Duke of Aubigny
Encyclopedia
The Scottish
Dukes of Aubigny had their origins in Aubigny-sur-Nère
, France
, from the 15th century, which was an important honour throughout the Auld Alliance
and Ancien Régime. Its importance was gradually displaced for the ducal title of Clan Gordon
(see Duke of Gordon
), during a long and turbulent period between the French Revolution
and French Third Republic
.
The titleholder of this land was originally called Seigneur d'Aubigny and was conferred upon the House of Stewart
's cadet branch, Stuart of Darnley
.
The first ducal holder was Louise de Kérouaille, who in 1684 was created Duchess of Aubigny in the Peerage of France
at the request of King Charles II
; her son, the Duke of Richmond and Lennox
, was jointly ennobled with her. However the letters patents creating the Duchy were not enregistred by the Paris Parliament
, so the Dukedom went extinct at the Duchess' death in 1734. In 1777 King Louis XV
issued lettres de suranation which restored the 1684 peerage to the heirs of Duchess Louise. The 2nd Duke of Richmond
had already received a brevet de duc, which gave him the honours of a Duke at the Court. The Duchy was confiscated during Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars (1792-1803 and 1806-1814), but finally returned to the 4th Duke of Richmond
. The 4th Duke was the nephew of the 3rd Duke, so his succession to the Dukedom of Aubigny may be questioned, but the Dukes of Richmond and Lennox had since used this title.
The arms of the Lennox Dukes of Aubigny exhibit an inescutcheon gules, three buckles or which stand for the Duchy of Aubigny. These arms are in fact derived from the arms of the Stewart of Darnley lords of Aubigny. As descendants to the Stewarts of Bonkyl
, they wore a fess chequy Azure and Argent, a bordure gules with buckles or (an example of canting arms
: buckles for Bonkyl). In 1428 John Stewart of Aubigny
was awarded the right to incorporate the arms of France (azure, three fleur-de-lys or) into his coat of arms. His descendants quartered France with Stewart.
Property concerning the Château
of Aubigny is no longer in the possession of the title-bearers, sold off in order to maintain the Dukes' personal finances within the UK itself. Aubigny is the chief tourist attraction in France which attests to the Auld Alliance, the honour now only an historic title.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
Dukes of Aubigny had their origins in Aubigny-sur-Nère
Aubigny-sur-Nère
Aubigny-sur-Nère is a commune in the Cher department in the Centre region of France.-Geography:An area of forestry and farming surrounding a small light industrial town, situated in the valley of the river Nère some north of Bourges at the junction of the D940, D924, D30 and the D923...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, from the 15th century, which was an important honour throughout the Auld Alliance
Auld Alliance
The Auld Alliance was an alliance between the kingdoms of Scotland and France. It played a significant role in the relations between Scotland, France and England from its beginning in 1295 until the 1560 Treaty of Edinburgh. The alliance was renewed by all the French and Scottish monarchs of that...
and Ancien Régime. Its importance was gradually displaced for the ducal title of Clan Gordon
Clan Gordon
Clan Gordon, also known as the House of Gordon, is a Scottish clan. The chief of the clan was the powerful Earl of Huntly, now also Marquess of Huntly.-Origins:...
(see Duke of Gordon
Duke of Gordon
The title Duke of Gordon has been created once in the Peerage of Scotland and again in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.The Dukedom, named after the Clan Gordon, was first created for the 4th Marquess of Huntly, who on 3 November 1684 was created Duke of Gordon, Marquess of Huntly, Earl of Huntly...
), during a long and turbulent period between the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
and French Third Republic
French Third Republic
The French Third Republic was the republican government of France from 1870, when the Second French Empire collapsed due to the French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War, to 1940, when France was overrun by Nazi Germany during World War II, resulting in the German and Italian occupations of France...
.
The titleholder of this land was originally called Seigneur d'Aubigny and was conferred upon the House of Stewart
House of Stuart
The House of Stuart is a European royal house. Founded by Robert II of Scotland, the Stewarts first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 14th century, and subsequently held the position of the Kings of Great Britain and Ireland...
