Eugène, 8th Prince of Ligne

Eugène François Charles Joseph Lamoral de Ligne d'Amblise et d'Epinoy (28 January 1804 – 20 May 1880), 8th Prince of Ligne and of the Holy Roman Empire was a Belgian diplomat and liberal politician.

Early life He was born in Brussels on 28 January 1804. He was the son of Louis Eugene Marie Lamoral, Prince of Ligne, and Countess Louise van der Noot de Duras.

Career He lived in Vienna from 1834 until 1837. After his return to Belgium, he was named ambassador and sent to London for the coronation of Queen Victoria. He had a successful diplomatic career. In 1849 he was elected as a member of the Belgian parliament and was President of the Belgian Senate, in succession of Augustin Dumon-Dumortier, from 25 March 1852 until 18 July 1879. In 1863 the King named him Minister of State.

Personal life Eugène was married three times. His first marriage was on 12 May 1823 to Amélie Mélanie de Conflans (1802–1833), a daughter of Charles Louis Gabriel de Conflans, Marquis d'Armentières and Amélie Gabrielle de Croÿ. Ancestor of the elder branch of Ligne, of Stéphanie, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg and her son Prince Charles of Luxembourg (born 2020). Prince Louis (1827–1845), who died unmarried.

After the death of his first wife, he married Nathalie Charlotte Auguste de Trazegnies (1811–1835) on 28 July 1834, a daughter of Georges Philippe de Trazegnies, Marquess of Trazegnies and Countess Marie Louise van Maldeghem.

His third, and final, marriage was on 28 October 1836 to Princess Jadwiga Julia Wanda Lubomirska (1815–1895), a daughter of Polish Prince Henryk Ludwik Lubomirski, who settled in Austria, and Princess Teresa Czartoryska (daughter of Prince Józef Klemens Czartorysk). Prince Edouard Henri Auguste (1839–1911), who married Princess Eulalia of Solms-Braunfels, daughter of Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels and Princess Sophie of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg (widow of Prince Franz of Salm-Salm). Princess Isabelle (1840–1858), who died young. Princess Marie Georgine Sophie Hedwige Eugenie (1843–1911), who married Sosthène II de La Rochefoucauld, 4th Duke of Doudeauville, a grandson of Ambroise-Polycarpe de La Rochefoucauld.

He died in Brussels on 20 May 1880 and was buried in Belœil, near Château de Belœil, the estate of the House of Ligne. As his eldest son predeceased him in 1871, he was succeeded as Prince of Ligne by his grandson, Louis.

Descendants Through his eldest son Prince Henri, he was a grandfather of Louis, 9th Prince of Ligne (1854–1918).

Through his daughter Princess Natalie, he was the grandfather of Princess Isabella of Croÿ (1856–1931), who married Archduke Friedrich, Duke of Teschen.

Through his son Prince Edouard, he was a grandfather of Prince Albert de Ligne (1874–1957), the Belgian Ambassador to the United States.

He is also an ancestor of the future monarch of Luxembourg.

Honours National Grand Cordon in the Order of Leopold, 16 June 1838 Foreign Knight of the Order of Saint Hubert Knight Grand Cross in the Order of Saint Michael Knight Grand Cross in the Legion of Honour, 22 August 1846

Knight of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem Knight of the Order of the Black Eagle Knight Grand Cross in the Saxe-Ernestine House Order Grandee of Spain, 1st Class Knight of the Golden Fleece Two Sicilian Royal Family: Knight Grand Cross in the Order of Saint Januarius