Count Charles of Limburg Stirum



Count Charles Gaëtan Corneille Marie François-Xavier Ghislain of Limburg Stirum, GCVO, GCSG (September 15, 1906 – June 14, 1989), a Count of the Holy Roman Empire and Knight of the Golden Fleece (Austrian branche), was a member of the House of Limburg-Stirum. During his life he was a Belgian Senator and Grand Master of the Royal Households of King Leopold III.

Life
Charles was born in Huldenberg, Belgium, and was the second son of Evrard Philippe, Count of Limburg Stirum (October 29, 1868 – May 8, 1938) and Louise, Baronne Gericke d'Herwijnen (April 17, 1881 - September 6, 1969). He was later adopted by his aunt, Marie of Limburg Stirum who was without descent, to inherit the castle of Bois Saint Jean in the South of Belgium.

During World War II, he fought as a captain with the Belgian panzer troops and was made prisoner by the Germans. Released, he took an active part to the armed resistance against the occupier. Bois Saint Jean became an important drop point of material and arms to the Belgian resistance. During the Von Rundstedt Offensive in winter 1944, Bois Saint Jean was overtaken by the Germans and later the castle was bombed to the ground by the US air force.

After the war, he rebuilt the castle of Bois Saint Jean, though in a different style than the original building. Charles de Limburg Stirum served as Senator, then was appointed Grand Master of the King Leopold III after King Leopold’s abdication. He held this office until 1971.

He died in Brussels.

Marriage and Descent
On June 13, 1932 in Křimice (Bohemia) he married Marie Kunigunde Princess of Lobkowicz (1906-2005), a daughter of Jaroslav, 11th Prince of Lobkowicz, Duke of Roudnice (March 26, 1877 - October 24, 1953) and Marie-Thérèse Countess of Beaufort-Spontin (August 6, 1885 - February 22, 1942).

They had 8 children:
 * Marie, married to Gobert-Leopold Count d'Aspremont Lynden;
 * Gabrielle, married to Didier Count Cornet d'Elzius du Chenoy;
 * Bernard, married 1st Nathalie Countess de la Boëssiere-Thiennes; 2nd Régine Roberti;
 * Emmanuel, married to Nadine Countess d'Ursel;
 * Sibylle, married to Pietro del Vaglio Rosati;
 * Jacqueline, married to Bonifatius Baron von Twickel;
 * Jean;
 * Louise, married to Engelbert Count von und zu Westerholt und Gysenberg.

Belgian honours

 * Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown
 * Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold II
 * Knight of the Order of Leopold

Belgian awards

 * Croix de Guerre with bronze lion
 * Volunteer's Medal 1940-1945
 * Commemorative Medal of the War 1940-1945 with crossed swords
 * Prisoner of War Medal 1940-1945
 * Resistance Medal 1940-1945
 * Honorary Insignia of Work

Foreign honours

 * Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece (Austrian Branch)
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (United Kingdom) (GCVO)
 * Holy See Grand Cross of the Pontifical Order of St Gregory the Great (Holy See) (GCSG)
 * 🇱🇺 Luxembourg Grand Cross of the Order of the Oak Crown (Luxembourg)
 * 🇧🇷 Brazil Grand Cross of the Order of the Southern Cross (Brazil)
 * 🇯🇵 Japan Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun (Japan)
 * 🇳🇱 Netherlands Grand Cross of the Order of the House of Orange (Netherlands)
 * 🇦🇹 Austria Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (Austria)
 * 🇸🇳 Senegal Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (Senegal)
 * 🇸🇪 Sweden Commander Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Polar Star (Sweden)
 * 🇩🇰 Denmark Grand Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog (Denmark)
 * 🇳🇴 Norway Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of St Olav
 * 🇹🇭 Thailand Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Thailand
 * Grand Officer of the Order of the Yugoslav Flag

Foreign awards

 * French Liberation Medal
 * Various foreign awards

Honorific eponyms

 * Mount Limburg Stirum