Count Charles Gaëtan Corneille Marie François-Xavier Ghislain de Limburg-Stirum (15 September 1906 – 14 June 1989), a Count of the Holy Roman Empire and Knight of the Golden Fleece (Austrian branch), was a member of the House of Limburg-Stirum. During his life he was a Belgian Senator and Grand Master of the Royal Households of King Leopold III.
Charles was born in Huldenberg, Belgium, and was the second son of Count Evrard Philippe de Limburg Stirum (29 October 1868 – 8 May 1938) and Louise, Baroness Gericke d'Herwijnen (17 April 1881 - 6 September 1969). He was later adopted by his aunt, Countess Marie de Limburg-Stirum who was without descent, to inherit the castle of Bois Saint Jean in the South of Belgium.
During World War II, he fought as a captain with the Belgian panzer troops and was made prisoner by the Germans. After being released, he took an active part in the armed resistance against the occupier. Bois Saint Jean became an important drop point of material and arms to the Belgian resistance. During the Von Rundstedt Offensive in the winter of 1944, Bois Saint Jean was overtaken by the Germans and used as local headquarter. The US Army Air Force bombed it to the ground in January 1945. After the war, he rebuilt the castle of Bois Saint Jean, though in a different style than the original building.
Charles de Limburg Stirum served as Senator, then was appointed Grand Master of the King Leopold III after King Leopold's abdication. He held this office until 1971.
He died in Brussels on 14 June 1989.
On 13 June 1932 in Křimice (Bohemia) he married Marie Kunigunde, Princess of Lobkowicz (1906-2005), a daughter of Jaroslav, 11th Prince of Lobkowicz, Duke of Roudnice (26 March 1877 - 24 October 1953) and Countess Marie-Thérèse of Beaufort-Spontin (6 August 1885 - 22 February 1942).
They had eight children:
United KingdomHonorary Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (United Kingdom) (GCVO)
Grand Cross of the Pontifical Order of St Gregory the Great (Holy See) (GCSG)
Grand Cross of the Order of the Oak Crown (Luxembourg)
Grand Cross of the Order of the Southern Cross (Brazil)
Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun (Japan)
Grand Cross of the Order of the House of Orange (Netherlands)
Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (Austria)
Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (Senegal)
Commander Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Polar Star (Sweden)
Grand Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog (Denmark)
Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of St Olav
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Thailand
Grand Officer of the Order of the Yugoslav Flag
| Charles de Limburg Stirum | Father: Count Evrard de Limburg Stirum | Paternal Grandfather: Count Thierry de Limburg Stirum, Senator | Paternal Great-grandfather: Count Willem Bernard de Limburg Stirum |
| Paternal Great-grandmother: Albertine de Pret Roose de Calesberg | |||
| Paternal Grandmother: Marie, Countess de Thiennes Leyenburg et de Rumbeke | Paternal Great-grandfather: François Joseph, Count de Thiennes Leyenburg et de Rumbeke, Chambellan of King William of the Netherlands | ||
| Paternal Great-grandmother: Asterie, Baroness de Draeck | |||
| Mother: Louise, Baroness Gericke d'Herwijnen | Maternal Grandfather: Charles, Baron Gericke d'Herwijnen, Ambassador and Chambellan of the Queen of the Netherlands | Maternal Great-grandfather: Joseph (Louis), Baron Gericke d'Herwijnen, Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador | |
| Maternal Great-grandmother: Lady Elisabeth Huughe de Peutevin | |||
| Maternal Grandmother: Marie, Countess du Chastel de la Howarderie | Maternal Great-grandfather: Robert, Count du Chastel de la Howarderie, Chambellan of the King of the Netherlands | ||
| Maternal Great-grandmother: Gabrielle, Baroness de Vinck de Westwesel |
Luxembourg
Brazil
Japan
Netherlands
Austria
Senegal
Sweden
Denmark
Norway
Thailand
Serbia