View source for House of Merode

{{short description|European noble family}}
{{Infobox noble house|name=House of Merode|type=[[Noble family]]|coat of arms=Armoiries de Merode 2.svg|image_size=|alt=|caption=[[Blazon]]: ''Or four pallets gules, a bordure engrailed azure''|country={{flag|Germany}}<br/>{{flag|Belgium}}<br/>{{flag|Netherlands}}<br/>{{flag|France}}<br/>{{flag|Austria}}|motto=« Plus d'honneur que d'honneurs »|motto_lang=fr|motto_trans=More honour than honours|estates=[[Schloss Merode]]<br>[[Castle of Westerlo]]<br>[[Cercle de Lorraine|Hôtel de Mérode-Westerloo]] (Brussels)<br>Hôtel de Mérode-Deynze (Brussels)<br>[[Château d'Ancy-le-Franc]]<br>Castle of [[Everberg]]<br>Castle of [[Grimbergen]]<br>[[Castle of Ham-sur-Heure]]<br>[[:de:Burg Odenkirchen|Burg Odenkirchen]]<br>Castle of [[Lanaken|Pietersheim]]<br>Castle of [[Loverval]]<br>[[Castle of Rixensart]]<br>Castle of [[Ronse]]<br>[[Château de Serrant]]<br>[[Castle of Solre-sur-Sambre]]<br>Château de [[Trélon]]|parent house=|titles={{Lang|de|[[Freiherr]]}} of Merode (1473)<br>Baron of [[Duffel]]<br>Baron of [[Inden, North Rhine-Westphalia|Frentz]]<br>Baron of Pietersheim<br>Baron of [[Ronse]] (Renaix)<br>Viscount of [[Montfort, Netherlands|Montfort]]<br>Viscount of Wavreumont<br>Count of Merode ([[Holy Roman Empire]])<br>Count de Merode ([[First French Empire]]) (1809)<br>Count of [[Oignies]] (1647)<br>Count of Waroux (1622)<br>Marquess of [[Deinze]] (1632)<br>Marquess of [[Trélon]] (1626)<br>[[Lords of Westerlo|Marquess of Westerlo]] (1626, reconfirmed 1823)<br>[[Grandee]] of Spain<br>Prince of [[Everberg]] (reconfirmed 1823)<br>[[Lords of Rubempré|Prince of Rubempré]] (1704 reconfirmed 1823)<br>Prince of [[Grimbergen]] (reconfirmed 1827)<br>Prince of Merode (1930)|founded=|founder=Werner I von Merode 1195-1278|final ruler=|current head=Charles-Guillaume, [[Lords of Westerlo#The end of the marquessate of Westerlo|Marquess of Westerlo]], Prince of Rubempré and of Grimbergen, Prince of Merode|dissolution=<!-- {{End date|YYYY}} -->|deposition=|cadet branches=* [[File:Merrode-Marquis de Westerloo.svg|20px]] Merode-Westerloo
* [[File:Merode-Branche-de-Merode-Houffalize.svg|20px]] Merode-Houffalize
* [[File:Merode-Seigneur-de-Westerloo-Petershem.svg|20px]] Merode-Pietersheim
* [[File:Armoiries de Merode 2.svg|20px]] Merode-Deinze
* [[File:Armoiries de Merode 2.svg|20px]] Merode-Montfort|notes=}}

The '''House of Merode''' is one of the most prominent families of the [[Belgian nobility]]. It originates from the village of Merode, which is now in the municipality of [[Langerwehe]] in Germany. Over the past five centuries, different branches bore noble titles and had estates on the territories of the modern-day states of  [[Germany]], [[Belgium]], the [[Netherlands]], [[France]] and [[Austria]]. Through marriage, the house is connected with many prominent European noble families. The House of Merode played an important role in the history of the [[Southern Netherlands]] and the Kingdom of [[Belgium]].

