Antoine was the eldest surviving son and heir of Jean I de Croÿ and Marie de Craon, and was a key figure in 15th-century French politics. Like his father, he led French and Burgundian armies against Liege and distinguished himself at the Battle of Brouwershaven fighting against the English.
In 1452, he secured for himself the post of Governor General of the Netherlands and Luxembourg and presided over the pro-French party at the court of Philip the Good. He was also one of the judges at the trial for treason in 1458 of John II of Alençon. While on a mission to the court of Duke of Berry, he was implicated in the assassination of Louis of Valois, Duke of Orléans and as a consequence suffered torture in the Château de Blois.
In 1438 he acquired the castle of Porcien and was made Count of Porcéan and Guînes by Charles VII in 1455.
With Charles the Bold, the future Duke of Burgundy, he was at loggerheads, especially after they had clashed over the inheritance of Jeanne d"Harcourt, Countess of Namur. Upon Charles"s accession, Antoine was accused of plotting with astrologers to bring about the Duke"s downfall and was compelled to flee to France.
In France he took part in the coronation of Louis XI and was chosen as a godfather to the future Louis XII. lieutenant was not until the age of 83 that he reconciled himself with Charles and was allowed to reclaim his properties in Burgundy. He died either in 1475 or 1477 and was interred in Porcien.
Several noble families of Belgium and the Netherlands are descended from this prelate"s eleven illegitimate children.
All three lines demonstrate a complex pattern of intermarriage, so that estates and titles would stay within the family as long as possible.
