Who is who? Limburg Stirum?
One of the oldest families in Europe is without any doubt The House of
Limburg Stirum. It is the eldest and only surviving branch of the
House of Berg, which was among the most powerful dynasties in the
region of the Lower Rhine duing the Middle Ages.
Some History
The Counts of Limburg descended from Count Adolf I van Berg.
Diederik I, Count of Isenberg-Limburg received in 1243 a part of
his father's territorium and he called himself: of Limburg. He also
possessed the manor of Stirum.
his father's territorium and he called himself: of Limburg. He also
possessed the manor of Stirum.
However the titles of the House of Limburg Stirum were confirmed in
1812 by Napoleon Bonaparte.
In 1814 the family was recognised in the nobility of the Kingdom of
The Netherlands.
The Netherlands.
Who is who?
Herman Otto II of Limburg Stirum (1675-1704) fought in the
War of the Spanish Succession in the service of the Holy Roman
Emperor, Leopold I, against France and Bavaria. He lost the
Battle of Höchstadt and the Battle of Schellenberg.
War of the Spanish Succession in the service of the Holy Roman
Emperor, Leopold I, against France and Bavaria. He lost the
Battle of Höchstadt and the Battle of Schellenberg.
Leopold, Count of Limburg Stirum (1758-1840) was
Lieutenant General of
Dutch Infantry and member of the Driemanschap, that took power
in 1813 to establish the monarchy in the Netherlands. The three
statesmen invited the exiled Prince of Orange to The Hague to
avoid anarchy following the retreat of France's troops and to avoid
possible absorption of the Netherlands by Prussia or England. The
Prince of Orange became later King William I of the Netherlands.
Lieutenant General of
Dutch Infantry and member of the Driemanschap, that took power
in 1813 to establish the monarchy in the Netherlands. The three
statesmen invited the exiled Prince of Orange to The Hague to
avoid anarchy following the retreat of France's troops and to avoid
possible absorption of the Netherlands by Prussia or England. The
Prince of Orange became later King William I of the Netherlands.
Mathilde of Limburg Stirum (1854 - 1932) was known as the lover
of William Prince of Orange (1840-1879) but they could not marry to
each other due to King William III of The Netherlands. (There were
rumours that Mathilde was his illegitimate daughter).
of William Prince of Orange (1840-1879) but they could not marry to
each other due to King William III of The Netherlands. (There were
rumours that Mathilde was his illegitimate daughter).
Johan Paul van Limburg Stirum (1873-1948) was a Dutch diplomat
and reformist Governor General of the Dutch East Indies. He worked
for the economic development. He would later become ambassador to
Berlin where he was known for his critical views on National Socialism,
even refusing Nazi officials entry to the Dutch embassy. After leaving
Berlin he would serve as Dutch envoy to London.
and reformist Governor General of the Dutch East Indies. He worked
for the economic development. He would later become ambassador to
Berlin where he was known for his critical views on National Socialism,
even refusing Nazi officials entry to the Dutch embassy. After leaving
Berlin he would serve as Dutch envoy to London.
Otto Ernst Gelder van Limburg Stirum was a Dutch magistrate and
maternal uncle of Audrey Hepburn. He was taken hostage by German
occupiers and executed in 1942.
maternal uncle of Audrey Hepburn. He was taken hostage by German
occupiers and executed in 1942.
Charles de Limburg Stirum (1906-1989) was a Belgian senator, and
a member of the armed resistance during World War II. Later he was
Grand Master of the Royal Households of King Leopold III of Belgium.
He became a Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece in the
Austrian brand.
a member of the armed resistance during World War II. Later he was
Grand Master of the Royal Households of King Leopold III of Belgium.
He became a Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece in the
Austrian brand.
Count Evrard de Limburg Stirum (1927-2001) the oldest son of
Thierry, Count of Limburg Stirum and Princess Marie-Immaculée de
Thierry, Count of Limburg Stirum and Princess Marie-Immaculée de
Croÿ, married Princess Hélène of Orléans (1934).She is the daughter
of Henri d'Orléans, the Comte de Paris and the Orléanist claimant to
the throne of France.
of Henri d'Orléans, the Comte de Paris and the Orléanist claimant to
the throne of France.
Count Rudolphe de Limburg Stirum, a son of Count Christian de
Limburg Stirum and grandson of Count Thierry married on 6 December
2008 in Mechelen, Archduchess Marie-Christine of Austria. She is the
great-granddaughter of King Leopold III through her mother
Archduchess Marie Astrid of Austria and of Emperor Charles I of Austria,
through her father Archduke Carl Christian of Austria.
Limburg Stirum and grandson of Count Thierry married on 6 December
2008 in Mechelen, Archduchess Marie-Christine of Austria. She is the
great-granddaughter of King Leopold III through her mother
Archduchess Marie Astrid of Austria and of Emperor Charles I of Austria,
through her father Archduke Carl Christian of Austria.
Most of the family members live nowadays in Belgium and
the Netherlands.
* Catherine de Limburg Stirum is the dauther of Count Evrard de
Limburg Stirum and Princess Hélène of Orléans. She lives in
Brussels, the capital of Belgium.
Source pictures: Wikipedia
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