House of La Rochefoucauld explained

The title of Duke de La Rochefoucauld (pronounced as /fr/) is a French peerage, from the great House La Rochefoucauld, cadets of an ancient House of Lusignan, whose origins go back to Lord Rochefoucauld in Charente in the 10th century with Foucauld 1st (973–1047), first Lord of La Roche then La Rochefoucauld, possibly son of Adémar, Lord of La Roche (952–1037). They got the title of Baron in the 13th century, then became Count in 1528 with François I de La Rochefoucauld, godfather of King François I and in 1622, François V de La Rochefoucauld, whose son François VI was a leading figure of La Fronde and the author of the Maxims, was made Duke by Louis XIII. They are also, since 16th century, Prince of Marcillac. Then they become during the 18th century: Duke of Liancourt (François XII, eminent philanthropist, saying to Louis XVI: “Sir, it’s not a revolt, it’s a revolution”), Duke of Enville and Duke of Estissac. Afterwards: Prince de La Rochefoucauld-Montbel, Duke of Doudeauville, Duke of Estrées and Duke of Bisaccia. They are also: Marquises of Montendre, of Barbezieux, of Surgères and Bayers; also Count de Duretal, Count de La Rochefoucauld-Montbel and Baron de Verteuil. They were: Blessed of the Catholic Church (the two brothers bishops massacred together at the French Revolution: Pierre-Louis and François-Joseph de La Rochefoucauld-Bayers), cardinals (François, Dominique, …), bishops, grand maîtres de la garde-robe and Grand Huntsman of France, chambellans, ministers, lieutenants general of the armies, UK field marshal, Denmark marshal, ambassadors, grand hospitaller of the Order of Malta, presidents and founders of multiple clubs (jockey club, polo, …). Many of them were elevated in the Order of the Légion d'Honneur and around 40 of them were/are members of the Sovereign Order of Malta (including 10 nowadays). The castle of La Rochefoucauld has been in the family since the 10th century. The La Rochefoucauld-Montbel owned the Lascaux caves at the moment of their discovery and are closely linked to the Pellevoisin sanctuary (holy Mary apparitions) in France.

Origins of the name

Authors have advanced, but without evidence, that the first member of this family, Adémar, known as Amaury or Esmerin, by Viscounty of Limoges, or the son of the lord Hugh I of Lusignan. This latter hypothesis could be reinforced by the armorial bearings of the family. The work of André Debord leaves it to the house of Montbron in the 12th century.

The seigniory (lordship) of La Roche was originally a barony in the 13th century. The descendants of Foucauld I de La Roche and of Jarsande, united their name Foucauld.

Lords then Barons of La Rochefoucauld (10th–15th centuries)

1st House of La Rochefoucauld: Lords of La Roche

2nd House of La Rochefoucauld: Lords of Marthon

Counts of La Rochefoucauld (and Princes of Marcillac) (16th century)

In April 1528, King Francis I gave his godfather, François I de La Rochefoucauld (son of Jean I de La Rochefoucauld), the title of Count of La Rochefoucauld (fr|Comte de La Rochefoucauld).

Dukes of La Rochefoucauld (17th–21st centuries)

Elder branch

On 22 April 1622, King Louis XIII raised the Count of La Rochefoucauld into a Duchy-peerage as the Duke of La Rochefoucauld (fr|Duc de La Rochefoucauld).

Roye branch

This branch was founded by Charles de La Rochefoucauld, known as de Roye (d. 1605), younger son of François III de La Rochefoucauld, Count of La Rochefoucauld, and Charlotte de Roye, Countess of Roucy.[1]

Dukes of Enville (1732), then Duke of La Rochefoucauld (1762)

Dukes of Estissac (1737), Dukes of Liancourt (1765), then Dukes of La Rochefoucauld (1792)

Dukes of Estissac (since 1839)/ Prince de La Rochefoucauld-Montbel

This branch comes from the younger branch of the Counts of Roye.Louis François Armand de la Rochefoucauld Count of Roye was created Duke with a patent (non-hereditary) in 1737 and called Duke of Estissac. His grandson, Alexandre François de la Rochefoucauld (1761–1841), Count of the Empire, Ambassador for the Emperor, and brother of the Duke of La Rochefoucauld (of the Restoration) received the Duchy of Estissac from his elder brother in May 1839. His son, Alexandre Jules de La Rochefoucauld (1796–1856), was authorized by royal decree of 2 July 1840 to take the title of Duke of Estissac, however, this order was not followed by letters patent.

