POTTER United Families

Resisting to a conservative "Belgian aristocratic establishment", the
young-minded protesting Louis de Potter was influenced by radical
European thinkers, in order to defend the interests of a neglected
“Belgian” population.
He did not take advantage of his highly born connections nor castles
and possessions to be heard. He published his opinions and petitions
the best he could, at the right moment, advocating for the poor, the
fragile, the opressed, the youngster, the child.
Other aristocratic rebels like Félicité de la Mennais, viscount Motier
de la Fayette, baron Constant de Rebecque, baron Colins de Ham,
viscount Vilain XIII, baron de Nève, baron de Bethune, Honoré de
Balzac, de la Rochefoulcauld, prince Napoleon III, count de Merode,
count de Ricci... were also guidance for Louis' quest for justice and
freedom, supporter by an increasing number of young belgians,
rebelling against their too traditional families, across the new
renaissance deal…
Louis was in correspondence with the treasurer of the Heraldic
Chamber of the Kingdom of the Low Countries and he told him what
he thought about "modern nobility" : "I know no other nobelty as
the one of the sentiments and, like most men, whose memory I
respect, I am determined to cherish noble values all my life, having
no other ambition in life than being a noble hart myself one day.
I glorify myself by honoring the probity and the merit in each class
of the society I encounter. I admire a form of nobelty in the Prince
of Orange as much as I hate the cruelty of his relative, the Duke of
Alba, who tortured my ancestors”.
After his death, because of the noble values he always promoted,
Louis’ family received the highest merit medal of the country for
personal sacrifices: the “Freedom Patriot Golden Star with Double
Oak Leaves”.
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