Charles of 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 branch), 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. After being released, he took an active part in 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 the Winter of 1944, Bois Saint Jean was overtaken by the Germans and used as local headquarter. The US Army Air Force bombed it to the ground in January 1945. 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 on 14 June 1989.
Marriage and Descent
On June 13, 1932 in Křimice (Bohemia) he married Marie Kunigunde Princess of Lobkowicz (1906-2005), 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 eight children:
- Countess Marie of Limburg-Stirum; born in 1935. In 1956, she married Count Gobert-Leopold d'Aspermont Lynden and they have seven children:
- Count Jean d'Aspermont Lynden; born in 1957. He married Dominique Lamarche and they have two children:
- Count Gobert d'Aspermont Lynden; born in 1986.
- Countess Diane d'Aspermont Lynden; born in 1990.
- Countess Elizabeth d'Aspermont Lynden; born in 1958.
- Count Philippe d'Aspermont Lynden; born in 1959.
- Count Geoffrey d'Aspermont Lynden; born in 1962.
- Countess Sophie d'Aspermont Lynden; born in 1964.
- Countess Clothilde d'Aspermont Lynden; born in 1967. In 1993, she married Philippe Haeglsteen.
- Count Cristoph d'Aspermont Lynden; born in 1979.
- Countess Gabrielle of Limburg-Stirum; born in 1936. In 1958, she married Count Didier Cornet d'Elzius du Chenoy and they have three children:
- Count Etienne d'Elzius du Chenoy; born in 1959. He married Dominique de Wasseige and they have two children:
- Countess Muriel Cornet d'Elzius du Chenoy; born in 1991.
- Count Brieuc Cornet d'Elzius du Chenoy; born in 1994.
- Count Xavier Cornet d'Elzius du Chenoy; born in 1961. In 1985, he married Baroness Joëlle de Crombrugghe de Looringhe and they have three children:
- Count Cristophe Cornet d'Elzius du Chenoy; born in 1988.
- Countess Marie-Caroline Cornet d'Elzius du Chenoy; born in 1991.
- Countess Sophie Cornet d'Elzius du Chenoy; born in 1992.
- Countess Beatrice Cornet d'Elzius du Chenoy; born in 1965.
- Count Bernard of Limburg-Stirum; born in 1938. In 1970, he firstly married Countess Nathalie de la Boissiere-Thiennes and they have two children:
- Count Charles-Philippe of Limburg-Stirum; born in 1971.
- Count Leopold of Limburg-Stirum; born in 1978.
He then married Régine Roberti.
- Count Emmanuel of Limburg-Stirum; born in 1940. In 1968, he married Countess Nadine d'Ursel and they have three children:
- Countess Eleonore of Limburg-Stirum; born in 1970.
- Count Wolfgang of Limburg-Stirum; born in 1971.
- Count Arnaud of Limburg-Stirum; born in 1974.
- Countess Sibylle of Limburg-Stirum; born in 1942. In 1964, she married Pietro del Vaglio Rosati and they have four children:
- Miss Christiana del Vaglio Rosati; born in 1966.
- Miss Marina del Vaglio Rosati; born in 1968. In 1992, she married Comte Cedric de Lalaing.
- Miss Gabriella del Vaglio Rosati; born in 1970.
- Miss Natalia del Vaglio Rosati; born in 1975.
- Countess Jacqueline of Limburg-Stirum; born in 1943. In 1989, she married to Baron Bonifatius von Twickel.
- Count Jean of Limburg-Stirum; born in 1946.
- Countess Louise of Limburg-Stirum; born in 1949. In 1976, she married Count Engelbert von und zu Westerholt und Gysenberg.[1]
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's 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)
United Kingdom: Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (United Kingdom) (GCVO)
Holy See: Grand Cross of the Pontifical Order of St Gregory the Great (Holy See) (GCSG)
Luxembourg: Grand Cross of the Order of the Oak Crown (Luxembourg)
Brazil: Grand Cross of the Order of the Southern Cross (Brazil)
Japan: Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun (Japan)
Netherlands: Grand Cross of the Order of the House of Orange (Netherlands)
Austria: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (Austria)
Senegal: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (Senegal)
Sweden: Commander Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Polar Star (Sweden)
Denmark: Grand Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog (Denmark)
Norway: Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of St Olav
Thailand: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Thailand
Serbia: Grand Officer of the Order of the Yugoslav Flag
Foreign awards
- French Liberation Medal
- Various foreign awards
Honorific eponyms
Ancestry
| 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 |