Jean de Ligne, Duke of Arenberg

Who was Jean de Ligne, Duke of Arenberg?

Jean de Ligne, Duke of Arenberg was Baron of Barbançon, founder of the House of Arenberg and stadtholder of the Dutch provinces of Friesland, Groningen, Drenthe and Overijssel from 1549 until his death.

He was the son of Louis de Ligne, Baron of Barbançon from the House of Ligne and Maria of Bergen, Lady of Zevenbergen.

Jean de Ligne belonged to the closest circles around Charles V and was made a Knight in the Order of the Golden Fleece in 1546.

In 1549 he became stadtholder of the Northern provinces of Friesland, Groningen, Drenthe and Overijssel.

By his marriage to Marguerite de la Marck-Arenberg, sister of Robert III von der Marck-Arenberg who died without children, he became the founder of the third House of Arenberg.

He participated in the campaign in France and distinguished himself in the Battle of St. Quentin where he, together with Henry V, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, led the left wing of the infantry in the final attack against the French.

At the start of the rebellion he distanced himself of his good friend William the Silent, Lamoral, Count of Egmont and Philip de Montmorency, Count of Hoorn, and remained loyal to the King Philip II of Spain.