The surname of the family and the name of the house is sometimes written '''de Mérode''' in [[French language|French]]. The name is spelled '''de Merode''' or '''van Merode''' in [[Dutch language|Dutch]] and '''von Merode''' in [[German language|German]]. The [[coat of arms]] of the House of Merode is [[blazon]]ed as: ''Or four pallets gules, a bordure engrailed azure''. The [[motto]] of the house is ''Plus d'honneur que d'honneurs''<ref name=castle>[https://www.kasteel-westerlo.be/en/merode-family "About the Merode family", Castle de Merode Westerlo]</ref> in French and ''Meer eer dan eerbetoon'' in Dutch.

== Origin ==
{{more footnotes needed|section|date=September 2016}}
The family stems from the village of Merode in what is now Germany. Merode is located in the vicinity of the city of [[Düren]], which lies between [[Aachen]] and [[Köln]] and was once part of the [[Duchy of Jülich]]. Today, it is part of the municipality of [[Langerwehe]] in the state of [[North Rhine-Westphalia]]. A branch of the Merode family still owns the castle (''Schloss Merode'') from which the family's name derives.

Originally, the Merode family had the rank of {{Lang|de|[[Freiherr]]}} of the [[Holy Roman Empire]].<ref name=castle/> During the Middle Ages, the family had possessions and influence in Köln and in the [[Rhineland]], and it belonged to the ''[[reichsunmittelbar]]'' aristocracy. They supported the monastery of Schwarzenbroich, which was also the burial place for the deceased members of the family.

From the sons of Werner III von Merode (†1278), two branches of the house descended. The oldest branch was called 'Scheiffart von Merode'. The 'Scheiffart' or 'German' branch became extinct in 1733. The younger branch descends from Werner IV von Merode (†1316). This house also split into different branches, of which the branch of the [[Lords of Westerlo|Marquess of Westerlo]]o, called 'de Merode-Westerloo', would become the most famous. The present-day 'Princes de Merode' in Belgium descend from the latter branch via Charles-Guillaume de Merode-Westerloo (1762–1830) and three of his four sons.

==History==
[[File:Kasteel de Merode 1.jpg|thumb|[[Castle of Westerlo|Merode Castle in Westerlo]]]]
[[File:Jean-Philippe-Eugène de Mérode-Westerloo.jpg|thumb|[[Jean Philippe Eugène de Mérode|Jean de Merode, 5th Marquess of Westerloo]]]]

From the 14th century onwards, a branch of the Merode family gained power and possessions in the [[Duchy of Brabant]] and the [[Prince-Bishopric of Liège]], on the territory of present-day Belgium. At that time, these territories belonged to the [[Burgundian Netherlands]] and later to the [[Seventeen Provinces|Habsburg Netherlands]].<ref name=castle/>

The marriage of Richard de Merode with Margareth van [[Rotselaar|Wezemaal]] marked a new age in the family's history. Due to this marriage, the house of Merode inherited important seigniories in [[Duchy of Brabant|Brabant]], such as [[Westerlo]]o and the County of [[Olen, Belgium|Olen]]. Jean I de Merode married Adelheid van [[Hoorn]] in 1451 and brought [[Geel|Gheel]], [[Diepenbeek]] and [[Duffel]] into the possession of the family. Through these and other marriages, the Merode family became one of the most important noble families in the Duchy of Brabant.

Jean II de Merode held the position of Lord Chamberlain of [[Philip I of Castile|Philip the Handsome]]. He was succeeded by his son Jean III. After his death in 1551 his heirs ordered a monumental [[sepulchre]] for him and his wife that was made by the [[Antwerp]] sculptor [[Cornelis Floris]]. It stands in the church of [[Geel|Gheel]] and was erected in 1554.

The [[Eighty Years War]] greatly damaged the possessions of the Merode family. In the more prosperous era after the [[Twelve Years' Truce]], the family's fortune grew again. In 1626, the title of [[Lords of Westerlo|Marquis of Westerlo]]o was granted to Philippe I de Merode by King [[Philip IV of Spain]]. It was his great-grandson, Jean-Philippe-Eugène de Merode, Marquis of Westerloo, who would become one of the most illustrious descendants of the house: He is known as the ''[[Field Marshal|Feld-Maréchal]] de Merode'' and became a knight in the [[order of the Golden Fleece]], having served as an important military commander.

