House of Mérode

Merode is the name of a Catholic Rhine Uradelsgeschlechts with the parent Kerpen at the Erft, for the first time is mentioned with the Reichsministerialen Warnerus de Kerpene 1065-1071. The name came from the first possession in Rode in Langerwehe in the district of Düren. The noble name of Reichsministerialen Wernherus de Rode occurs first documented on 11 April 1174 at Maastricht. Since 1262 located in the Cologne city archive before documented seal of Warnerus de Rode. Since the 14th century, the spelling " Merode " is needed.

History of the House Merode

In 1473 came the Emperor Frederick III. and Duke Charles the Bold of Burgundy in Trier together and on October 1, 1473 the following family members received the survey in the status of the Barons or Baroness: Johann on Merode, Rikalt on Frenz and Houffalize, Wilhelm on Veulen, Arnold, canon at Liege and Margarete von Merode.

In Vienna on June 19, 1622 Freiherr von Merode Rikalt on Waroux, Electoral - by Cologne Privy Oberverweser and the Prince-Bishopric of Liège, and his son Johann Freiherr von Merode on Osogne, nobiliert to Imperial Count.

Dutch and Belgian nobility ceremonies

1591 married Baron Philipp von Merode Castle Countess Anna von Montfort- Calw adH Houffalize, thus was in 1625 her son, Philip levied as a result of the inheritance to the castle Counts of Montfort - Calw. On May 21, 1626 Philip was awarded the Spanish- Dutch Marquis de Westerloo with primogeniture.

The marriage of Count Philipp Franz von Merode (1696-1742) in 1704 with Brigitte Louise Princesse de Rubempré led to another title takeover. Her granddaughter Maria Catharina (1743-1794) had inherited the title of her grandfather alongside the nobility title of her grandmother and led the hereditary title of nobility Countess de Merode and Princesse de Rubempré et d' Ever Berghe, they turn of to her husband the Count Philipp Maximilian Werner Merode relayed, whose father was Count Jean -Philippe Eugène de Merode - Westerloo (1674-1732), 5th Marquis de Westerloo.

Spanish - Habsburg honor

1709 Count Jean Philippe Eugène de Merode - Westerloo, 5th Marquis de Westerloo, appointed since 1705 in Imperial Habsburg services to the " Grandee of Spain " and in 1717 promoted to the imperial field marshal.

Dutch title of count and Belgian prince title

All of today's namesakes are the descendants of the Minister of the Austrian Netherlands, Charles Earl of Merode of Westerloo, Prince of Rubempré and Ever Berghe (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 ( extinct 1977), Félix ( 1791-1857 ) the line Rixensart (now also on Merode and Westerlo ), Werner ( 1797-1840 ) Ever the line mountain.

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

On March 20, 1846 the nobility was transmitted by Belgian award of the title Prince and Princesse de Merode and was awarded " Most High resolution " from June 5, 1922 for Charles Prince de Merode ( 1887-1977 ) established the following ultimate ceremony: Prince de Merode 9th Prince de Rubempré, 6th Prince de Grimberghe, Marquis de Westerloo.

He was followed from the Second line of the house Merode, the progenitor of Count Felix de Merode (1791-1857) was Prince Xavier de Merode, 10th Prince de Rubempré, 7th Prince de Grimberghe, Marquis de Westerloo ( 1910-1980 ). He was succeeded in 1980 by his son and current " head of the house " Charles Guillaume de Merode Prince, 11 Prince de Rubempré, 8th Prince de Grimberghe and Marquis de Westerloo ( born May 27, 1940). All descendants bear the title of Prince and Princesse de Merode.

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

Schloss Merode

The original main building of the 12th century, the present castle in Merode Merode ( Langerwehe ), is privately owned by Charles -Louis Prince de Merode and his family. Prince Charles -Louis is president of the European Community of historical Protect fraternities and Prior of the Knights of St Sebastian in Europe.

Belgian and French possessions

Apart from the headquarters Merode Castle the Princely House still owns significant assets in Belgium and France, including:

Castle Rixensart

Ever Castle Mountain, Mountain Korte

Castle Solre -sur -Sambre, Erquelinnes

Castle Trélon

Castle Guignicourt sur ​​Vence

Known representatives

• Johanna von Merode to Schlossberg († 1532), lady of the castle of Stolberg Castle
• Jean de Merode (ca. 1589-1633 ), officer in the Thirty Years' War
• Jean -Philippe Eugène de Merode - Westerloo (1674-1734), the imperial field marshal
• Félix de Merode (1791-1857), Belgian statesman
• Charles de Merode - Westerloo (1824-1892), a Belgian diplomat, politician of the Catholic Party and President of the Belgian Senate
• Antoinette de Merode (1828-1864), Princess of Monaco
• Carl von Merode (1853-1909), Austrian landscape painter
• Henri de Merode - Westerloo (1858-1908), a Belgian politician, mayor of Westerlo, Foreign Minister and President of the Senate
• Cléo de Merode (1875-1966), French ballerina and vaudeville dancer
• Werner de Merode (1914-1995), former Belgian Ambassador