Count Charles Gaëtan Corneille Marie François-Xavier Ghislain de Limburg-Stirum (15 September 1906 – 14 June 1989), a

Count of the Holy Roman Empire Imperial Count (german: Reichsgraf) was a title in the Holy Roman Empire. In the medieval era, it was used exclusively to designate the holder of an imperial county, that is, a fief held directly ( immediately) from the emperor, rather than from ...

and

Knight of the Golden Fleece This article contains a list of knights of the Order of the Golden Fleece. Knights of the Burgundian Golden Fleece 15th Century !Year of Induction!!Name!!Born!!Died!!Notes , - , rowspan=25, 1430, , Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, , 1396, , ...

(Austrian branch), was a member of the

House of Limburg-Stirum The House of Limburg-Stirum (or Limburg-Styrum), which adopted its name in the 12th century from the immediate county of Limburg an der Lenne in what is now Germany, is one of the oldest families in Europe. It is the eldest and only surviving br ...

. During his life he was a Belgian Senator and Grand Master of the Royal Households of

King Leopold III Leopold III (3 November 1901 – 25 September 1983) was King of the Belgians from 23 February 1934 until his abdication on 16 July 1951. At the outbreak of World War II, Leopold tried to maintain Belgian neutrality, but after the German invasi ...

Life

Charles was born in

Huldenberg Huldenberg () is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the towns and villages of Huldenberg proper, Loonbeek, , Ottenburg and Sint-Agatha-Rode. On January 1, 2011, Huldenberg had a total pop ...

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

, and was the second son of Count Evrard Philippe de Limburg Stirum (29 October 1868 – 8 May 1938) and Louise, Baroness Gericke d'Herwijnen (17 April 1881 - 6 September 1969). He was later adopted by his aunt, Countess Marie de

Limburg-Stirum The House of Limburg-Stirum (or Limburg-Styrum), which adopted its name in the 12th century from the immediate county of Limburg an der Lenne in what is now Germany, is one of the oldest families in Europe. It is the eldest and only surviving br ...

who was without descent, to inherit the castle of Bois Saint Jean in the South of

. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, 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 The Battle of the Bulge, also known as the Ardennes Offensive, was the last major German offensive campaign on the Western Front during World War II. The battle lasted from 16 December 1944 to 28 January 1945, towards the end of the war in ...

in the Winter of 1944, Bois Saint Jean was overtaken by the Germans and used as local headquarter. The

US Army Air Force The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...

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

after King Leopold's abdication. He held this office until 1971. He died in

Brussels Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...

on 14 June 1989.

Marriage and Descent

On 13 June 1932 in Křimice (Bohemia) he married Marie Kunigunde, Princess of

Lobkowicz The House of Lobkowicz (''Lobkovicové'' in modern Czech, sg. ''z Lobkovic''; ''Lobkowitz'' in German) is a Czech noble family that dates back to the 14th century and is one of the oldest Bohemian noble families. The family also belong to the G ...

(1906-2005), a daughter of Jaroslav, 11th

Prince A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. T ...

of Lobkowicz, Duke of

Roudnice Roudnice is a municipality and village in Hradec Králové District in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 700 inhabitants. Etymology The name is derived from the red shades of color (in Czech ''rudá'') of the water in ...

(26 March 1877 - 24 October 1953) and Countess Marie-Thérèse of

Beaufort-Spontin The House of Beaufort-Spontin is a noble family which held prominent posts under the Holy Roman Emperors in the Austrian Netherlands, their family seat having originally been in Namur. The most notable member of the family was Frederic August Ale ...

(6 August 1885 - 22 February 1942). They had eight children: *''Countess'' Marie Keijsers 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; born in 1957. He married Dominique Lamarche and they have two children: ***''Count'' Gobert d'Aspermont; born in 1986. ***''Countess'' Diane d'Aspermont; born in 1990. **''Countess'' Elizabeth d'Aspermont; born in 1958. **''Count'' Philippe d'Aspermont; born in 1959. **''Count'' Geoffrey d'Aspermont; born in 1962. **''Countess'' Sophie d'Aspermont; born in 1964. **''Countess'' Clothilde d'Aspermont; born in 1967. In 1993, she married Philippe Haeglsteen. **''Count'' Cristoph d'Aspermont; born in 1979. *''Countess'' Gabrielle Keijsers of Limburg-Stirum; born in 1936. In 1958, she married Count Didier Cornet d'Elzius du Chenoy and they have three children: **''Count'' Etienne Cornet d'Elzius du Chenoy; born in 1959. He married Dominique de Wasseige and they have four children: ***''Count'' Gaël Cornet d'Elzius du Chenoy; born in 1989. ***''Countess'' Muriel Cornet d'Elzius du Chenoy; born in 1991. ***''Count'' Brieuc Cornet d'Elzius du Chenoy; born in 1994. ***''Countess'' Valentine Cornet d'Elzius du Chenoy; born in 1996. **''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 Keijsers 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 Keijsers of Limburg-Stirum; born in 1971. **''Count'' Leopold Keijsers of Limburg-Stirum; born in 1978. He then married Régine Roberti. *''Count''

Emmanuel Immanuel ( he, עִמָּנוּאֵל, 'Īmmānū'ēl, meaning, "God is with us"; also romanized: , ; and or in Koine Greek of the New Testament) is a Hebrew name that appears in the Book of Isaiah (7:14) as a sign that God will protect the ...

