Alexandre I de Bournonville

Alexander, duke of Bournonville (1585–1656) was a nobleman, soldier, diplomat and conspirator with estates in both the Kingdom of France and the Low Countries.

Life Bournonville was born on 4 November 1585, only son of Oudart de Bournonville, baron of Capres, and Marie-Christine of Egmont, daughter of Lamoral of Egmont. In 1600, Henri IV elevated his lordship of Bournonville to a duchy. Alexander was raised as a page boy and courtier at the courts of Paris, Brussels, Vienna and Florence, but received little formal schooling and was barely able to write. On 29 August 1622, he took part in the Battle of Fleurus. He twice served as ambassador extraordinary to Louis XIII of France, and once to Emperor Ferdinand II. In March 1634, after his involvement in the conspiracy became known to the government, the Great Council of Mechelen convicted him of treason and confiscated his property. He fled to France, where he died in exile on 22 March 1656. His wife, Anne de Melun, withdrew to the Carmelite convent in Antwerp.

Marriage and children From his marriage to Anne of Melun (1590-1666), Bournonville had fifteen children, including: Alexander II Hippolite of Bournonville (1616-1690), Count of Hénin-Liétard, Prince of Bournonville Ambrose Francis of Bournonville (1619-1693), Duke of Bournonville Wolfgang William of Bournonville, Viscount of Barlin Jan Frans Benjamin of Bournonville (1638-1719), Marquis of Bournonville, father of Miguel José