The Prince of Chimay

An Historic Family

(English Version)

THE PRINCE OF CHIMAY
The lordship of Chimay (Hainaut, Belgium) belonged to various families before being sold to Jean de Croy in the early 15th c., and made into a county by the duke of Burgundy and count of Hainaut. In 1486, Charles de Croy was made prince of the Holy Roman Empire. The principality passed to the house of Ligne-Arenberg in 1612, and in 1686 to the house of Hennin-Lietart, extinct in 1806. The Caraman-Riquet family, heir of the Hennin-Lietard through Marie-Anne-Gabrielle, inherited the title. They received the Dutch title of prince of Caraman-Chimay in 1824. In Old Regime France, Prince was a rank, not a title.(Source: http://www.heraldica.org/topics/france/frprince.htm)

THE ROYAL FAMILY OF CHIMAY
There have been 22 generations of the Croy family which has reigned over the ancient area of Chimay, Hainaut, Belgium. Currently the Castle of Chimay (Chateau de Chimay) is the residence of Princess Elisabeth, and her son, Prince Phillippe, the 22nd Prince of Chimay, along with his wife, Princess Christine and the family. This title has been handed down to him over five centuries of the family that has resided on this land. The Principality of Chimay was created in 1486 by Maximillian I of Austria, and celebrated its 500th anniversary with much fanfare, including medieval banquets, precoessions and jousting ceremonies in 1986.

THE HISTORIC FAMILY
Under the old regime, before the French Revolution in 1789, the Lord of the 17 villages in the area was the family of the Prince of Chimay. The Provost of the Prince of Chimay nominated the mayor and alderman of the various towns and villages in the Chimay region and controlled their administration. The family of Croy, of the Prince of Chimay, was allied by relationship with the following noble families:
• The illustrious House of Albret family of the South of France; and
• The Arenberg family of Brittany, France, a noble Belgian family.

THE ROYAL CHIMAY FAMILY COAT OF ARMS
The ancient Coat of Arms of the family of Croy-Chimay-Arenbuerg, noble family of Chimay includes several Fleur de lis, and three flowers.
Thérese Cabarrus (1773-1835) known as a heroine of the French Revolution who urged her future husband and savior Tallien to overthrow Robepierre, was among the noble who have held the title of Princess of Chimay. Even before the Principality, Chimay was the home of world famous names as Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgandy, Froissart the Chronicler. Charles Quint, Emperor of Germany, Austria and Spain, paid a visit to his godchild, the prince of Chimay many centuries ago.

THE MODERN FAMILY
The modern day royal Chimay family may no longer exercizes the political authority as their ancestors who appointed the mayors and leaders of the area towns, but they have evolved with the region and continue to play a very important part in the social and economic role of the area.

BUSINESS VENTURES OF THE PRINCE
The family maintains the Castle which includes a well known theatre, and a several hundred acres known as the Park du Prince park to the north of the City of Chimay. As a business family, they involved with various ventures, inluding starting a belgian chocolate company. They also have many musical activities in the theater inside the castle.

THE CHâTEAU
The Chateau de Chimay, Castle of Chimay, which first belonged to the Croÿ family, until 1804, then to the Caraman name, was once part of an emormous estate, comprised of 17 villages, but since the French Revolution has gradually broken up. Today there are still 250 acres of parkland aound the castle, and the 200 acre natural lake of Virelles was sold in the 1980s as a nature preserve. It is the site of festivities and exhibitions. The castle with its blue stone walls and bulbous Burgundian spires once had seven square towers. It was first mentioned in the seventh century, and over the centuries has been burned and rebuilt eight times. The castle has survived several wars and fires. The last fire was disastrous, in 1935, but the prince rebuilt, just as his ancestors had done many times before him. Just afterwards, it was occupied by Belgian, German and American troops during World War II. Princess Elisabeth and her late husband began restoring the castle once again in 1947 , and for 40 years has been continually upgrading the stately home which is the town of Chimay's main attraction. The Princess has allowed the castle to be used for films and school groups, as she maintains the half-milleneum old estate. The castle of Chimay is one of only six occupied by royals in Belgium. The princess of Chimay is proud to point out that her home once housed the Shroud of Turin.

AN INVITATION OF HISTORY
The Royal family of Chimay invites you to visit the castle, and partake in over 500 years of history. The castle of Chimay is open for public tours for a nominal fee. The Palace is open from March 1 through November 1, daily, from 10-12am, and 2:30pm to 6pm. Ph. (060) 21 28 23

Links to other sites on the Web

Chimay Beer and Cheese
Coat of Arms of Chimay Royal family on Macon Seal
Hainaut-Louisiana

Sources: Rev. Léon Lybaert, Macon; Andre DesChamps, Chimay

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