Charles I de Croÿ

Charles I de Croy (* 1455 in Thours -sur -Marne, † September 11, 1527 in Beaumont ) was Count of Chimay and since 1486 1 Prince of Chimay. He served the Habsburgs in the Netherlands and was, among other godfather and mentor Karl V.

Family

He came out of the house Croÿ. The father was Philippe I de Croy. The mother was Walburga von Moers. He was the eldest son of this union.

He married 1495 Louise d' Albret, Vicomtesse de Limoges ( † September 21, 1531 ). This was the sister of Jean d' Albret, King of Navarre. With this he had eight children. The four sons died even as toddlers. The eldest daughter entered a convent. The second named Anne married Philippe II de Croy, the first Duke of Aerschot. The third daughter Marguerite married Charles II de Lalang. From his uncle Philip of Wavrain he inherited the rule Wavrain and other possessions in Artois.

Life

He was educated at the Palatine court. Later he served under Maximilian I and was awarded 1479 on the battlefield at Guinegate of this knighthood. He commanded in 1486 along with Count Engelbert of Nassau and Adolf of Cleves, Lord of Ravenstein, an army against a French army. He brought the besieged Therouanne relief took the town of Lens and the surrounding castles.

Maximilian I raised him on the occasion of his coronation in Aachen in 1486 thanks to the Imperial Prince and the county Chimay was made a principality. In 1489 he fought under Albrecht of Saxony during the suppression of the revolt in the Netherlands. Archduke Philip appointed him godfather and mentor his son Charles, later Emperor Charles V. In addition to his name, he gave his godson also a splendid silver helmet.

He was inducted into the Order of the Golden Fleece in 1491 and was captain general of Hainaut. He played in the episode a significant role in the government of the Habsburg Netherlands, before 1509 partially retired. His successor as mentor Charles V was Guillaume II de Croy. On behalf of his godson, he accompanied Charles 1518 Archduke Ferdinand, was afraid of the Charles V that this could make him in Spain compete for the crown, in the Netherlands. He was then Gouveneur d' hostel Ferdinand. In 1518, he acted on behalf of Charles an alliance with the Bishop of Liege Erhard von der Mark and his brother Robert II de La Marck, Duke of Boillion from. However, the relationship was plagued by conflicts over certain possessions passed between him and the Duke of Boullion. When the emperor interfered in favor of his godfather in the dispute, be Boullion turned to France. This contributed to the outbreak of war with Francis I..

Charles died during a visit to his daughter Anne on Castle Beaumont and was buried with great pomp in Chimay.