Charles I de Croÿ explained

Prince of Chimay
Charles II de Croÿ
Birth Date:1457
Father:Philip I of Croÿ-Chimay
Mother:Anne de Croÿ
Spouse:Walburga von Moers und Saarwerden
Issue:Anne de Croÿ
Margaret de Croÿ
House:Croÿ

Charles I de Croÿ (1455–1527), Count and later 1st Prince of Chimay, was a nobleman and politician from the Low Countries in the service of the House of Habsburg.

Early life

Charles was born into the House of Croÿ as the eldest son of Philip I of Croÿ-Chimay and Walburga of Moers.

Career

He was knighted by Maximilian of Austria on the eve of the Battle of Guinegate (1479). In this battle, he was almost killed when his stirrup broke and he was thrown to the ground. He was saved by Maximilian, Josse de Lalaing and a few Germans who came to his rescue, risking being enveloped themselves.[1] [2] [3]

His loyalty to Maximilian and Philip the Fair was appreciated by the Habsburgs. In 1486, Maximilian raised Charles's County of Chimay to a Principality. Charles was from then on a Prince of the Holy Roman Empire. Furthermore, in 1491 he became a Knight in the Order of the Golden Fleece.

In 1500, Charles had the honor of being the godfather at the baptism of Charles V.[4] He became the tutor of the young Charles, but because of frictions with the prince's aunt Margaret, he resigned in 1509 in favour of his cousin William de Croÿ.

Charles was in 1519 one of the negotiators during the talks which led to a military alliance with John II, Duke of Cleves. He was also stadtholder of the County of Hainaut and governor of Valenciennes, but he resigned in 1521 in favour of his son-in-law, Philippe II de Croÿ.

Personal life

Charles married Louise d'Albret, daughter of Alain I of Albret. Together, they had eight children of which only two daughters survived:

The Prince de Chimay died in 1527.

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Book: Smedt . Raphaël de . Les Chevaliers de l'Ordre de la Toison d'or au XVe siècle: notices bio-bibliographiques . 1994 . P. Lang . 978-3-631-46567-7 . 203 . 14 November 2021 . fr.
  2. Book: Terjanian . Pierre. The Last Knight: The Art, Armor, and Ambition of Maximilian I . 2 October 2019 . Metropolitan Museum of Art . 978-1-58839-674-7 . 20 . 14 November 2021 . en.
  3. Book: Marchal (chevalier.) . François Joseph Ferdinand . Histoire Politique du Règne de l'Empereur Charles-Quint Avec un Résumé des Événements Précurseurs Depuis le Mariage de Maximilien d'Autriche et de Marie de Bourgogne . 28 March 2019 . HardPress . 978-1-318-50716-0 . 29 . 14 November 2021 . fr.
  4. Book: Busby . Keith . Les Manuscrits de Chrétien de Troyes . 1993 . Rodopi . 978-90-5183-603-5 . 22 . 14 November 2021 . en.