The House of Ligne is one of the oldest Belgian noble families, dating back to the eleventh century.[1] The family's name comes from the village of Ligne [fr] where it originated,[2] between Ath and Tournai in what is now the Hainaut province of Belgium.
Compensation for loss of the Imperial County of Ligne (Fagnolles, since that barony had become seat of the county in 1789) as a result of the Peace of Lunéville consisted of substitution of the secularized Imperial abbey of Edelstetten, with an individual vote guaranteed in the Imperial College of Princes in 1803.[1] That principality was, however, sold to Prince Nikolaus Esterházy on 22 May 1804,[1] before the abolition of the Holy Roman Empire, of which Edelstetten had been a constituent Imperial state, in 1806.
The style of Highness was confirmed for all members of extant branches of the family on 31 May 1923, and the titles of Prince d'Amblise and Prince d'Epinoy recognized for the head of the house on 22 October of the same year by the Belgian Crown.[1]
Prince Edouard Lamoral de Ligne de La Trémoïlle (1976–), heir
Prince Antoine de Ligne-la Tremoille (born 2019)
Prince Charles Joseph de Ligne-La Trémoïlle (born 1980).
Prince Amadeo Joseph de Ligne-La Trémoïlle (born 2012)
Princess Sophie de Ligne (born 1957), of the House of Ligne, married Philippe de Nicolaÿ (born 1955) a director of the Rothschild group, great-grandson of Salomon James de Rothschild and member of the Nicolaÿ family.
Prince Charles Joseph de Ligne-La Trémoïlle married at Antoing Castle on 20 November 2010 to Ran Li (currently called Princess Ran), who is a Chinese. She is Europe's first Chinese Princess.[citation needed]
