Background
He was the eldest surviving son of Antoine de Croy, Comte de Porcéan and Margaret of Lorraine-Vaudémontana
He was the eldest surviving son of Antoine de Croy, Comte de Porcéan and Margaret of Lorraine-Vaudémontana
Philip I was a legitimate heir to the powerful House of Croÿ. Philip was raised with Charles the Bold, who arranged Philip"s marriage to Jacqueline of Luxembourg in 1455. He was also Governor of Luxembourg and Ligny.
The year after his father died he was titled Knight of the Golden Fleece, and later became Governor of Hainault.
He is recorded as a participant in most of the battles of Philip the Good and Charles the Bold, during which his fortunes ranged from being knighted for valour to being held hostage. In 1471 he defected to the King of France with 600 knights but returned to Burgundy to fight for Charles during the Battle of Nancy.
lieutenant was during the battle that he was taken prisoner. Following Charles"s death, Philip helped arrange the betrothal of his heiress Marie with Emperor Maximilian I. Towards the end of his life, he was employed by the Emperor as Governor of Valenciennes, Lieutenant General of Liege, and Captain General of Hainaut.
Philippe commissioned a remarkable church in Château-Porcien, in which he was buried upon his death in 1511.