Bernard de La Rochefoucauld (1922–2017), co-founder of the La Boétie Institute, former honorary president of the Institut Montaigne and former mayor of Ingrannes comes from this branch.

Branch La Rochefoucauld-Montbel, counts de La Rochefoucauld and princes (Bavaria 1909)

  1. Arthur Count de La Rochefoucauld (1831-1888), mayor of Pellevoisin (second son of Alexandre-Jules, duke of Estissac and of Hélène-Charlotte Dessolles) married in 1854 Marie-Luce de Montbel, grand-daughter of Louis-Joseph de Montbel, officer of the Légion d'honneur, field marshal, first chambellan of Charles X. Marie-Luce was linked with the building of the holy Mary sanctuary of Pellevoisin.
  2. Jules de La Rochefoucauld-Montbel (1857-1945) count de La Rochefoucauld, mayor of Pellevoisin, received in Bavaria on the 22nd July 1909 from Louis III of Bavaria the title of Fürst (Prince)[6] .[7] He was authorized the 22 March 1922 to add his mother's name to his name. Thus the branch of La Rochefoucauld-Montbel (cadets of the dukes of Estissac). He married in 1881 Jeanne Louise Marie Nathalie Lebeuf de Montgermont.

(Note : Aimery count de La Rochefoucauld (1843-1928), received also the bavarian Prince title on the same date. His only son Gabriel (1875-1942), writer and great friend of Marcel Proust, married to Odile Chapelle de Jumilhac, daughter of Armand Chapelle de Jumilhac, duke of Richelieu and of Alice Heine, had one child Anne de La Rochefoucauld (1906-1980), marquise de Amodio, founder in 1952 of the association Vieilles maisons françaises and had Dominique de La Rochefoucauld-Montbel as godson)

  1. Emmanuel de La Rochefoucauld-Montbel (1883-1974), count de La Rochefoucauld, prince in Bavaria, ambassador, commander of the Légion d’honneur, bailli grand cross of Honor and Devotion of the Order of Malta, married in 1913 Simone Darblay. They owned the Lascaux caves .
  2. Charles-Emmanuel de La Rochefoucauld-Montbel (1914-2000), count de La Rochefoucauld, prince in Bavaria, married 1) in 1943 Flora d'Huart Saint-Mauris (divorced)[8] (issued Guy-Emmanuel (1944-1991) married in 1973 to Éléonore Edmond-Blanc. Without descendants), 2) In June 1949, He married Joanna-Isabelle Forbes. With descendants.
  3. Dominique de La Rochefoucauld-Montbel (1950), count de La Rochefoucauld, prince in Bavaria, officer of Légion d’honneur,[9] grand cross of Merit of the italian republic,[10] grand cross of the order of Isabelle La Catholique[11] and grand cross of the order of Saint Gregory the great.[12] He married in january 1984, Pascale Subtil. Member of the sovereign council and grand hospitaller of the Sovereign Order of Malta.[13] Bailli grand cross of Honor and Devotion of the Order of Malta and grand cross of the Order pro Merito Melitensi,[14] he was also in France president of the association and vice-president of Ordre de Malte France. He is still vice-president of the fondation. He is Bailli grand cross of justice of the order of constantinian of Saint-Georges.[15]

Dukes of Roche-Guyon (1679–1762)

François VIII de La Rochefoucauld (1663–1728) was created Duke of La Roche-Guyon by letters of November 1679. The 1st Duchy-peerage of La Rochefoucauld and, the title of Duke of La Roche-Guyon, died out in 1762 with Alexandre, 5th Duke of La Rochefoucauld and 2nd Duke of La Roche-Guyon, who had only two daughters who married their cousins from the branch of the Counts of Roye and Roucy.

Dukes of La Roche-Guyon (courtesy title) (19th–21st centuries)

Alfred de La Rochefoucauld (1819–1883), a cadet branch from the cadet branch of Roye, took over motu proprio in the 19th century, without letters of confirmation, the title of Duke of La Roche-Guyon which had extinguished in 1762. This courtesy title of "Duke of La Roche-Guyon" has been borne by his descendants ever since.

Count Bernard de La Rochefoucauld, the director Jean-Dominique de La Rochefoucauld (1931–2011) and his daughters Sophie (b. 1965) and Claire (b. 1972) come from this branch.

