Gaston VII of Béarn
Encyclopedia
Gaston VII de Montcada (1225 – 26 April 1290), called Froissard, was the twentieth Viscount of Béarn from 1229. He was the son and heir of William II Raymond and Garsenda, daughter of Alfonso II of Provence and Garsenda of Forcalquier
. He was succeeded by Roger Bernard III of Foix
On the domestic front, Gaston issued a series of fueros, part of the Fors de Bearn
, for each of the Béarnais valleys. He issued two for Aspe
, one in 1247 and another in 1250. In that same year Gaston declared his second daughter, Margaret, to be the heir of Béarn, but his third daughter and her powerful husband, Geraud VI of Armagnac, would not accept it. Towards the end of his life he reneged and declared as his heir his youngest daughter, Guillemette, but upon his death Béarn was seized by Margaret's husband, Roger-Bernard III of Foix
.
Gaston was highly reputed as a warrior, staunch defender of the Béarn
ais, ally of the French
, and enemy of the English
. A powerful and independent figure in Gascony
, he was the first major patron of the Order of the Faith and Peace
. He was defeated and captured by Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester
, in 1248. In 1250 he was brought to England with Simon, who pardoned him there.
However, in 1252 Gaston once more rebelled when he allied with Alfonso X of Castile
, who had laid claim to the Duchy of Gascony. This time Henry III
pursued a diplomatic strategy; he arranged a marriage between his son Edward
and Alfonso's daughter Eleanor
. Fourteen year old Edward was then granted the Duchy by his father. In January 1276 Gaston surrendered to Edward and was imprisoned at Winchester
. Three years later he made an agreement with Edward whereby his lands were restored.
, and Petronilla of Bigorre. The couple had four children, all daughters:
Widowered, Gaston married again on 2 April 1273 to Beatrice (c. 1237–1310), daughter of Peter II of Savoy and Agnès de Faucigny, and widow of Guigues VII of Viennois
Garsenda of Forcalquier
Garsenda or Garsende de Sabran was the Countess of Provence as the wife of Alfonso II from 1193 and the Countess of Forcalquier in her own right from 1209. She brought Forcalquier to the House of Barcelona and united it to Provence...
. He was succeeded by Roger Bernard III of Foix
On the domestic front, Gaston issued a series of fueros, part of the Fors de Bearn
Fors de Bearn
The Fors de Bearn, or fueros of Béarn, are a series of legal texts compiled over centuries in the Viscounty of Béarn...
, for each of the Béarnais valleys. He issued two for Aspe
Aspe
Aspe is a town and municipality located in the comarca of Vinalopó Mitjà, in the province of Alicante, Spain.The town is located in the valley of the river Vinalopó, 25 km from Alicante city...
, one in 1247 and another in 1250. In that same year Gaston declared his second daughter, Margaret, to be the heir of Béarn, but his third daughter and her powerful husband, Geraud VI of Armagnac, would not accept it. Towards the end of his life he reneged and declared as his heir his youngest daughter, Guillemette, but upon his death Béarn was seized by Margaret's husband, Roger-Bernard III of Foix
Roger-Bernard III of Foix
Roger-Bernard III was the Count of Foix from 1265 to his death. He was the son of Roger IV of Foix and Brunissende of Cardona. He entered into conflicts with both Philip III of France and Peter III of Aragon, who held him in captivity for a time...
.
Gaston was highly reputed as a warrior, staunch defender of the Béarn
Béarn
Béarn is one of the traditional provinces of France, located in the Pyrenees mountains and in the plain at their feet, in southwest France. Along with the three Basque provinces of Soule, Lower Navarre, and Labourd, the principality of Bidache, as well as small parts of Gascony, it forms in the...
ais, ally of the French
Kingdom of France
The Kingdom of France was one of the most powerful states to exist in Europe during the second millennium.It originated from the Western portion of the Frankish empire, and consolidated significant power and influence over the next thousand years. Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, developed a...
, and enemy of the English
Kingdom of England
The Kingdom of England was, from 927 to 1707, a sovereign state to the northwest of continental Europe. At its height, the Kingdom of England spanned the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and several smaller outlying islands; what today comprises the legal jurisdiction of England...
. A powerful and independent figure in Gascony
Gascony
Gascony is an area of southwest France that was part of the "Province of Guyenne and Gascony" prior to the French Revolution. The region is vaguely defined and the distinction between Guyenne and Gascony is unclear; sometimes they are considered to overlap, and sometimes Gascony is considered a...
