Philipe de Croÿ, Duke of Aerschot

Who was Philipe de Croÿ, Duke of Aerschot?

Philipe de Croÿ, third Duke of Aarschot, Prince of Chimay, Count of Porcean, was stadtholder of Flanders, and inherited the estates of the ancient and wealthy family of Croÿ. Becoming a soldier, he was made a Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece by Philip II, king of Spain, and was afterwards employed in diplomatic work.

He was the second son of Philippe II de Croÿ and Anna de Croÿ.

After the death of his elder brother Charles II de Croÿ in 1551, he became 3rd Duke of Aarschot, 4th Prince of Chimay and 4th Count of Beaumont.

He took part in the troubles in the Netherlands, and in 1563 refused to join William the Silent and others in their efforts to remove Cardinal Granvelle from his post. This attitude, together with Aarschot's devotion to the Roman Catholic Church, which he expressed by showing his delight at the Massacre of St. Bartholomew, led Philip of Spain to regard him with still greater favor, which, however, was withdrawn in consequence of Aarschot's ambiguous conduct when welcoming the new governor, John of Austria, to the Netherlands in 1576.

In spite, however, of his being generally distrusted by the inhabitants of the Netherlands, he was appointed governor of the citadel of Antwerp when the Spanish troops withdrew in 1577. After a period of vacillation he deserted Don John towards the end of that year.