The House d'Udekem () is the name of a noble family that has belonged to the nobility of Belgium since 1816.

History

The origin of the d'Udekem family dates back to the

Late Middle Ages The late Middle Ages or late medieval period was the Periodization, period of History of Europe, European history lasting from 1300 to 1500 AD. The late Middle Ages followed the High Middle Ages and preceded the onset of the early modern period ( ...

, with the earliest member recorded ''Gooris van Udekem'' (†1472), who, in 1468, purchased the Lordship of Guertechin in Bossut. In the 18th century the

Dominium means "dominion; control; ownership". Use in legal Latin is used in some phrases and maxims in legal Latin: *Dominium directum – Direct ownership, that is control of the property, but not necessarily with right to its utilization or alienati ...

of Acoz was obtained via marriage by the family. The first elevation of a member of the family to the

French nobility The French nobility () was an Aristocracy, aristocratic social class in France from the France in the Middle Ages, Middle Ages until its abolition on 23 June 1790 during the French Revolution. From 1808 to 1815 during the First French Empire, ...

took place in 1716, but this branch became extinct in the male line in 1803. The French Revolution meant the abolition of the family's noble status in 1795, but it was later restored under the rule of King

William I of the Netherlands William I (Willem Frederik; 24 August 1772 – 12 December 1843) was King of the Netherlands and List of monarchs of Luxembourg, Grand Duke of Luxembourg from 1815 until his abdication in 1840. Born as the son of William V, Prince of Orange, ...

. Until 2000, the head of the d'Udekem family held the rank of

Baron Baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour, often Hereditary title, hereditary, in various European countries, either current or historical. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher than ...

. After the wedding of

Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz Mathilde Marie Christine Ghislaine d'Udekem d'Acoz (; born 20 January 1973) is List of Belgian consorts, Queen of the Belgians as the wife of Philippe of Belgium, King Philippe. She is the first native-born Belgian queen, and has four children. ...

with the

Duke of Brabant The Duke of Brabant (, ) was the ruler of the Duchy of Brabant since 1183/1184. The title was created by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa in favor of Henry I, Duke of Brabant, Henry I of the House of Reginar, son of Godfrey III of Le ...

, King Albert II extended the hereditary title of

Count Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...

to the three brothers Henri, Raoul and Patrick d'Udekem d'Acoz and to all their descendants. Members of the family were active in politics.

Descendants of Charles Joseph, Baron d'Udekem d'Acoz

Charles Joseph Marie Ghislain, Baron (1921) d'Udekem d'Acoz (1885-1968), Mayor of Proven #* Henri Joseph Adelin François Xavier Marie, Count (2000) d'Udekem d'Acoz (1933-2021), Mayor of

Poperinge Poperinge (; , ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and Municipalities of Belgium, municipality located in the Belgium, Belgian province of West Flanders, Flemish Region, and has a history going back to medieval times. The municipality comprises ...

, married to Jonkvrouw Marie-Madeleine Kervyn d'Oud Mooreghem (born 1940), without issue #* Raoul Paul Adelin François Xavier Marie, Count (2000) d´Udekem d'Acoz (1935-2023), local politician, married in 1960 to Jonkvrouw Françoise de Maere d'Aertrycke (born 1935) ##Bernard Marguerite Jean Charles Marie Ghislain, Count (2000) d'Udekem d'Acoz (born 1965)
married in 1998 to Jonkvrouw Marie-Pierre Verhaegen (born 1966), historian, and has three children #*Patrick Paul François Xavier Marie Ghislain,

(2000) d'Udekem d'Acoz (1936-2008), local politician, married in 1971 to Countess Anna Maria Komorowska (born 1946) ## Mathilde, Countess (2000) d'Udekem d'Acoz (born 1973), married in 1999 to King Philippe of Belgium (born 1960) ## Jonkvrouw Marie-Alix (1974-1997) ## Elisabeth, Countess (2000) d'Udekem d'Acoz (born 1977), married to

Margrave Margrave was originally the Middle Ages, medieval title for the military commander assigned to maintain the defence of one of the border provinces of the Holy Roman Empire or a monarchy, kingdom. That position became hereditary in certain Feudal ...

Alfonso Pallavicini (born 1964) ## Hélène, Countess (2000) d'Udekem d'Acoz (born 1979), married to

Nicolas Janssen (born 1974) ## Charles-Henri, Count (2000) d'Udekem d'Acoz (born 1985), married in 2022 to Caroline Philippe

Properties of d'Udekem d'Acoz family

File:Château de Losange 2012 40193.jpg, Losange Castle, private property of the dowager Countess Anna Maria d’Udekem d’Acoz File:Acoz_CH1aJPG.jpg, Acoz Castle, home of d'Udekem d'Acoz family from 1760 until 1860 File:Couthoflaan_31_-_129602_-_onroerenderfgoed.jpg, Couthof Castle, residence of d'Udekem family since 1945 File:Kortrijksestraat_532_4_-_38866_-_onroerenderfgoed.jpg, Raepenburg Castle, home of Count Bernard d'Udekem d'Acoz

References

{{Reflist Belgian noble families Roman Catholic families