Merode (noble family)

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Family coat of arms of the Merode
Merode Castle around 1860, Alexander Duncker collection

Merode is the name of a Catholic Rhenish noble family belonging to the high nobility with the Kerpen an der Erft parent company , which was first mentioned between 1065 and 1071 with the Reich Ministerial Warnerus de Kerpene from the family of the Lords of Kerpen . The name came from the first property in Rode near Langerwehe in the Düren district . The title of nobility of the Reich Ministerial Wernherus de Rode appears for the first time on April 11, 1174 in Maastricht . Documented seals of Warnerus de Rode have been in the Cologne City Archives since 1262 . The spelling “Merode” has been used since the 14th century.

History of the Merode House

In 1473 Emperor Friedrich III came. and Duke Charles the Bold of Burgundy in Trier together and on 1 October 1473 following family members received the survey in the state of the Barons and Baroness : Johann on Merode, Rikalt to Frenz and Hohenfels ( Houffalize ), Wilhelm on Veulen, Arnold, Canon zu Liege , and Margarete von Merode.

In Vienna on 19 June 1622, Baron Rikalt Merode on Waroux, electoral-by Cologne was privy and Oberverweser the Bishopric of Liege and his son Johann Freiherr von Merode on Osogne , the Imperial Count ennobled .

Dutch and Belgian nobility awards

1591 married Baron Philipp von Merode the Viscountess Anna of Montfort-Calvo adH Houffalize . As a result of the inheritance, her son Philipp was raised to the rank of Burgrave of Montfort-Calvo in 1625. On May 21, 1626, Philip was awarded the Spanish-Dutch title of Marquis de Westerloo with Primogenitur .

The marriage of Count Philipp Franz von Merode (1696–1742) in 1704 to Brigitte Louise Princesse de Rubempré led to another takeover of the title. Her granddaughter Maria Catharina (1743–1794) had inherited the title of her grandfather in addition to her grandmother's title of nobility and carried the hereditary nobility title Countess of Merode and Princesse de Rubempré et d'Everberghe, which she in turn passed on to her husband, Count Philipp Maximilian Werner von Merode passed on. His father was Count Jean-Philippe-Eugène de Merode-Westerloo (1674-1732), 5th Marquis de Westerloo - Prince of Merode.

Spanish Habsburg honors

Field Marshal General Count Jean Philippe Eugène de Merode-Westerloo (painting by Jacob van Schuppen , 1725)

In 1709 Count Jean Philippe Eugène de Merode-Westerloo , 5th Marquis de Westerloo, in the Imperial-Habsburg service since 1705, was appointed " Grandee of Spain " and in 1717 promoted to Imperial Field Marshal.

Dutch title of count and Belgian prince title

All current bearers of the name are descendants of the Minister of the Austrian Netherlands, Charles Count von Mérode von Westerloo, Prince of Rubempré and Everberghe (1762-1830) and his wife Marie d'Ongnies de Mastaing, Princess of Grimberghe. His three sons founded three lines: Henri de Merode (1782–1847) the line on Merode and Westerlo (expired in 1977), Félix (1791–1857) the line Rixensart (today also on Merode and Westerlo), Werner (1797–1840) the Everberg line.

On June 18, 1823, Count Wilhelm Carl von Merode received the Dutch title of count "de Merode" and Marquis de Westerloo with inheritance rights with Dutch recognition. Also with Dutch approving the wife Marie Joséphine Félicité received the Mastaing, Comtess d'Ognies, the title of Princesse de Grimberghe ( primolog ) and on 11 July 1827 Belgian approving the title Princess de Rubumpré (without Ever Berghe).

On March 20, 1846, the noble family was conferred the title Prince or Princesse de Merode by Belgian award and with the “Most High Resolution” of June 5, 1922, the following final award was set for Charles Prince de Merode (1887–1977): Prince de Merode , 9th Prince de Rubempré, 6th Prince de Grimberghe, Marquis de Westerloo .

He was followed from the II line of the House of Merode, whose progenitor was Count Félix de Mérode (1791-1857), Xavier Prince de Merode , 10th Prince de Rubempré, 7th Prince de Grimberghe, Marquis de Westerloo (1910-1980). He was followed in 1980 by his son and current "head of the house" Charles-Louis Prince of Merode , 11th Prince de Rubempré, 8th Prince de Grimberghe and Marquis de Westerloo (born May 27, 1940). All offspring carry the title Prince or Princesse de Merode.

From the III. Line of the house, whose progenitor was Count Werner von Merode (1797–1840), came Princesse Antoinette de Mérode-Westerloo (1828–1864) who later became Prince Charles III in 1846 . married from Monaco. She was the mother of Prince Albert I.

coat of arms

The family coat of arms shows four red posts in gold. On the helmet with red and gold covers the shield between a right red, left golden open flight.

Merode Castle

Merode Castle

The original parent house from the 12th century, the current Merode Castle in Merode (Langerwehe), is privately owned by Charles-Louis Prince von Merode and his family. Prince Charles-Louis is President of the European Union of Historic Rifle Brotherhoods and Prior of the Order of Saint Sebastian in Europe .

Belgian and French possessions

In addition to the headquarters of Schloss Merode, the Princely House still owns important goods in Belgium and France, including:

Well-known representatives

See also

Mérode triptych

literature

Web links

Commons : Haus Merode  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ J. Domsta, History of the Princes of Merode in the Middle Ages 1, Düren 1974, p. 26
  2. ↑ Max von Spießen: Book of Arms of the Westphalian Nobility, Görlitz 1901–1903, Volume 1, p. 89
  3. ↑ Langerwehe - Tourism [1]