's cadet branch, Stuart of Darnley
Stewart of Darnley
Stewart of Darnley was a notable Scots family, a branch of the House of Stewart, who provided the English Stuart monarchs with their male-line Stuart descent, after the reunion of their branch with the royal Scottish branch, which led to the ultimate union of the two main kingdoms of Great Britain:...
.
The first ducal holder was Louise de Kérouaille, who in 1684 was created Duchess of Aubigny in the Peerage of France
Peerage of France
The Peerage of France was a distinction within the French nobility which appeared in the Middle Ages. It was abolished in 1789 during the French Revolution, but it reappeared in 1814 at the time of the Bourbon Restoration which followed the fall of the First French Empire...
at the request of King Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
; her son, the Duke of Richmond and Lennox
Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond
Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond, 1st Duke of Lennox, 1st Duke of Aubigny was the illegitimate son of Charles II of England and his mistress Louise de Kérouaille, Duchess of Portsmouth....
, was jointly ennobled with her. However the letters patents creating the Duchy were not enregistred by the Paris Parliament
Parlement
Parlements were regional legislative bodies in Ancien Régime France.The political institutions of the Parlement in Ancien Régime France developed out of the previous council of the king, the Conseil du roi or curia regis, and consequently had ancient and customary rights of consultation and...
, so the Dukedom went extinct at the Duchess' death in 1734. In 1777 King Louis XV
Louis XV of France
Louis XV was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1 September 1715 until his death. He succeeded his great-grandfather at the age of five, his first cousin Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, served as Regent of the kingdom until Louis's majority in 1723...
issued lettres de suranation which restored the 1684 peerage to the heirs of Duchess Louise. The 2nd Duke of Richmond
Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond
The 2nd Duke of Richmond has been described as early cricket's greatest patron. Although he had played cricket as a boy, his real involvement began after he succeeded to the dukedom...
had already received a brevet de duc, which gave him the honours of a Duke at the Court. The Duchy was confiscated during Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars (1792-1803 and 1806-1814), but finally returned to the 4th Duke of Richmond
Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond
Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond, 4th Duke of Lennox KG, PC was a British soldier and politician and Governor General of British North America.-Background:...
. The 4th Duke was the nephew of the 3rd Duke, so his succession to the Dukedom of Aubigny may be questioned, but the Dukes of Richmond and Lennox had since used this title.
The arms of the Lennox Dukes of Aubigny exhibit an inescutcheon gules, three buckles or which stand for the Duchy of Aubigny. These arms are in fact derived from the arms of the Stewart of Darnley lords of Aubigny. As descendants to the Stewarts of Bonkyl
John Stewart of Bonkyll (d.1298)
John Stewart of Bonkyll was a son of Alexander Stewart the High Steward of Scotland and Jean, daughter of Séamus Macrory, Lord of Bute. He was a military commander during the First Scottish War of Independence and during the Battle of Falkirk, he commanded the Scottish archers, and was killed on 22...
, they wore a fess chequy Azure and Argent, a bordure gules with buckles or (an example of canting arms
Canting arms
Canting arms are heraldic bearings that represent the bearer's name in a visual pun or rebus. The term cant came into the English language from Anglo-Norman cant, meaning song or singing, from Latin cantāre, and English cognates include canticle, chant, accent, incantation and recant.Canting arms –...
: buckles for Bonkyl). In 1428 John Stewart of Aubigny
John Stewart of Darnley
Sir John Stewart of Darnley, 1st Lord of Concressault and 1st Lord of Aubigny, Count of Évreux was a Scottish nobleman and prominent soldier during the Hundred Years War.-Life:...
was awarded the right to incorporate the arms of France (azure, three fleur-de-lys or) into his coat of arms. His descendants quartered France with Stewart.
Property concerning the Château
Château
A château is a manor house or residence of the lord of the manor or a country house of nobility or gentry, with or without fortifications, originally—and still most frequently—in French-speaking regions...
of Aubigny is no longer in the possession of the title-bearers, sold off in order to maintain the Dukes' personal finances within the UK itself. Aubigny is the chief tourist attraction in France which attests to the Auld Alliance, the honour now only an historic title.
