Horn, Philippe

DE MONTMORENCY NIVELLE, COMTE DE, a Flemish noble, born in 1522, succeeded to the title and vast wealth of his stepfather, Count de Horn. After signalizing his courage on the fields of Grave lines and St. Quentin, he grew into high favor with Philip II., who made him Admiral of the Low Countries, and President of the Council of State. In 1568 he incurred the enmity of the Duke of Alva, Philip's viceroy and commander-in-chief in Flanders, and was arrested, along with his cousin, Count Egmont, on a trumped up charge of high treason, unjustly condemned, and summarily executed on the scaffold. His tragic end has formed a favorite theme of roman cists and dramatic poets.