Auguste-Louis-Albéric, prince d'Arenberg
Encyclopedia
Auguste-Louis-Albéric, prince d'Arenberg (15 September 1837 – 24 January 1924) was a French
noble
and monarchist politician
, born in Paris
. Third son of Pierre d'Alcantara Charles Marie, duc d'Arenberg
and Alix de Talleyrand-Périgord, he inherited his father's title because of his older brothers' premature deaths.
He was noted for his great wealth and extensive properties throughout France, in particular at Menetou-Salon
(Cher
).
Arenberg served in the Chamber of Deputies from 1877 to 1881. He was elected as the official candidate of the MacMahon government, winning the poll due to the abstention of republican
voters disenchanted with his predecessor. In the Chamber, he voted consistently with the monarchist Right and conservatives. He voted against the legalization of divorce
.
Returned to parliament as a monarchist candidate again in 1889, Arenberg continued his opposition to republican government. After Rerum novarum
and Pope Leo XIII
's recognition of the Third Republic, however, Arenberg changed his rhetoric, campaigning in 1893 as a "liberal
republican". In the Chamber, he concentrated on colonial issues, in particular those concerning Africa; among his projects were securing free navigation of the Niger River
and delineating Anglo
-French colonial boundaries.
Defeated in the 1902 elections and failing to secure reelection again in 1906, Arenberg retired from politics, but remained active in public life. He was the first president of the procolonial Comité de l'Afrique française and remained active with the organization until his death. A convinced Catholic himself, during 1895 he was one of the organizers of a failed attempt to build a mosque
in Paris through private donations. From 1896 he was also president of the Compagnie universelle du canal maritime de Suez, and he was a member of the Institut de France
(Académie des beaux-arts
) from 1897.
Arenberg was married to Jeanne Marie Louise de Greffulhe there on 18 June 1868. He had four children:
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
noble
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
and monarchist politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, born in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Third son of Pierre d'Alcantara Charles Marie, duc d'Arenberg
Pierre d'Alcantara Charles
Pierre d'Alcantara Charles Marie, Prince d'Arenberg, duc d'Arenberg, Pierre d'Alcantara Charles, was born on 2 October 1790; entered into the service of France. He distinguished himself during the campaigns in Spain and followed the Emperor Napoleon the Russian campaign, as an officer of ordinance...
and Alix de Talleyrand-Périgord, he inherited his father's title because of his older brothers' premature deaths.
He was noted for his great wealth and extensive properties throughout France, in particular at Menetou-Salon
Menetou-Salon
Menetou-Salon is a commune in the Cher department in the Centre region of France. Inhabitants of the area are known as Monestrosaloniens.-Geography:The commune is located 16 kilometres North of Bourges on the RD11....
(Cher
Cher (département)
Cher is an administrative department located in the centre of France. It is named after the Cher River.-History:Cher is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. Most of it was created, along with the adjacent department of Indre from the former...
).
Arenberg served in the Chamber of Deputies from 1877 to 1881. He was elected as the official candidate of the MacMahon government, winning the poll due to the abstention of republican
Republicanism
Republicanism is the ideology of governing a nation as a republic, where the head of state is appointed by means other than heredity, often elections. The exact meaning of republicanism varies depending on the cultural and historical context...
voters disenchanted with his predecessor. In the Chamber, he voted consistently with the monarchist Right and conservatives. He voted against the legalization of divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
.
Returned to parliament as a monarchist candidate again in 1889, Arenberg continued his opposition to republican government. After Rerum novarum
Rerum Novarum
Rerum Novarum is an encyclical issued by Pope Leo XIII on May 15, 1891. It was an open letter, passed to all Catholic bishops, that addressed the condition of the working classes. The encyclical is entitled: “Rights and Duties of Capital and Labour”...
and Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII , born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903...
's recognition of the Third Republic, however, Arenberg changed his rhetoric, campaigning in 1893 as a "liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
republican". In the Chamber, he concentrated on colonial issues, in particular those concerning Africa; among his projects were securing free navigation of the Niger River
Niger River
The Niger River is the principal river of western Africa, extending about . Its drainage basin is in area. Its source is in the Guinea Highlands in southeastern Guinea...
and delineating Anglo
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
-French colonial boundaries.
Defeated in the 1902 elections and failing to secure reelection again in 1906, Arenberg retired from politics, but remained active in public life. He was the first president of the procolonial Comité de l'Afrique française and remained active with the organization until his death. A convinced Catholic himself, during 1895 he was one of the organizers of a failed attempt to build a mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
in Paris through private donations. From 1896 he was also president of the Compagnie universelle du canal maritime de Suez, and he was a member of the Institut de France
Institut de France
The Institut de France is a French learned society, grouping five académies, the most famous of which is the Académie française.The institute, located in Paris, manages approximately 1,000 foundations, as well as museums and chateaux open for visit. It also awards prizes and subsidies, which...
(Académie des beaux-arts
Académie des beaux-arts
The Académie des Beaux-Arts is a French learned society. It is one of the five academies of the Institut de France.It was created in 1795 as the merger of the:* Académie de peinture et de sculpture...
) from 1897.
Arenberg was married to Jeanne Marie Louise de Greffulhe there on 18 June 1868. He had four children:
- Alix Jeanne Marie (Paris, 15 April 1869–Paris, 7 December 1924)
- Charles-Louis Pierre (Menetou-Salon, 14 August 1871–Paris, 3 August 1919)
- Louise Marie Charlotte (Menetou-Salon, 23 November 1872–Paris, 24 October 1958)
- Ernest Hélie Charles Marie (Paris, 3 March 1886–Château de Combreux, 21 May 1915)