Claude Lamoral, 6th Prince of Ligne

Claude Lamoral
Late Prince Claude Lamoral Portrait
Prince of Ligne
Reign9 August 1750 – 7 April 1766
PredecessorAntoine
SuccessorCharles-Joseph
Born(1685-08-07)7 August 1685
Died7 April 1766(1766-04-07) (aged 80)
Château de Belœil
SpouseElisabeth Alexandrine de Salm
IssuePrince Henri Ernest
Princess Louise Marie
Princess Marie Josephe
Charles-Joseph
Names
Claude Lamoral de Ligne
HouseHouse of Ligne
FatherHenri, 4th Prince of Ligne
MotherJuana Monica de Aragon y Benavides de Cordona y de Cordoba

Claude Lamoral, Prince of Ligne (7 August 1685 – Chateau de Beloeil, 7 April 1766) was a Field marshal and sixth Prince in the House of Ligne.

A state councilor, he reorganized the army in the newly conquered Austrian Netherlands, and in 1720 took possession in the name of the Emperor of the fortified cities of Tournai, Ypres and Menen. This voyage through Flanders and Hainaut was accompanied by great pomp and celebration, many Te Deums and numerous receptions in every city.

But arguably his greatest achievement is the domain of Belœil.[citation needed] He spent millions to give the castle and its gardens the splendour they have today. Prince Claude-Lamoral tried to rival Versailles of Louis XIV, and employed the Parisian architect Jean-Michel Chevotet, grand architecture connaisseur at the time.

Prince Claude-Lamoral married Elisabeth Alexandrine de Salm, daughter of Louis Otto, Prince of Salm, and was father of Charles-Joseph, 7th Prince of Ligne, Louise (1728–1784), and Marie (1730–1783).[1][2]

  1. ^ Renouf, Peter Le Page (2002). The Letters of Peter Le Page Renouf (1822-1897): Dublin (1854-1864). University College Dublin Press. p. 292. ISBN 978-1-900621-90-8.
  2. ^ Ligne, Charles Joseph prince de (1923). Mémoires et lettres du prince de Ligne (in French). G. Crès. p. 6.