The Princes de Ligne is one of the most prestigious Belgian noble titles. It goes back to the eleventh century and owes its name at the village in which it originated, between Ath and Tournai. The lords of Ligne belong to the entourage of the Count of Hainaut at the time of the crusades. They began the progressive rise in the nobility: barons at the twelfth century, counts of Fauquemberg and princes of Épinoy in the sixteenth century. Lamoral I r...
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The Princes de Ligne is one of the most prestigious Belgian noble titles. It goes back to the eleventh century and owes its name at the village in which it originated, between Ath and Tournai. The lords of Ligne belong to the entourage of the Count of Hainaut at the time of the crusades. They began the progressive rise in the nobility: barons at the twelfth century, counts of Fauquemberg and princes of Épinoy in the sixteenth century. Lamoral I received from the emperor Rudolf II the titles of Prince of Ligne and Prince of the Holy Roman Empire.
Many of the Princes de Ligne have also been Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece. The following list is of those Princes, along with their year of investiture:
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