Marquises of Montendre and Surgères

These branches were formed by Louis de La Rochefoucauld, Lord of Montendre, Montguyon, Roissac and des Salles, who was a younger son of François I de La Rochefoucauld, comte de La Rochefoucauld (d. 1541), by his second marriage Barbe du Bois. He married Jacquette de Mortemer in 1534. His son was François de La Rochefoucauld (d. 1600), Lord of Montguyon, Baron of Montendre, who married Hélène de Goulard (only daughter and heiress of Egmond Goulard, Lord of Marsay). His son, Isaac de La Rochefoucauld (d.), Lord of Montguyon, Baron of Montendre, married Hélène de Fonsèque (daughter of Charles de Fonsèque, Lord of Surgères) in 1600. Among others, they were the parents of Charles, progenitor of the Montendre branch and François, progenitor of the Surgères branch.

Marquis of Montendre

  1. Charles de La Rochefoucauld, 1st Marquis of Montendre (son of Isaac); married to Renée Thévin in 1633.
    1. Charles-Louis de La Rochefoucauld, 2nd Marquis of Montendre; married to Anne de Pithou (daughter of Pierre de Pithou, Lord of Luyere).
      1. Isaac Charles de La Rochefoucauld (d. 1702), Count of Montendre, fought in the Siege of Mainz, the Battle of Fleurus, the Siege of Mons, the Siege of Barcelona, the Battle of Cremona (where he was wounded), and the Battle of Luzzara (where he was killed); no issue.
      2. François de La Rochefoucauld (1672–1739), 3rd Marquis of Montendre; married to Marie-Anne von Spanheim (daughter of Baron Ezéchiel von Spanheim, Prussian Ambassador to England), no issue.
      3. Louis de La Rochefoucauld (d. 1742), 4th Marquis of Montendre; married to Suzanne d'Argouges in 1710, no issue.

Marquis of Surgères

  1. François de La Rochefoucauld (–), 1st Marquis of Surgères; married to Anne de Philippier
    1. Charles-François de La Rochefoucauld (–), 2nd Marquis of Surgères; married to Anne de La Rochefoucauld (daughter of Benjamin de La Rochefoucauld, Baron of Estissac) in 1662.
      1. François de La Rochefoucauld (1664–1731), 3rd Marquis of Surgères; married to Angélique Lee (widow of François Lucas de Démuin) in 1704.
        1. Alexandre-Nicolas de La Rochefoucauld (1709–1760), 4th Marquis of Surgères, Lieutenant General of the King's Armies; married to Jeanne-Thérèse Fleuriau de Morville (daughter of Charles-Jean-Baptiste Fleuriau de Morville) in 1728.
          1. Jean-François de La Rochefoucauld (1735–1789), 5th Marquis of Surgères, governor of Chartres; married to Anne Chauvelin de Grosbois, daughter of Germain Louis Chauvelin, Marquis of Grosbois) in 1752.

Dukes of Doudeaville (1782–1995), of Bisaccia (1851–1995), and of Estrées (1892–1907)

The title Duke of Doudeauville (Duc de Doudeauville) was created for Ambroise-Polycarpe, 6th Marquis of Surgères (premier Baron of the Boulonnais), in 1780 by King Louis XVI in the Peerage of France. It was also created in 1782 by Charles III in the Kingdom of Spain (through his wife as heir to the title of Duke of Doudeauville of the Le Tellier de Courtanvaux family), granting him the Rank of Grandee of Spain, 1st Class. The title was recognized by the peerage ordinance of 4 June 1814; a Hereditary peer of France on 19 August 1815, Hereditary Duke-Peer on 31 August 1817 by King Louis XVIII during his 2nd reign. The title became extinct in 1995 upon the death of the 7th Duke. The Duke of Bisaccia (Duca di Bisaccia) title was created for Sosthènes II on 16 May 1851 by King Ferdinand II in the peerage of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (second creation; through his grandmother's family, the Montmorency-Lavals). Inscription among the Bavarian nobility as Princes under the title Duke of Bisaccia (Herzog von Bisaccia), on 24 November 1855 by King Maximilian II. It also became extinct in 1995. The designation of the title of Duke of Doudeauville was changed to Duke of Estrées in Spain in 1893 by King Alfonso XIII when it was transferred to Sosthènes II's second son, Charles, but became extinct upon the Duke's death, without male issue, in 1907.[16]

