The House of Ursel is the name of an old Belgian noble family of German origin . The Head of the House is styled as Duke of Ursel, while other members are styled as Count/Countess of Ursel.
History
The Ursel family roots are in Schmalkalden, Germany, and were collateral branch of the House of Schetzenberg. In the late 15th century, some members moved to Hasselt and Antwerp. Amongst the family members we find Gaspard II Schetz, the Lord of Grobbendonck, who married Catherine van Ursel, daughter of Lancelot II of Ursel.
The three daughters of Lancelot II died without heirs, and by request of Barbe of Ursel, Conrad III Schetz was adopted by her. His descendants carrying the name 'van Ursel'. The ancestors of Lancelot II came from Antwerp, and held important offices.
Conrad Albert, Baron of Wesemael and Lord of Highene was created First Duke of Ursel by imperial decree of Charles VI on 19 August 1716 and later he was created First Duke of Hoboken on 24 April 1717.
During the centuries the family had the privilege of being the hereditary grand veneur and Haut Forestier of Flanders (Forestarius), a ceremonial function at court of the Count of Flanders.[1]
Patrimonium
Today the Ursel family still holds residence in a few important old castles like Linterpoort Castle, property of count Thibault d'Ursel, Hex Castle property of count Ghislian d'Ursel[2] and the large Castle of the Counts d´Ursel in Durbuy, descendants of Antony Schetz, Count of Durbuy.[3] Moulbaix Castle, residence of the late Aymard, count d'Ursel was recently sold, after the last Countess d´Ursel died.[4] Beerlegem Castle is the private residence of Count Hubert d'Ursel de Bousies, by marriage a descendant of Lopez-Maria Rodriguez d'Evora y Vega, 1st Marquess of Rode, the original Marquess of Rode.[5][6] Another residence Smissenbroek Castle is the property of Count Augustin d'Ursel de Bousies, this castle comes from the same heritage of Rodriguez d'Evora y Vega and is family property since 1808.[7][8]
The main summer residence of the family was d'Ursel Castle in Hingene, since the 18th century private property. Even today the main graveyard of the Dukes of Ursel is next to the church of Hingene. The successful restoration of the castle received the Flemish Heritage award.[9]
Mary of Ursel, died 1601: marr. Ambrose Tucher, buried inside St-James.
Robrecht Tucher: Married Julianna Schetz, daughter of Conrad II Schetz.
Joannes II Antonius Tucher: Lord Mayor of Antwerp.
Barbe of Ursel, last heir of her father Lancelot II, she adopted her nephew, as heir of Ursel, Conrad III Schetz, (1553–1632) 1st Baron of Hoboken.
Barons of Hoboken
Conrad III Schetz, (1553–1632), 1st Baron of Hoboken was the son of Gaspard II and Catharina van Ursel. He named himself Conrad d'Ursel after 1617.
Conrad, 1st Count of Ursel, 2nd Baron of Hoboken, Vicomte of Vives-St-Eloy (1592-1659) : became a Count of the Holy Roman Empire by Imperial Decree of Ferdinand III in 1638. Married to Anne Maria, daughter of Jean de Roblès, 1st Count of Annappes and former Noble Canonesse of Nivelles.[13]
François, 2nd Count of Ursel, 3rd Baron of Hoboken (1626 - 1696): Grand Forrestier of Flanders, in service of Charles II of Spain, married to Honorine, Lady of Hornes-Bassignies.
^"D'Ursel (Famille)". Archived from the original on 16 October 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
^"GESCHIEDENIS – de tuinen van kasteel Hex". www.hex.be (in Dutch). 26 March 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
^"Streekproductenmarkt in het kasteel van Durbuy". Les Villas de Durbuy (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 December 2017.
^"Grond kopen, kasteel gratis erbij". hln.be (in Flemish). Retrieved 27 December 2017.
^Penninck, Tekst en foto's Pierre. "Kunst & Zwalm stelt buitengewoon kunstparcours op in Zwalmstreek". Het Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). Retrieved 27 December 2017.
^"Kasteel van Beerlegem". Inventaris Onroerend Erfgoed (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 December 2017.
^Bever, Johan Van. "Regio Zottegem - Nieuws uit Herzele, Oosterzele, Sint Lievens Houtem en Zottegem - Adellijk huwelijk in Oosterzele". www.regiozottegem.be. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
^"Kasteel Smissenbroek". Inventaris Onroerend Erfgoed (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 December 2017.
^"Kasteeldomein d'Ursel winnaar van Vlaamse Monumentenprijs 2014". hln.be (in Flemish). Retrieved 27 December 2017.
^"d'Ursel (Famille)". search.arch.be. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
^Dictionnaire genealogique, heraldique, chronologique et historique ..., Volume 3
^Annuaire de la noblesse de Belgique, Volume 21
^ a b c d e fShort historical overview of the d’Ursel family, retrieved 21 October 2009
^Zomers in Hingene. Het kasteel d'Ursel en zijn bewoners/ ISBN 9789058268747