts and later Dukes of Arenberg
The marriage contract (1547) of Margaret de la Marck, Countess of Arenberg, and Jean de Ligne-BarbançonJean de Ligne, Duke of Aremberg
Jean de Ligne, Duke of Arenberg was Baron of Barbançon, founder of the House of Arenberg and stadtholder of the Dutch provinces of Friesland, Groningen, Drenthe and Overijssel from 1549 until his death....
stipulated that their offspring would abandon the name of Ligne
House of Ligne
The House of Ligne is one of the oldest Belgian noble families, dating back to the eleventh century. It s name comes from the village in which it originated, between Ath and Tournai. The lords of Ligne belonged to the entourage of the Count of Hainaut at the time of the Crusades...
and adopt the name and arms of Arenberg. On 5 March 1576, Emperor Maximilian II
Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor
Maximilian II was king of Bohemia and king of the Romans from 1562, king of Hungary and Croatia from 1563, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation from 1564 until his death...
raised Margaret and her son Charles to the rank of Princely Counts
Graf
Graf is a historical German noble title equal in rank to a count or a British earl...
(in German: Gefürstete Graf). As such the Arenbergs sat and voted on the bench of secular princes in the Imperial Diet
Reichstag (Holy Roman Empire)
The Imperial Diet was the Diet, or general assembly, of the Imperial Estates of the Holy Roman Empire.During the period of the Empire, which lasted formally until 1806, the Diet was not a parliament in today's sense; instead, it was an assembly of the various estates of the realm...
. On 9 June 1644, Emperor Ferdinand III
Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand III was Holy Roman Emperor from 15 February 1637 until his death, as well as King of Hungary and Croatia, King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria.-Life:...
bestowed the title of Duke of Arenberg to Charles' grandsons, Philip-Francis and Charles-Eugene, as well as to all legitimate descendants of Charles and his brother Robert of Arenberg, prince of Barbançon.
Meanwhile, the marriage of Princely Count Charles to Anne de Croÿ, the sister and heiress of the last Croÿ Duke of Aarschot
House of Croÿ
The House of Croÿ is an international family of European mediatized nobility which held a seat in the Imperial Diet from 1486, and was elevated to the rank of Imperial Princes in 1594...
, had brought the Arenbergs a series of titles as well as vast estates in the Habsburg Netherlands
Southern Netherlands
Southern Netherlands were a part of the Low Countries controlled by Spain , Austria and annexed by France...
in 1612. The senior title was that of Duke of Aarschot
Aarschot
Aarschot is a city and municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. The municipality comprises the city of Aarschot proper and the towns of Gelrode, Langdorp and Rillaar. On January 1, 2006 Aarschot had a total population of 27,864...
. It had been created in 1534, was the first (and until 1627 only) ducal title in the Netherlands and it carried the dignity of a Spanish Grandee
Grandee
Grandee is the word used to render in English the Iberic high aristocratic title Grande , used by the Spanish nobility; Portuguese nobility, and Brazilian nobility....
. The estates of the Arenbergs gave them a seat in second estate of the Provincial States of Brabant and of Hainaut. Since they were now indisputably the first among the nobility of the Habsburg Netherlands, it became customary for the Dukes to receive the Order of the Golden Fleece
Order of the Golden Fleece
The Order of the Golden Fleece is an order of chivalry founded in Bruges by Philip III, Duke of Burgundy in 1430, to celebrate his marriage to the Portuguese princess Infanta Isabella of Portugal, daughter of King John I of Portugal. It evolved as one of the most prestigious orders in Europe...
shortly after their succession to the title. Staunch supporters of the Habsburgs, they held high offices at the Court of Brussels, sat on the Counsel of State, were employed on embassies (notably the embassy to King James I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
that negotiated the Treaty of London of 1604) and acted as provincial governors in Hainaut and the Franche-Comté. Occupying high military commands could likewise be called something like their birthright.
In 1605 Charles of Arenberg and Anne de Croÿ bought the Land of Enghien
Enghien
Enghien is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. On January 1, 2006 Enghien had a total population of 11,980. The total area is 40.59 km² which gives a population density of 295 inhabitants per km²....
of King Henry IV of France
Henry IV of France
Henry IV , Henri-Quatre, was King of France from 1589 to 1610 and King of Navarre from 1572 to 1610. He was the first monarch of the Bourbon branch of the Capetian dynasty in France....
and made it their principal seat in the Netherlands. Initially inspired by the example set by Robert Cecil
Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury
Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, KG, PC was an English administrator and politician.-Life:He was the son of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley and Mildred Cooke...
at Theobalds House
Theobalds House
Theobalds House , located in Theobalds Park, just outside Cheshunt in the English county of Hertfordshire, was a prominent stately home and royal palace of the 16th and early 17th centuries.- Early history :...
, the Arenbergs created gardens at Enghien that came to enjoy an international reputation. In testimony of the patronage given to the Capuchins
Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin is an Order of friars in the Catholic Church, among the chief offshoots of the Franciscans. The worldwide head of the Order, called the Minister General, is currently Father Mauro Jöhri.-Origins :...
