François-Joseph-Philippe de Riquet (21 September 1771 - 2 March 1843), as a French aristocrat who became the 16th Prince de Chimay from 24 July 1804 to 1843.

Early life

François-Joseph-Philippe was born in

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

on 21 September 1771. He was a son of Victor Maurice de Riquet de Caraman-Chimay and Marie Anne Gabrielle Josephe Francoise Xaviere de Henin-Liétard. Among his siblings was ''Victor''-Louis-Charles de Riquet, Marquis de Caraman, a

Peer of France The Peerage of France () was a hereditary distinction within the French nobility which appeared in 1180 during the Middle Ages. The prestigious title and position of Peer of France () was held by the greatest, highest-ranking members of the Fr ...

who served as the French ambassador in Vienna.

Career

During the French Revolution, he emigrated but came back during the

First French Empire The First French Empire or French Empire (; ), also known as Napoleonic France, was the empire ruled by Napoleon Bonaparte, who established French hegemony over much of continental Europe at the beginning of the 19th century. It lasted from ...

, and received the title of '' chef de cohorte'' from

Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte (born Napoleone di Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French general and statesman who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led Military career ...

. He became the sixteenth Prince of Chimay after the death of his childless uncle in 1804, inheriting the

Chimay Chimay (, ) is a city and Municipalities of Belgium, municipality of Wallonia located in the Hainaut Province, province of Hainaut, Belgium. In 2006, Chimay had a population of 9,774. The area is 197.10 km2 which gives a population density ...

estates (now in

Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...

). After the

Battle of Waterloo The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815, near Waterloo, Belgium, Waterloo (then in the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, now in Belgium), marking the end of the Napoleonic Wars. The French Imperial Army (1804–1815), Frenc ...

in 1815, these became part of the

United Kingdom of the Netherlands The United Kingdom of the Netherlands is the unofficial name given to the Kingdom of the Netherlands as it existed from 1815 to 1839. The United Netherlands was created in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars through the fusion of territories t ...

and, after 1830, of the current

Kingdom of Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southe ...

Personal life

On 22 August 1805, he became the third husband of Thérésa de Cabarrus, who was known as Madame Tallien, former wife of

Jean Lambert Tallien Jean-Lambert Tallien (, 23 January 1767 – 16 November 1820) was a French politician of the revolutionary period. Though initially an active agent of the Reign of Terror, he eventually clashed with its leader, Maximilien Robespierre, and is bes ...

who bore eleven children by various husbands and lovers. After their marriage, they lived quietly in Hainaut on the

estate (today a province of Belgium). Their children were: # Joseph Philippe (1808-1886), 17th Prince de Chimay, Prince de Caraman # Michel Gabriel Alphonse Ferdinand (1810-1865) - father of Marie-Clotilde-Elisabeth Louise de Riquet, comtesse de Mercy-Argenteau # Marie Auguste Louise Thérèse Valentine (1815-1876) François-Joseph-Philippe de Riquet died in

Toulouse Toulouse (, ; ; ) is a city in southern France, the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Haute-Garonne department and of the Occitania (administrative region), Occitania region. The city is on the banks of the Garonne, River Garonne, from ...

on 2 March 1843. He and Thérésa were interred under the

sacristy A sacristy, also known as a vestry or preparation room, is a room in Christianity, Christian churches for the keeping of vestments (such as the alb and chasuble) and other church furnishings, sacred vessels, and parish records. The sacristy is us ...

of the church of

References

1771 births 1843 deaths Princes of Chimay Counts of France François-Joseph-Philippe {{France-noble-stub