Keijsers of Limburg-Stirum; born in Huldenberg in 1940. In 1968, he married Countess Nadine d'Ursel and they have three children: **''Countess'' Eleonore Keijsers of Limburg-Stirum; born in 1970. **''Count'' Wolfgang Keijsers of Limburg-Stirum; born in 1971. **''Count'' Arnaud Keijsers of Limburg-Stirum; born in 1974. *''Countess'' Sibylle Keijsers 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 Keijsers of Limburg-Stirum; born in 1943. In 1989, she married Baron Bonifatius von Twickel. *''Count'' Jean Keijsers of Limburg-Stirum; born in 1946. *''Countess'' Louise Keijsers; born in 1949. In 1976, she married Count Engelbert 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 The Order of Leopold II is an order of Belgium and is named in honor of King Leopold II. The decoration was established on 24 August 1900 by Leopold II as Sovereign of the Congo Free State and was in 1908, upon Congo being handed over to Belgium ...

*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) *: Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the

Royal Victorian Order The Royal Victorian Order (french: Ordre royal de Victoria) is a dynastic order of knighthood established in 1896 by Queen Victoria. It recognises distinguished personal service to the British monarch, Canadian monarch, Australian monarch, or ...

(

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

) (GCVO) *: Grand Cross of the Pontifical

Order of St Gregory the Great The Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great ( la, Ordo Sancti Gregorii Magni; it, Ordine di San Gregorio Magno) was established on 1 September 1831, by Pope Gregory XVI, seven months after his election as Pope. The order is one of ...

(

Holy See The Holy See ( lat, Sancta Sedes, ; it, Santa Sede ), also called the See of Rome, Petrine See or Apostolic See, is the jurisdiction of the Pope in his role as the bishop of Rome. It includes the apostolic episcopal see of the Diocese of R ...

) (GCSG) *: Grand Cross of the

Order of the Oak Crown The Order of the Oak Crown (french: Ordre de la Couronne de chêne, german: Eichenlaubkronenorden, lb, Eechelaafkrounenuerden) is an order of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. History The Order of the Oak Crown was established in 1841 by Gran ...

(

Luxembourg Luxembourg ( ; lb, Lëtzebuerg ; french: link=no, Luxembourg; german: link=no, Luxemburg), officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, ; french: link=no, Grand-Duché de Luxembourg ; german: link=no, Großherzogtum Luxemburg is a small lan ...

) *: Grand Cross of the

Order of the Southern Cross Emperor Pedro I of Brazil founded the National Order of the Southern Cross ( pt, Ordem Nacional do Cruzeiro do Sul) as a Brazilian order of chivalry on 1 December 1822. The order aimed to commemorate the independence of Brazil (7 September 18 ...

(

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

) *: Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun ( Japan) *: Grand Cross of the

Order of the House of Orange The Order of the House of Orange (Dutch: ''Huisorde van Oranje''), sometimes referred to as the House Order of Orange, is a dynastic order of the House of Orange-Nassau, the royal family of the Netherlands similar to the Royal Victorian Order in ...

(

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

) *: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (

Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...

) *: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (

Senegal Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭 (Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 ...

) *: Commander Grand Cross of the

Royal Order of the Polar Star The Royal Order of the Polar Star ( Swedish: ''Kungliga Nordstjärneorden'') is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Sword and the Order of the Seraphim. The Order of ...

( Sweden) *: Grand Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog (

Denmark ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map = EU-Denmark.svg , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of Denmark , establish ...

) *: Knight Grand Cross of the

Royal Norwegian Order of St Olav The Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav ( no, Den Kongelige Norske Sankt Olavs Orden; or ''Sanct Olafs Orden'', the old Norwegian name) is a Norwegian order of chivalry instituted by King Oscar I on 21 August 1847. It is named after King Olav I ...

*: Knight Grand Cross of the

Order of the Crown of Thailand The Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand ( th, เครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์อันมีเกียรติยศยิ่งมงกุฎไทย; ) is a Thai order, established in 1869 by King Rama ...

*: Grand Officer of the Order of the Yugoslav Flag

Foreign awards

French Liberation Medal The Medal of a liberated France (french: "Médaille de la France libérée") was a decoration of the French Republic created by decree on 12 September 1947 and originally named the "Medal of Gratitude of a Liberated France" (french: "Médaille d ...

*Various foreign awards

Honorific eponyms

* Mount Limburg Stirum

Ancestry

References

External links

ODIS
{{DEFAULTSORT:Limburg Stirum, Charles de 1906 births 1989 deaths Charles de Limburg Stirum Counts of Belgium People from Flemish Brabant Belgian military personnel of World War II Belgian resistance members Knights of the Golden Fleece Grand Crosses of the Order of the Crown (Belgium) Recipients of the Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold II Recipients of the Croix de guerre (Belgium) Honorary Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Gregory the Great Grand Cordons of the Order of the Rising Sun Grand Crosses of the Order of the House of Orange Commanders Grand Cross of the Order of the Polar Star Grand Crosses of the Order of the Dannebrog Belgian prisoners of war in World War II Belgian Roman Catholics Belgian Army officers World War II prisoners of war held by Germany