Belgian nobility

The Belgian nobility comprises individuals and their families recognized by the Kingdom of Belgium as members of a class of persons officially enjoying hereditary privileges, which distinguished them from other persons and families.

Because most old families reside in Belgium for hundreds of years, their members have belonged to various nations. In the Holland period, the nobility formed an important factor in the independnce. After the independence of Belgium the Kingdom of the Netherlands lost an important part of nobles: all the high families lived in the south and became part of the Belgian nobility.

Although most old families are older and reside much longer in the country then the Royal House, they are lower in rank. At court the nobility played a major role and was strongly Connected to the royal family. In some old families the heads of the house have the right of multiple titles. Today, most important families pass these old titles still only in male line. In the Ancien regime the noble ladies could pass their titles and rights to their children, as occurred with the Marquess of Assche when the House of Coutereau died out, and was inherited by the Count van der Noot.

A part of the nobility lost their land to France, originally belonging to Flanders the Marquess of Morbecque had lost his land after the Battle of Cassel. During the Spanish period many noble houses received titles and privileges, some of those titles still exist today.

When King Leopold III renmarried to Liliane de Rethy, the majority of the old houses did not accept this commoner at court. In the Second world war many members of the Nobility joined the resistance. Dozens of Noble houses lost family members in Concentration camps and on the battlefield. Famous is the sad history of the Knight Armand de Menten de Horne, who was arrested by the SS at the funeral of his son when the Brabanconne was played too loud. He was released from prison and died soon after.

...
Wikipedia