Claude Lamoral, 3rd Prince of Ligne, Prince of Epinoy, Marquis of Roubaix and Count of Fauquemberg (8 October 1618 – 21 December 1679), was a nobleman from the Spanish Netherlands, a soldier and diplomat in the service of Philip IV of Spain and Charles II of Spain.
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Biography
Born at Belœil, he succeeded his brother Albert Henry (1615–1641), as third Prince of Ligne. He married in 1642 his brother's widow Claire Marie of Nassau-Siegen, countess of Nassau (Brussels, October 1621 – Belœil, 2 September 1695). He was a Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, Grandee of Spain and Knight in the Order of the Golden Fleece (1646).
Between 1649 and 1669, he was Captain General of the Spanish Cavalry in the Spanish Netherlands, which was the third highest military position after Captain General and Governor of the Arms.
In 1660, he was sent as representative of the Spanish King to the Royal court of Charles II of England as first foreign recognition of the newly restored English monarchy.
He became Viceroy of Sicily (1670–1674), where he fortified the coastal defences against Turkish pirates, who attacked the local population to abduct and sell them into slavery.
Later he was appointed Governor of the Duchy of Milan (1674–1678).
Claude Lamoral, and after his death, his wife Claire Marie, enlarged the Chateau of Belœil and its spectacular French-styled 25 hectare garden, which has a 6 hectare lake in front of the castle. Today the gardens are partially open to the public.
Children
From his marriage to Claire Marie of Nassau-Siegen, daughter of John VIII of Nassau-Siegen, he had 11 children, 5 of whom reached adulthood :
Henri, 4th Prince of Ligne (1644–1702)
Procope-Hyacinthe (1659-1723), marquis de Moy, baron de La Fauche, married Anne Catherine de Broglie (1663-1701), had issue
Charles-Joseph (pt) (1661-1713), Grandee of Portugal, married Mariana de Sousa, Marchioness of Arronches, had issue
Louise Claire, married in 1664 the Portuguese nobleman Raimundo de Lencastre (1631-1666). She remarried with the Spanish nobleman Iñigo Manuel Velez Ladrón de Guevara y Tassis (1642–1699). Had issue by her second marriage.
Marie (died 1675).