Eugène, 11th Prince of Ligne
Eugene de Ligne, 11th Prince de Ligne (Eugène II, prince de Ligne) (10 August 1893 – 26 June 1960) was the eldest son of Ernest, 10th Prince de Ligne and Diane de Cossé-Brissac.[1] He also held the titles of Prince of Epinoy and Prince of Amblise and was Knight of the Golden Fleece.[1]
| Eugène de Ligne | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prince de Ligne | |||||
 Eugène in October 1947 | |||||
| Reign | 23 June 1937 – 26 June 1960 | ||||
| Predecessor | Ernest | ||||
| Successor | Baudouin | ||||
| Born | 10 August 1893 Breuilpont | ||||
| Died | 26 June 1960 (aged 66) Château de Belœil | ||||
| Spouse | Philippine de Noailles | ||||
| Issue | Baudouin, 12th Prince of Ligne Princess Isabelle Archduchess Yolande of Austria Antoine 13th Prince de Ligne | ||||
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| House | House of Ligne | ||||
| Father | Ernest, 10th Prince de Ligne | ||||
| Mother | Diane de Cossé-Brissac | ||||
| Religion | Roman Catholicism | ||||
Biography
After having carried out studies of philosophy and letters, Eugène completed in 1920 the diplomatic examination with distinction. He was sent to Bucharest, Paris, Madrid, London and Washington, D.C.
Eugène married Philippine de Noailles on 28 February 1917. She was a daughter of François Joseph de Noailles, Prince de Poix. They had two sons and two daughters:
- Baudouin, Prince of Ligne (1918–1985)
- Princess Isabelle of Ligne (1921–2000)
- Princess Yolande Marie Jeanne Charlotte de Ligne (born 6 May 1923) married Archduke Carl Ludwig of Austria
- Antoine (13th) Prince de Ligne (1925–2005)
Following the death of his father in 1937, Eugène became 11th prince de Ligne. During the invasion of Belgium by the Germans in 1940, Eugène joined, (near Antwerp), the motorized group at the vanguard. When Belgium was demobilized, he and his wife worked to provision the country and transformed the castle of Belœil into a hiding place for hundreds of Jewish children escaping the Holocaust, for which he and his wife received the honor of Righteous Among the Nations.[2] After the Second World War, he was named ambassador of Belgium to India (1947 to 1951),[3] and to Spain (1951 to 1958).
Honours
- Knight of the golden Fleece.
- 1931: commander in the Royal Order of the Lion.
References
- "Future Princess A U.S. Girl", The Washington Post, 6 January 1917
- Eugène, 11th Prince of Ligne, at Yad Vashem Website
- Website of Indian Embassy in Brussels
Eugène, 11th Prince of Ligne Born: 10 August 1893 Died: 26 June 1960 | ||
| Belgian nobility | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ernest |
Prince of Ligne 1937–1960 |
Succeeded by Baudouin |
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