Stewart Lords of Aubigny
- John Stewart, 1st Lord of Aubigny (killed 1429)
- John Stewart, 2nd Lord of AubignyJohn Stewart, 2nd Lord of AubignyJohn Stewart, 2nd Lord of Aubigny and Concressault was a Scottish and French nobleman.-Life:Stewart was the younger son of John Stewart of Darnley and Elizabeth of Lennox....
(died 1482) - Bernard Stewart, Lord of AubignyBernard Stewart, Lord of AubignyBernard Stewart, 4rd Lord of Aubigny was a French soldier, Commander of the Garde Écossaise, and diplomat belonging to the Scottish family of Stewart of Darnley.-Early life:...
(died 1508) - Robert Stewart, Lord of AubignyRobert Stewart, Lord of AubignyRobert Stewart , Lord of Aubigny, Count of Beaumont-le-Roger, was a French soldier belonging to the family of Stewart of Darnley.Robert was the fourth son of John Stewart, 1st Earl of Lennox and Margaret Montgomerie...
(died 1543) - John Stewart, 5th Lord of Aubigny (died 1567)
- Esmé Stewart, 1st Duke of LennoxEsmé Stewart, 1st Duke of LennoxEsmé Stewart, 1st Duke of Lennox, 1st Earl of Lennox was the son of John Stewart, 5th Lord of Aubigny who was the younger brother of Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox...
, 6th Lord of Aubigny (died 1583) - Esmé Stewart, 3rd Duke of LennoxEsmé Stewart, 3rd Duke of LennoxEsmé Stewart, 3rd Duke of Lennox KG was the son of Esmé Stewart, 1st Duke of Lennox. He was a patron of the playwright Ben Jonson, who lived in his household for five years.He married Katherine Clifton, 2nd Baroness Clifton, in 1609...
, 7th Lord of Aubigny (died 1624) - Henry Stewart, 8th Seigneur d'Aubigny (died 1632)
- George Stewart, 9th Seigneur d'AubignyGeorge Stewart, 9th Seigneur d'AubignyGeorge Stewart , 9th Seigneur d'Aubigny was a Scottish nobleman and Royalist commander in the English Civil War...
(killed 1642) - Ludovic Stewart, 10th Seigneur d'Aubigny (died 1665)
- Charles Stewart, 3rd Duke of RichmondCharles Stewart, 3rd Duke of RichmondCharles Stewart, 3rd Duke of Richmond, 6th Duke of Lennox KG was the only son of George Stewart, 9th Seigneur d'Aubigny and Katherine Howard, daughter of Theophilus Howard, 2nd Earl of Suffolk...
, 11th Lord of Aubigny (died 1672)
Dukes of Aubigny
- Louise de Kérouaille, 1st Duchess of Portsmouth, Duchess of Aubigny (1649-1734). Dukedom and Peerage extinct at their death.
- Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond, 1st Duke of Lennox, Duke of AubignyCharles Lennox, 1st Duke of RichmondCharles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond, 1st Duke of Lennox, 1st Duke of Aubigny was the illegitimate son of Charles II of England and his mistress Louise de Kérouaille, Duchess of Portsmouth....
(1672-1723), jointly with his mother Louise de Kéroualle. - Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond, 2nd Duke of LennoxCharles Lennox, 2nd Duke of RichmondThe 2nd Duke of Richmond has been described as early cricket's greatest patron. Although he had played cricket as a boy, his real involvement began after he succeeded to the dukedom...
(1701-1750. Only a "Brevet Duke" and not a Duke and Peer. - Charles Lennox, 3rd Duke of Richmond, 3rd Duke of Lennox, Duke of AubignyCharles Lennox, 3rd Duke of RichmondField Marshal Charles Lennox, 3rd Duke of Richmond, 3rd Duke of Lennox, 3rd Duke of Aubigny, KG, PC, FRS , styled Earl of March until 1750, was a British politician and office holder noteworthy for his advanced views on the issue of parliamentary reform...