  1. Ambroise-Polycarpe de La Rochefoucauld (1765–1841) (son of 5th Marquis of Surgères), 1st Duke of Doudeauville, 6th Marquis of Surgères, Grandee of Spain (under the title Duke of Doudeauville); married to Bénigne le Tellier de Louvois (founder of the in 1822).
    1. Sosthènes I de La Rochefoucauld (1785–1864), 2nd Duke of Doudeauville; married to Élisabeth de Montmorency-Laval (a daughter of Minister of Foreign Affairs Duke Mathieu de Montmorency).
      1. Stanislas de La Rochefoucauld (1822–1887), 3rd Duke of Doudeauville; married to Marie de Colbert-Chabanais.
      2. Sosthènes II de La Rochefoucauld (1825–1908), 4th Duke of Doudeauville, 1st Duke of Bisaccia; married to Princess Yolande of Polignac (daughter of Prime Minister Prince Jules de Polignac).
        1. Charles Marie François de La Rochefoucauld (1863–1907), Duke of Estrées (took the Spanish title, not recognized in France, by transfer); married to Princess Charlotte of La Trémoïlle (daughter of Prince Louis Charles de La Trémoille).
        2. Armand François Jules Marie de La Rochefoucauld (1870–1963), 5th Duke of Doudeauville, President of the Jockey-Club de Paris and the Polo de Paris; married to Princess Marié Lise Radziwill.
          1. Sosthènes III de La Rochefoucauld (1897–1970), 6th Duke of Doudeauville; married to Countess Leonor de Saavedra of Torrehermosa.
          2. Armand Charles François Marie de La Rochefoucauld (1902–1995), 7th Duke of Doudeauville; married to Esther Millicent Clarke and had a natural son with Clémentine Elisabeth Brandt.
            1. Armand Sosthènes de La Rochefoucauld (b. 1944); married to Geneviève Rose Blanche Fourny.
        3. Édouard François Marie de La Rochefoucauld (1874–1968), 2nd Duke of Bisaccia; married to Camille de Colbert-Chabanais.
          1. Marie-Carmen de La Rochefoucauld (1902–1999); married to Count of Mailly-Nesles in 1928.
          2. Stanislas de La Rochefoucauld (1903–1965), Count; married to (1) Sophie Alice Cocea in 1926, and (2) to Princess Jeanne Princess of San Felice de Viggiano in 1947.
          3. Élisabeth de La Rochefoucauld (1909–2006); married (1) to Elliot Robert Le Gras du Luart de Montsaulnin in 1929, and (2) to Mario Fausto Maria Pinci in 1958.

Marquis of Bayers; Baron of La Rochefoucauld-Bayers (1817)

This branch was originated by Geoffroy de La Rochefoucauld, Lord of Verteuil (d.) from whom descended Guillaume de La Rochefoucauld, Lord of Nouans (d.).[16] One of his sons, Guillaume de La Rochefoucauld (d.) founded the branch by Bayers building the Château de Bayers becoming Lord of Bayers (Seigneur de Bayers). His descendant, Louis-Antoine de La Rochefoucauld-Bayers, obtained the title, Marquis of Bayers.[17]

The male line of this branch became extinct in 1940 upon the death of Raoul-Gustave de La Rochefoucauld, Marquis of Bayers (1845–1940), who died without issue from his marriage to Elisabeth de Griffon-Sénéjac. The female line ended with Victoria de La Rochefoucauld-Bayers (1880-1950), the daughter of a cousin of Raoul-Gustave, who died unmarried in 1950.[17]

Armorial

Figure Name and blazon
align=center House of RochefoucauldBarruly argent and azure, overall three chevrons gules, the uppermost écimé.[18] [19]

(Sometimes represented with the upper chevron extending beyond the shield, its tip cut off by the edge.)

These arms can be seen as those of Lusignan (barruly argent and azure) with the addition of the chevrons as a brisure. For this reason certain authors have claimed that the house of Rochefoucauld had a common origin with that of Lusignan.[20]

align=center Charles de La Rochefoucauld (1520–1582), Seigneur de Barbezieux, de Linières, de Meillant et de Preuilly, Chevalier du Saint-Esprit (reçu le 31 décembre 1578)Quarterly: 1 and 4 as above; 2 and 3, Or an escutcheon azure.
align=center François XII de La Rochefoucauld-Liancourt (1747–1827), duc de Liancourt, then duc de La Rochefoucauld, politician, scientist and philanthropist. Quarterly: 1 and 4, Gules a bend argent (de Roye); 2, Or a lion azure, armed and langued gules. Over all the arms of Rochefoucauld as above.