In the 18th century, the branch of Merode-Westerloo acquired wealth and power due to the extinction of other branches of the house (Merode-Houffalize, [[Jean Charles Joseph, Count of Merode, Marquis of Deynze|Merode-Deinze]], Merode-Montfort, Merode-Calvo) and a few very advantageous marriages.

Through marriage of Philippe-François de Mérode with Louise-Brigitte de Rubempré, they acquired the domains and titles of '[[Lords of Rubempré|Princes of Rubempré]]' and 'Prince of [[Everberg]]'.

During the [[French Revolution]], the [[Austrian Netherlands]] were invaded by French republican troops and were incorporated into the French Republic. The domains of the family were confiscated and noble privileges were abolished. The family fled to Germany for a while. It was only after the declaration of the ''[[First French Empire|Empire des Français]]'' by [[Napoleon]] in 1804 that the family could regain their domains and some of their titles. A re-introduction of the noble privileges, however, would never be achieved. As a result, members of the Merode family became prominently engaged in politics and diplomacy. Charles-Guillaume-Ghislain de Merode-Westerloo had been active as  a minister under [[Austrian monarchy|Austrian]] rule since 1787 and would hold several other important political posts under successive regimes, such as mayor of [[Brussels]] in 1805, and [[Senate of France|senator]] of the French Empire in 1809. In 1815, he became Grand-Marshal of the court of King [[William I of the Netherlands]], when the Belgian provinces were part of the [[United Kingdom of the Netherlands]].

His sons, [[Henri de Merode|Henri]], [[Félix de Merode|Félix]], Frédéric and Werner would play an important role in the [[Belgian revolution]] and in the political life of the [[Kingdom of Belgium]]. [[:fr:Frédéric de Merode|Frédéric de Merode]] became a new national hero when he was killed in the battle near [[Berchem]] during the Belgian revolution, while Félix de Merode became an important member of the [[Provisional Government of Belgium]] and the [[Belgian National Congress]]. After the first Belgian legislative elections, Henri de Merode became a senator, while his brothers Félix and Werner both became members of parliament.<ref name=Duchesne>Eugène Duchesne, "Merode (Henri-Marie-Ghislain, comte de)", ''[[Biographie Nationale de Belgique]]'', [https://www.academieroyale.be/Academie/documents/FichierPDFBiographieNationaleTome2056.pdf vol. 14] (Brussels, 1897), 563-566.</ref>

The descendants of Henri, Félix and Werner de Merode would form [[:fr:Généalogie actuelle de la Maison de Merode|different branches]], whose descendants would continue to play an important role in Belgian politics and diplomacy.

== Wealth ==
The family is known for its large estates and old castles. In 2014, the House of Merode-Westerloo sold 1,476 hectares of privately owned land to the Flemish region.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lecho.be/dossier/noblesse/les-chateaux-de-la-noblesse/9873497.html|title=Les châteaux de la noblesse|date=March 16, 2017|website=L'Echo}}</ref> Among the castles owned are Merode, [[Westerlo]], [[Trelon]], Serrant, [[Rixensart]], [[Everberg]], [[Solre-sur-Sambre Castle|Solre-sur-Sambre]] and Neffe.

