Merode/Pigott engagement

[Michael Rhodes]

_.The engagement was announced 3 Oct 2009 between Prince Simon de
Merode, son of Prince and Princess Léonel de Merode, of Westerlo,
Belgium, and Anna Pigott, daughter of Lieutenant General Sir Anthony
and Lady Pigott, of Salisbury, Wiltshire.

--==--

[Turenne]

Prince Simon is 21st in line of succession to lead this ancient
family. The Merodes have their origins in Germany, but in recent times
have featured as one of the prime families in Belgium. The head of the
House is a baron, count, marquis and prince several times over.

Richard L

[Olivier]

Simon is a descendant of King Charles Ist following the Theroff files.
http://www.angelfire.com/realm/gotha/James1.html

On 3 oct, 02:51, Michael Rhodes <mig73allenford2...@yahoo.co.uk>
wrote:

[marquess]

But not a duke, from what I understand a Prince ranks higher than a
duke in Belgium?

[Turenne]

On Oct 3, 1:23 pm, marquess <marquessmarqu...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> But not a duke, from what I understand a Prince ranks higher than a
> duke in Belgium?

Correct. There have never been any Belgian ducal creations as such.
Most of the princely and ducal families enjoy their titles courtesy of
The Holy Roman Empire or the King of Spain. Later creations were made
by the King of The Netherlands 1815-30 and of course Leopold I and his
successors.

Richard L

[marquess]

And is the descent of the princely title in those later creations the
same as in the case of the Holy Roman Empire titles, i.e. to all
males, or just the head of th family with the rest of them being
counts. At present are there any families in Belgium enjoying the
title of duke courtsey of a Spanish creation?

[Turenne]

marquess wrote:

On Oct 4, 12:00 am, marquess <marquessmarqu...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> And is the descent of the princely title in those later creations the
> same as in the case of the Holy Roman Empire titles, i.e. to all
> males, or just the head of th family  with the rest of them being
> counts. At present are there any families in Belgium enjoying the
> title of duke courtsey of a Spanish creation?

The Merode family was granted the title "Prince of Merode" in 1930, on
occasion of the 100th anniversary of Belgium. Before that, they were
Count of Merode. Apart from that, the family has other titles which
include Marquis de Westerloo; Prince of Rubempré and of Grimbergen,
Count of Saint Empire (HRE).

Arenberg (prince since 1576, duke since 1644, heir of the line of Croÿ-
Aerschot, heir of the House of La Marck, mediatised in 1810)
Croÿ (duke since 1767, mediatised in 1806)
Looz-Corswarem (duke since 1792, mediatised in 1806)
Ursel (count since 1638, duke since 1716)
Beaufort-Spontin (count since 1713, duke since 1782)

Charles V, King of Spain and HRE created Philippe de Croy, Duke of
Aarschot; the de Croys later acquired the dukedom of Arenberg. The
Dukes of Beaufort-Spontin received their dukedom from Joseph II as did
William Joseph of Looz-Corswarem (1732-1803), Count of Niel, who was
created Duke of Looz-Corswarem in 1792. Conrard-Albert d'Ursel
(1665-1738), governor of the county of Namur, was made Duke of Ursel
(1716) and Duke of Hoboken (1717).

Richard L

[marquess]

Excellent stuff Richard thank you very much!

[Turenne]

My pleasure!

Richard