(1734-1806). Restored to Peerage in 1777. - Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond, 4th Duke of Lennox, Duke of AubignyCharles Lennox, 4th Duke of RichmondCharles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond, 4th Duke of Lennox KG, PC was a British soldier and politician and Governor General of British North America.-Background:...
(1764-1819) - Charles Gordon-Lennox, 5th Duke of Richmond, 5th Duke of Lennox, Duke of AubignyCharles Gordon-Lennox, 5th Duke of RichmondCharles Gordon-Lennox, 5th Duke of Richmond and 5th Duke of Lennox KG, PC , styled Earl of March until in 1819, was a British soldier, politician and a prominent Conservative.-Background and education:...
(1791-1860) - Charles Henry Gordon-Lennox, 6th Duke of Richmond, 6th Duke of Lennox, Duke of Aubigny, 1st Duke of GordonCharles Gordon-Lennox, 6th Duke of RichmondCharles Henry Gordon-Lennox, 6th Duke of Richmond, 6th Duke of Lennox, and 1st Duke of Gordon KG PC , styled Lord Settrington until 1819 and Earl of March between 1819 and 1860, was a British Conservative politician.-Background and education:Born at Richmond House, London, he was the son of Charles...
(1818-1903) - Charles Henry Gordon-Lennox, 7th Duke of Richmond, 7th Duke of Lennox, Duke of Aubigny, 2nd Duke of GordonCharles Gordon-Lennox, 7th Duke of RichmondCharles Henry Gordon-Lennox, 7th Duke of Richmond and Lennox KG, GCVO , styled Lord Settrington until 1860 and Earl of March between 1860 and 1903, was a British politician and peer....
(1845-1928) - Charles Henry Gordon-Lennox, 8th Duke of Richmond, 8th Duke of Lennox, Duke of Aubigny, 3rd Duke of GordonCharles Gordon-Lennox, 8th Duke of RichmondCharles Henry Gordon-Lennox, 8th Duke of Richmond, 8th Duke of Lennox, 3rd Duke of Gordon DSO MVO was a British Peer, the son of the 7th Duke by his first wife, Amy Mary Ricardo , daughter of Percy Ricardo, of Bramley Park and Mathilde Hensley. He became duke upon his...
(1870-1935) - Frederick Charles Gordon-Lennox, 9th Duke of Richmond, 9th Duke of Lennox, Duke of Aubigny, 4th Duke of GordonFrederick Gordon-Lennox, 9th Duke of RichmondFrederick Charles Gordon-Lennox, 9th Duke of Richmond, 9th Duke of Lennox, 4th Duke of Gordon was a British peer, engineer, racing driver and motor racing promoter....
(1904-1989) - Charles Henry Gordon-Lennox, 10th Duke of Richmond, 10th Duke of Lennox, Duke of Aubigny, 5th Duke of GordonCharles Gordon-Lennox, 10th Duke of RichmondCharles Henry Gordon-Lennox, 10th Duke of Richmond, 10th Duke of Lennox and 5th Duke of Gordon is a British Peer. He was styled Lord Settrington until 1935 and Earl of March and Kinrara between 1935 and 1989, and is currently styled His Grace The Duke of Richmond, Lennox and Gordon.The son of...
(b. 1929)
See also
- List of French peerages
- Duke of RichmondDuke of RichmondThe title Duke of Richmond is named after Richmond and its surrounding district of Richmondshire, and has been created several times in the Peerage of England for members of the royal Tudor and Stuart families...
- Duke of LennoxDuke of LennoxThe title Duke of Lennox has been created several times in the Peerage of Scotland, for Clan Stewart of Darnley. The Dukedom, named for the district of Lennox in Stirling, was first created in 1581, and had formerly been the Earldom of Lennox. The second Duke was made Duke of Richmond; at his...
- Duke of GordonDuke of GordonThe title Duke of Gordon has been created once in the Peerage of Scotland and again in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.The Dukedom, named after the Clan Gordon, was first created for the 4th Marquess of Huntly, who on 3 November 1684 was created Duke of Gordon, Marquess of Huntly, Earl of Huntly...