<gallery>
File:Langerwehe-Merode Denkmal-Nr. 18, Kreuzherrenstr. 1 (1146).jpg|Schloss Merode
File:Kasteel de Merode - Westerlo.jpg|[[Westerlo]]
File:Château de Rixensart - Château vu depuis la cour - 01.jpg|[[Rixensart]]
File:Everberg-Prinsendreef91-93-97-De-Merodekasteel.JPG|[[Everberg]]
File:00 Solre-sur-Sambre JPG2.jpg|[[Castle of Solre-sur-Sambre|Solre-sur-Sambre]]
File:Château de Trélon - 2018-08-04 - 10.jpg|[[Trélon]]
File:Château de Guignicourt sur Vence.jpg|[[Guignicourt]] sur Vence
</gallery>

==Notable members of Henri's branch==

*[[Henri de Merode]] married Jeanne-Louise de Thézan Poujol (1787–1862).
*Charles-Antoine-Ghislain (1824–1892) succeeded him and married Princess Marie d'[[Arenberg]] (1830–1905).
*Their son Henri de Merode (1856–1908) married Princess Nathalie de [[House of Croÿ|Croy]] (1863–1957).
*His sister Countess Jeanne de Merode (1853–1944), unmarried, philanthropist. 
*Charles de Merode (1887–1977) married Marguerite de Laguiche (1895–1988) and had no children.

==Notable members of Felix's branch==

Upon the death of Charles de Merode in 1977, this line became the senior branch of the House of Merode.

*[[:fr:Philippe Felix de Merode|Philippe Felix de Merode]]
*Bishop [[Xavier de Mérode|Xavier de Merode]] (1820–1874), son of Felix, and minister of [[Pope Pius IX]]<ref name=Sollier>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10209a.htm Sollier, Joseph. "Frédéric-François-Xavier Ghislain de Mérode." The Catholic Encyclopedia] Vol. 10. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911{{PD-notice}}</ref>
*[[Emmanuel de Merode|Prince Emmanuel de Merode]], noted conservationist, Director of the [[Virunga National Park]] in the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo|Congo]]; married to [[Kenya]]n paleontologist [[Louise Leakey]].
*Princess Baudouin de Merode, ''née'' Nathalie van den Abeele (1948), widowed first wife of Baron Guy de Bassompierre, [[lady in waiting|lady-in-waitin]]g of [[Queen Paola of Belgium]] since 1997.

==Notable members of Werner's branch==

Werner de Merode (1797–1840), founder of the present younger branch of the family, married in 1818 with Countess Victoire de Spangen d'Uyternesse. 
Among their descendants are: 
* The [[Duke of Aosta#Duke of Aosta, 1845–present|Aosta]] branch of the Italian royal family, by the marriage of [[Louise de Merode]] (1819–1868) (sister of the penultimate Merode of Ham-sur-Heure) with [[Carlo Emmanuele dal Pozzo, 5th Prince of Cisterna]], and by the marriage of their daughter [[Maria Vittoria dal Pozzo]] with the founder of the Aosta branch: [[Amadeo I of Spain|Prince Amedeo of Savoy, Duke of Aosta]] and sometime King Amadeo I of Spain.<ref>de Badts de Cugnac, Chantal. Coutant de Saisseval, Guy. ‘’Le Petit Gotha’’. Nouvelle Imprimerie Laballery, Paris 2002, p. 612 (French) {{ISBN|2-9507974-3-1}}</ref> 
* [[Margherita, Archduchess of Austria-Este]], mother of [[Prince Lorenz of Belgium, Archduke of Austria-Este|Lorenz, Archduke of Austria-Este]], husband of [[Princess Astrid of Belgium]], and therefore of their children, who are princes of Belgium. 
* The princely family of Monaco, by the marriage of [[Antoinette de Merode]] (1828–1864) (another sister of the penultimate Merode of Ham-sur-Heure) with Prince [[Charles III of Monaco]], founder of Monte Carlo, ancestor of [[Albert II of Monaco]]. 
* The [[House of Arenberg]], by the marriage of Marie-Ghislaine (1830–1892) with the Prince de Merode; Antoine, Duke of Arenberg, was their grandson. 
* Jean de Merode (1864–1933), lieutenant colonel, Grand Marshal of the Court of Belgium, received from King Albert I in 1928 the title of ''Prince de Merode'', which was extended shortly thereafter to all family members. 
* Their son, Amaury de Merode (1902–1980), was Grand Marshal of the Court of King Leopold III, president of the Royal Automobile Club of Belgium, and president of the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). He married Princess Marie-Claire de Croy (1907–2000). 
* Their great-grandson Frederic de Merode (1911–1958), president of the Red Cross of Belgium. 
* Their great-grandson Werner de Merode (1914–1995), Belgian diplomat. 
* Their great-great-grandson [[Alexandre de Merode]] (1934–2002), vice president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), president of the IOC Medical Commission, founding chairman of Sportel in Monaco, president of the Royal Association of Historic Houses and Gardens of Belgium, chairman of various sports federations and president of the Centre d'Oeuvre de Merode.
*  [[Renée de Merode|Victurnienne Ghislaine Françoise Renée de Mérode]], married to count [[Charles John d'Oultremont]], nephew of [[William I of the Netherlands]].