, he was the first major patron of the Order of the Faith and Peace
Order of the Faith and Peace
The Order of the Faith and Peace or Order of the Sword was a military order in Gascony in the mid-13th century.The order was first mentioned by Pope Gregory IX in 1231 in a letter to magistro militiae ordinis sancti Jacobi ejusque fratribus tam presentibus quam futuris ad defensionem fidei et pacis...
. He was defeated and captured by Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester
Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester
Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, 1st Earl of Chester , sometimes referred to as Simon V de Montfort to distinguish him from other Simon de Montforts, was an Anglo-Norman nobleman. He led the barons' rebellion against King Henry III of England during the Second Barons' War of 1263-4, and...
, in 1248. In 1250 he was brought to England with Simon, who pardoned him there.
However, in 1252 Gaston once more rebelled when he allied with Alfonso X of Castile
Alfonso X of Castile
Alfonso X was a Castilian monarch who ruled as the King of Castile, León and Galicia from 1252 until his death...
, who had laid claim to the Duchy of Gascony. This time Henry III
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
pursued a diplomatic strategy; he arranged a marriage between his son Edward
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
and Alfonso's daughter Eleanor
Eleanor of Castile
Eleanor of Castile was the first queen consort of Edward I of England. She was also Countess of Ponthieu in her own right from 1279 until her death in 1290, succeeding her mother and ruling together with her husband.-Birth:...
. Fourteen year old Edward was then granted the Duchy by his father. In January 1276 Gaston surrendered to Edward and was imprisoned at Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
. Three years later he made an agreement with Edward whereby his lands were restored.
Family
Between 1245 and 1250 Gaston married Mathe de Matha (or Amata of Mastas; died 1270/3), Viscountess of Marsan, daughter of Boson de Mathe, lord of CognacCognac
Cognac is a commune in the Charente department in southwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Geography:Cognac is situated on the river Charente between the towns of Angoulême and Saintes. The majority of the town has been built on the river's left bank, with the smaller right...
, and Petronilla of Bigorre. The couple had four children, all daughters:
- Constance (died 1310), succeeded in Marsan and Bigorre. Married firstly, on 23 March 1260, to the AragoneseCrown of AragonThe Crown of Aragon Corona d'Aragón Corona d'Aragó Corona Aragonum controlling a large portion of the present-day eastern Spain and southeastern France, as well as some of the major islands and mainland possessions stretching across the Mediterranean as far as Greece...
infante Alfonso, son of James the Conqueror, who died 26 March; married secondly, on 15 May 1269, to Henry of AlmainHenry of AlmainHenry of Almain , so called because of his father's German connections as King of the Romans , was the son of Richard, 1st Earl of Cornwall and Isabel Marshal.As a nephew of both Henry III and Simon de Montfort, he wavered between the two at the beginning of the Barons' War, but...
, son of Richard of CornwallRichard, 1st Earl of CornwallRichard of Cornwall was Count of Poitou , 1st Earl of Cornwall and German King...
; and married thirdly, in 1279, to Aymon II of GenevaAymon II of GenevaAymon II was the Count of Geneva from 1265. He was the son and heir of Count Rudolf, but died heirless himself and was succeeded by his brother Amadeus II... - Margaret, succeeded in Béarn. Married, in 1252, to Roger-Bernard III de Foix
- Mathe, married Geraud VI of Armagnac in 1260
- Guillelme (or Guillemette; died 1309), affianced in 1270 to Sancho IV of CastileSancho IV of CastileSancho IV the Brave was the King of Castile, León and Galicia from 1284 to his death. He was the second son of Alfonso X and Yolanda, daughter of James I of Aragon.-Biography:...
, annulled 1281; married, in 1291, to the Aragonese infante Peter (1275–1296), son of Peter the GreatPeter III of AragonPeter the Great was the King of Aragon of Valencia , and Count of Barcelona from 1276 to his death. He conquered Sicily and became its king in 1282. He was one of the greatest of medieval Aragonese monarchs.-Youth and succession:Peter was the eldest son of James I of Aragon and his second wife...
Widowered, Gaston married again on 2 April 1273 to Beatrice (c. 1237–1310), daughter of Peter II of Savoy and Agnès de Faucigny, and widow of Guigues VII of Viennois
External links
- Gaston VII of Béarn at Foundations for Medieval Genealogy