Marquess of Lede facts for kids
.svg)
The Marquess of Lede was a special title used a long time ago in a place called Flanders, which is now part of Belgium. A Marquess is a noble title, like a Duke or a Count, but usually a bit lower than a Duke. The title was connected to the city of Lede in Flanders.
History of the Title
The story of the Marquess of Lede title began with a family called Bette. Jacques Bette inherited a large area of land and power called a Heerlijkheid in Lede from his father-in-law. Think of a Heerlijkheid as a big estate or territory where a lord had special rights and power.
Later, the King of Spain decided to make this Heerlijkheid even more important by turning it into a barony. A barony is another type of noble land or territory.
Finally, on August 3, 1633, King Felipe IV of Spain created the title of Marquess of Lede. He gave this title to Guillaume de Bette, 1st Marquess of Lede. Guillaume earned this honor because he helped the King during a big battle called the Capture of Maastricht.
The title of Marquess of Lede was passed down through the Bette family for many years. It went from father to son, or to the next closest relative, until the last Marquess died.
The Marquesses of Lede
Here are the main people who held the title of Marquess of Lede:
- Guillaume de Bette, 1st Marquess of Lede (created in 1633): He was the very first Marquess. He was married to Anna Marie de Hornes-Bassignies.
- Ambroise Auguste de Bette, 2nd Marquess of Lede (1640–1677): He was Guillaume's son and became the second Marquess. He married Dorothea of Croy.
- Jean François de Bette, 3rd Marquess of Lede: He was Ambroise's son. He was also a Grandee of Spain, which is a very high noble rank in Spain, and a Knight of the Golden Fleece, a special honor. He married Anne Marie of Croy.
- Emmanuel-Ferdinand-François de Bette, 4th Marquess of Lede (died 1779): He was the last person to hold the title of Marquess of Lede.
Other notable members of the Bette family included:
- Felipe-Emmanuel de Bette (1677–1742): A knight in the Order of Santiago.
- Françoise de Bette (1593–1666): She became the 26th abbess of Forest Abbey, a leader of a group of nuns.
See also
In Spanish: Marquesado de Lede para niños