==Titles of the family==
[[File:Philippe François 12704 prince de Rubempré.jpg|thumb|Philippe-François de Mérode, 2nd Prince of Rubempré]]
Some members of the House of Merode carried the title of Count from the fifteenth century, while a branch had the title of Baron of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] in the mid-fifteenth century and gained the title of Prince in 1759.

Philippe, Count of Merode (1594–1638), was the first Marquis of [[Westerlo]]o.

The House of Merode bears the following titles:

*[[Lords of Rubempré|Prince of Rubempré]]:
** Incorporated by marriage by [[Philippe-François de Mérode, 2nd Prince of Rubempré]] in 1704.<ref>Nobiliare des Pays-bas et du Comte de Bourgogne, /J. S. F. J. L. de Iierckenrode</ref>
** Recognition by the Kingdom of Belgium in 1846.
*Prince of Everberghe in the Holy Roman Empire (1759)
*Prince of Everberghe in the Kingdom of the Netherlands (1827) 
*Prince of Grimberghe in the Kingdom of Belgium (1842) 
*Prince de/van Merode in the Kingdom of Belgium (1929)

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Armoiries de Merode 2.svg|Arms of the House of Merode: ''Or four pallets gules, a bordure engrailed azure.''
File:Armoiries de Merode 1.svg|Arms of the House of Scheiffart von Merode: ''Or four pallets gules.''
</gallery>

== See also ==
*[[Castle of Westerlo]]
*[[Château de Serrant]], Residence of the head of the house of Merode, Charles-Guillaume, Prince de Merode. 
*[[:fr:Frédéric de Merode|Frédéric de Merode]] on the French-language Wikipedia
*[[Lords and margraves of Bergen op Zoom]]
*[[Merode Altarpiece]] by [[Robert Campin]], formerly owned by the family
*[[:fr:Généalogie actuelle de la maison de Merode|Recent genealogy of the House of Merode]] on the French-language Wikipedia

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Sources ==
*{{cite book|first=Georges |last=Martin|title=Histoire et généalogie de la maison de Merode|location= Lyon|year= 1999}}
*{{cite book|first=Hans J. |last=Domsta|title=Geschichte der Fürsten von Merode im Mittelalter {{!}} Beiträge zur Geschichte des Dürener Landes Düren, 16|location= Düren|year= 1981}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.kasteel-westerlo.be Official website of the Castle of the Princes de Merode in Westerloo]
*[http://castlesolresursambre.skynetblogs.be Official website of the Castle of the Princes de Merode in Solre-sur-Sambre] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008041530/http://castlesolresursambre.skynetblogs.be/ |date=2012-10-08 }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070501105443/http://www.merode.com/ Website of Schloss Merode, recently damaged by fire]
*[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10209a.htm Article on Frédéric-François-Xavier-Ghislain de Merode, Archbishop of Melitene (1820–1874)]


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{{DEFAULTSORT:House Of Merode}}
[[Category:Merode family| ]]
[[Category:German noble families|Merode]]
[[Category:Flemish nobility|Mer]]
[[Category:Belgian noble families|Mer]]