, the order's convent at Enghien became the necropolis of the Arenbergs. With the duchy of Aarschot came the secondary country seat of Heverlee
Heverlee
Heverlee is a town in Belgium. It is a deelgemeente of the city of Leuven. Heverlee is bordered by Herent, Bertem, Oud Heverlee and several other municipalities that are part of Leuven ....
and the vast forest of Meerdaal. In keeping with their status, the dukes likewise owned a hotel in Brussels. After its destruction in the bombardment of 1695, the dukes had to settle with rented accommodation until acquiring the stately Egmont Palace
Egmont Palace
The Egmont Palace is a large mansion at the Wolstraat / Rue aux Laines and the Kleine Zavel / Petit Sablon Square in Brussels, Belgium...
in 1754. It was to remain in the family's possession until 1918.
List of Heads of the House of Arenberg
| Head of House | Name major titles (birth–death) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1576–1599 | Margaret de la Marck, Princely Countess of Arenberg (1527–1599) | married Jean de Ligne-Barbançon Jean de Ligne, Duke of Aremberg Jean de Ligne, Duke of Arenberg was Baron of Barbançon, founder of the House of Arenberg and stadtholder of the Dutch provinces of Friesland, Groningen, Drenthe and Overijssel from 1549 until his death.... (1528–1568) |
| 1599–1616 | Charles 2nd Princely Count of Arenberg Charles de Ligne, 2nd Prince of Arenberg Princely Count Charles of Arenberg, duke of Aarschot , baron of Zevenbergen, knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece, was the second Princely Count of Arenberg and a leading aristocrat of the Habsburg Netherlands, who served as a courtier, soldier, minister and diplomat.-Background and early... (1550–1616) |
|
| 1616–1640 | Philippe-Charles, 3rd Princely Count of Arenberg and 6th Duke of Aarschot (1587–1640) | |
| 1640–1674 | Philippe-François, 1st Duke of Arenberg and 7th Duke of Aarschot(1625–1674) | |
| 1674–1681 | Charles-Eugène, 2nd Duke of Arenberg and 8th Duke of Aarschot (1633–1681) | |
| 1681–1691 | Philippe-François-Charles, 3rd Duke of Arenberg Philippe Charles d'Arenberg Philippe Charles François, 3rd Duke of Arenberg was also the 9th Duke of Aarschot. He married in 1684 Marie-Henriette d'Alcaretto, marquise of Grana and Savona, Italy.... and 9th Duke of Aarschot (1663–1691) |
|
| 1691–1754 | Leopold-Philippe, 4th Duke of Arenberg Leopold Philippe d'Arenberg Leopold Philippe of Arenberg was the 4th Duke of Arenberg, 10th Duke of Aarschot and an Austrian Field Marshal.-Biography:... and 10th Duke of Aarschot (1690–1754) |
|
| 1754–1778 | Charles-Marie-Raymond, 5th Duke of Arenberg Charles Marie Raymond of Arenberg Charles Marie Raymond d'Arenberg was the fifth Duke of Arenberg, 11th Duke of Aarschot and an Austrian Field Marshal.-Biography:... and 11th Duke of Aarschot (1721–1778) |
|
| 1778–1820 | Louis Engelbert, 6th Duke of Arenberg Louis Engelbert, 6th Duke of Arenberg Louis Engelbert, 6th Duke of Arenberg , nicknamed the blind duke, was between 1778 and 1801 the sixth Duke of Arenberg and 12th Duke of Aarschot... , 12th Duke of Aarschot, 1st Duke of Meppen and 1st Prince of Recklinghausen (1750–1820) |
|
| 1820–1861 | Prosper-Louis, 7th Duke of Arenberg, 13th Duke of Aarschot, 2nd Duke of Meppen and 2nd Prince of Recklinghausen (1785–1861) | |
| 1861–1875 | Engelbert-Auguste, 8th Duke of Arenberg Engelbert, 8th Duke of Arenberg Engelbert August Anton of Arenberg was 8th Duke of Arenberg and 14th Duke of Aarschot... , 14th Duke of Aarschot, 3rd Duke of Meppen and 3rd Prince of Recklinghausen (1824–1875) |
|
| 1875–1949 | Engelbert-Marie, 9th Duke of Arenberg, 15th Duke of Aarschot, 4th Duke of Meppen and 4th Prince of Recklinghausen (1872–1949) | |
| 1949–1974 | Engelbert-Charles, 10th Duke of Arenberg, 16th Duke of Aarschot, 5th Duke of Meppen and 5th Prince of Recklinghausen | married Valerie zu Schleswig-Holstein Sonderburg-Augustenburg (1900-1953) and in 1955 Mathild Callay (1913-1989), no issue. |
| 1974–1992 | Erik Engelbert, 11th Duke of Arenberg, 17th Duke of Aarschot, 6th Duke of Meppen and 6th Prince of Recklinghausen | married Marie Therese de La Poeze d'Harambure (1911-2005), no issue. |
| 1992-2011 | Jean, 12th Duke of Arenberg, 18th Duke of Aarschot, 7th Duke of Meppen and 7th Prince of Recklinghausen | married Princess Sophie of Bavaria, youngest daughter of Rupprecht, Crown Prince of Bavaria Rupprecht, Crown Prince of Bavaria Rupprecht or Rupert, Crown Prince of Bavaria was the last Bavarian Crown Prince.His full title was His Royal Highness Rupprecht Maria Luitpold Ferdinand, Crown Prince of Bavaria, Duke of Bavaria, of Franconia and in Swabia, Count Palatine of the Rhine... , 5 children. |
| 2011- | Leopold Engelbert Evrard, 13th Duke of Arenberg, 19th Duke of Aarschot, 8th Duke of Meppen and 8th Prince of Recklinghausen | married Juliana, Gräfin zu Stolberg-Stolberg, 3 children. |