Lamoral, 1st Prince of Ligne

Lamoral I
Prince of Ligne
Count of Ligne
Reign	1583 – 1601
Predecessor	Philippe
Prince of Ligne
Reign	1583 – 1601
Successor	Albert Henri
Born	19 July 1563 Château de Belœil
Died	6 February 1624 (aged 60) Brussels
Spouse	Anne-Marie de Melun
Issue	Yolande, Duchess of Croÿ Prince Alexander Florent, 1st Prince of Amblise Anne, Marquise de Guadalest Lambertine, Baroness de Montmartin Ernestine Yolande, Countess of Nassau-Siegen
Full name Lamoral de Ligne
House	House of Ligne
Father	Philippe, Count of Ligne
Mother	Margarethe de Lalaing
Religion	Roman Catholicism

Lamoral, 1st Prince of Ligne (19 July 1563, in Château de Belœil – 6 February 1624, in Brussels) was a Belgian diplomat of the 17th century.

Biography

Lamoral, Count and after 1601 first Prince de Ligne and Prince d'Épinoy, was the son of Philip, Count of Ligne (died 1583), and Marguerite de Lalaing (died 1598), daughter of Philip, Count of Hoogstraten.

In 1601 he received from Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor the hereditary title of Prince de Ligne.

As a diplomat, the first Prince de Ligne was involved in many historic events of his time. He represented Archduke Albert of Austria and Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia of Spain at the French court of Henri IV of France, in Spain and again in Paris, to congratulate King Louis XIII of France with his marriage with the daughter of Philip III of Spain. During this mission, he discussed several issues with the French political leaders.

In 1621 Prince Lamoral I was made grandee of Spain by King Philip IV of Spain for his services rendered to the Crown. He was also made a Knight in the Order of the Golden Fleece.

Marriage and children

In 1584 Lamoral married Anne-Marie de Melun (died 1634), Marquise de Roubaix, daughter of Hugues II de Melun (1520–1553). They had five children:

1. Yolande (1585–1611), married in 1599 to Charles Alexandre de Croÿ, Marquis d’Havré (1581–1624), son of Charles Philippe; had one daughter.
2. Florent (1588–1622), Marquis de Roubaix, married in 1608 with Louise (1594–1667), daughter of Henri de Lorraine-Chaligny. They had:
   1. Albert Henri (1615–1641), 2nd Prince de Ligne, married his cousin Claire-Marie of Nassau (1621–1695), daughter of Ernestine Yolande de Ligne and John VIII, Count of Nassau-Siegen; no issue.
   2. Claude Lamoral (1618–1679), 3rd Prince de Ligne, married his brother's widow; had issue.
3. Anne (1590–1651), married Felipe Folch de Cardona; had one daughter.
4. Lambertine (1593–1609), married Philibert de La Baume (1586–1610); had one daughter.
5. Ernestine Yolande (1594–1668), married in 1618 to John VIII, Count of Nassau-Siegen (1583–1638); had issue.