Otton-Ernest Léopold de Limbourg-Stirum

*This page is WIP (Work-In-Progress)*

Painting by Nicolas de Largillière

Captain

Colonel

Field Marshal

Isabelle Wilhelmine Charlotte de Limburg-Stirum(1695-Present)

Bernadette de Limburg-Stirum(1700-Present)

**Otton-Ernest Léopold de Limbourg-Stirum (January 10th, 1684 - March 4th, 1754)** is a rhenish nobleman in the Holy Roman Empire, and the Comte de Limbourg-Stirum since 1704. He married Anne-Amélie Élisabeth de Schönborn and was succeeded by Frédéric-Charles de Limbourg-Stirum after his death.

### ***About the House of Limbourg-Stirum***

The house of Limbourg-Stirum which had been founded in the 11th century by Adolf I, the Comte of Berg (although the name of Limburg-Stirum had been adopted in the 12th century) is one of the oldest ones in Europe, it is also the eldest and only surviving branch of the house of Berg, which was among the most powerful dynasties in the region of the lower Rhine during the Middle Ages. Some current day historians (Current day, 2023 that is) are able to link them to an even older dynasty, the Ezzonen dynasty (The Ezzonides were a Lotharingian dynasty dating back as far as the ninth century. They attained prominence only in the eleventh century, through marriage with the Ottonian dynasty of Holy Roman Emperors. Named after Ezzo, Count Palatine of Lotharingia from 1015 to 1034, they dominated the politics of the middle and lower Rhine and usually represented the royal interests. Under the Salian Emperors, they even briefly held the dukedoms of Swabia, Carinthia, and Bavaria.)

## ***Early Youth***

### ***Birth***

Otton-Ernest Léopold de Limbourg-Stirum was born in the Gemen Castle, located in Borken. His father was Hermann Otto II and he was born into the house of Limbourg-Stirum. Otton-Ernest Léopold was baptised.

### ***Childhood & Education***

As a child, he had been spoiled by his mother because he was their only son, and the household needed a male heir to become the head of the house once his father had died. The young Otton-Ernest found interest in art, fashion and reading. Suprisingly, he was rather fond of the military, even though he spent a lot of time admiring art and fashion, as was mentioned before. He was educated well, both in military and in literature, art and languages, being able to speak Latin, German, French, English and Polish fluently. He had also been a page at the imperial court in Vienna (Austria)

## ***Adolescence***

At his adolescence, he had mainly continued his studies, he was learning a lot and he much of his free time studying, as he knew that is what he would have to do in order to succed in life. He had met the charming Anne-Amélie Élisabeth de Schönborn sometime during his Adolescence, and grew to become close and very good friends with her, sharing many secrets with eachother and spending time together studying. Sometime later on during his adolescence, he asked for Anne-Amélie's hand in marriage, which she agreed to.

## ***Reign and Tenure***

Otton-Ernest Léopold de Limbourg-Stirum became the Count of Limbourg-Stirum and house head of Limbourg-Stirum in 1704 after his father's death in the War of the Spanish Succesion, inheriting all of his fathers wealth as he had been his only son. Later on, he embarked on a military career in the Austrian service as a Cornet in the Montecuccoli Cuirassier's. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant and then Captain, fighting in several battles. He was a participant in the Siege of Belgrade in 1717, capturing the Ottoman banner. For this he was made a Colonel. By the 1730s, he had become a councillor. Afterward, he was promoted to Field Marshal, participating in further conflicts until 1739