Arenberg was the son of
Charles de Ligne, 2nd Prince of Arenberg and Anne de Croy, daughter of
Philipe de Croÿ, Duke of Aerschot. He was named Duke of Aarschot in 1616, and attained the highest honors in the
Habsburg Netherlands, including the
Order of the Golden Fleece. As duke he was the first lord temporal in the
States of Brabant, and in the
Estates General of 1632.
Marriage and children He married three times: • on 21 September 1610 with Pierre Hippolyte Anne de Melun, Baronesse de Caumont, died 1615 • on 28 June 1620 with Isabelle Claire de
Berlaymont, Comtesse de Lalaing, died 1630 • on 29 March 1632 with Countess Maria Cleopha von
Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (1599–1685) and had nine children, two sons and seven daughters. The sons were : •
Philippe François, 1st Duke of Arenberg (1625–1674) •
Charles Eugene, 2nd Duke of Arenberg (1633–1681)
Arrest and death He fell from grace in 1634, and spent the last six years of his life under house arrest in Madrid. The arrest occurred while he was on a diplomatic mission in Spain. Charged with requesting
Philip IV to grant the
States General of the southern Netherlands the power to negotiate a truce or peace with the
United Provinces, Aarschot was sent to Spain in December 1633 as the highest-ranking member of the nobility of the
Duchy of Brabant. Although initially received with great consideration by Philip IV, he was denounced four months after his arrival, accused of participating in the
1632 conspiracy to overthrow Spanish rule in the Netherlands. While admitting knowledge of the plot, he denied involvement in it and maintained his innocence. Despite letters from the
Archduchess Isabella written on his behalf, Aarschot was imprisoned for some months before being placed under house arrest, in December 1634. Three years later his wife and eldest son joined him, but they were not allowed to reside in his quarters. Aarschot's depressing and restrictive circumstances brought on a debilitating disease, to which he succumbed in 1640. Shortly before his death, Philip IV sent word that his case was under review and a favorable outcome was expected; the duke was too ill to rally, however, and he died the day after receiving the king's message. ==Art collector==