See also

References

Notes
Sources

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Saint-Simon . F. de . Seréville . E. de . Dictionnaire de la noblesse française: supplément . 1977 . Éditions Contrepoint . Paris . 30 September 2024 . 35. fr.
  2. Book: Histoire généalogique et chronologique de la maison royale de France: des pairs, grands officiers de la couronne, chevaliers, commandeurs et officiers de l'ordre du Saint-Esprit . 1868 . Didot . 387–430 . 30 September 2024 . fr.
  3. News: MISS MITCHELL'S WEDDING.; THE CIVIL MARRIAGE TO THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD. . 10 December 2020 . . 11 February 1892.
  4. News: AMERICAN DUCHESS DIES.; Widow of Due de la Rochefoucauld Was Former Mattie Mitchell. . 10 December 2020 . . 21 February 1933.
  5. Web site: Elward . Ronald. The Heirs of Europe. 15 February 2010.
  6. E. de Séréville, F. de Saint-Simon, Dictionnaire de la noblesse française, 1975, page 608.
  7. https://www.google.fr/search?biw=1366&bih=620&tbm=bks&q=%22Jules+de+LA+ROCHEFOUCAULD%2C+re%C3%A7ut+en+1909+le+titre+de+Prince+%28F%C3%BCrst%29+en+Bavi%C3%A8re%22&oq=%22Jules+de+LA+ROCHEFOUCAULD%2C+re%C3%A7ut+en+1909+le+titre+de+Prince+%28F%C3%BCrst%29+en+Bavi%C3%A8re%22&gs_l=psy-ab.12...15726.20890.0.22637.2.2.0.0.0.0.361.502.0j1j0j1.2.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..0.0.0....0.XAQGoQTwDWU L'Allemagne dynastique: Oldenbourg, Familles alliées H-L, 1976 Page 658.
  8. https://books.google.fr/books?id=CelHAAAAMAAJ&q=%22ce+mariage+a+%C3%A9t%C3%A9+dissous+par+divorce+le+24+janvier+1949%22&dq=%22ce+mariage+a+%C3%A9t%C3%A9+dissous+par+divorce+le+24+janvier+1949%22&hl=fr&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiYrInXmfTWAhUM82MKHeMTAbcQ6AEIJjAA Guy Coutant de Saisseval, Les Maisons impériales et royales d'Europe, Éditions du Palais-Royal, 1966, page 153.
  9. Web site: Journal Officiel 2014 .
  10. Web site: Journal officiel Italie 2021 .
  11. Web site: 10 April 2022 . 30 December 2015 . Boletín Oficial del Estado . Real Decreto 1178/2015, de 29 de diciembre . boe.es.
  12. Web site: 15 February 2024 . Amis du Musée de la Légion d'honneur . Lettre d'information .
  13. Web site: 17 January 2018 . fr . Grand Hospitaller » Sovereign Order of Malta . orderofmalta.int.
  14. Who's Who in France, accessed 13 April 2022.
  15. Book: Stair Sainty, Guy . 2018 . 9788434025066 . Madrid . 394 . Boletin Oficial del Estado . The Constantinian Order of Saint George and the Angeli, Farnese and Bourbon Families Which Governed It.
  16. Book: The Titled Nobility of Europe: An International Peerage, Or "Who's Who", of the Sovereigns, Princes and Nobles of Europe . 1914 . Harrison & Sons . 311, 349-350, 589-590 . 19 June 2024 . en.
  17. Web site: Pattou . Etienne . Maison de La Rochefoucauld . racineshistoire.free.fr . 26 June 2024 . 2004.
  18. Book: Malte-Brun, Victor Adolphe . Victor Adolphe Malte-Brun. 1883 . La France illustrée . [publisher need]. .
  19. Web site: Armorial de J.B. RIETSTAP – et ses Compléments . 3 March 2009 . 9 January 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100109130644/http://www.euraldic.com/blas_ro.html . dead .
  20. Book: David . Potter . 2004 . Foreign Intelligence And Information in Elizabethan England: Two English Treatises on the State of France, 1580–1584. 25. Camden Fifth Series . Cambridge University Press . 978-0-521-84724-7 . p. 95 (footnote 251).