Lords and Counts of Harcourt
Encyclopedia
When the Viking chieftain Rollo
obtained via the Treaty of Saint Clair-sur-Epte
the territories which would later make up Normandy
, he distributed them as estates among his main supporters. Among these lands were the seigneurie
of Harcourt
, near Brionne
, and the county of Pont-Audemer
, both of which Rollo granted to Bernard the Dane
, ancestor of the lords (seigneurs) of Harcourt. The first to use Harcourt as a name, however, was Anquetil d'Harcourt at the start of the 11th century.
House of Harcourt
was erected into the county of Harcourt, together with the seigneuries of Lillebonne
, Troispierres, La Saussaye
and Elbeuf
, by letters patent
of Philip VI
in March 1338.
His only son, John VIII, was killed in battle in 1424. Upon the death of John VII in 1452, his inheritance was to be divided between his elder daughter, Marie
, wife of Antoine of Vaudémont
, and his second daughter, Jeanne, wife of Jean III de Rieux. However, Marie and her son John of Vaudémont
were able to control the entire inheritance until 1454, when the de Rieux gained control of the County of Aumale
. However, litigation continued between the de Rieux and the Vaudémont-Lorraine through the late 15th century.
The de Rieux continued to maintain their claims on Harcourt. Jeanne (1399–1456), the daughter of John VII, had married Jean III de Rieux (1377–1431) in 1414. She was succeeded by her son François de Rieux (1418–1458), who married Jeanne de Rohan in 1442 and was succeeded by his son Jean IV de Rieux. He reached a settlement with the Duke of Lorraine in 1495, trading Aumale for Harcourt, and resumed the title.
Upon the death of Henri, the county of Harcourt passed to his sister Louise, who had married René, Marquis of Elbeuf
, head of a cadet branch of the House of Lorraine.
House of Lorraine
, son of John V of Harcourt.
to Henry d'Harcourt (1654–1718), marshal of France
, of the branch of Beuvron, upon the erection of the marquisate de La Mothe and de Thury
to a duchy, with the name of Harcourt. The title was made a peerage in 1709, by letters patent
.
Rollo
Rollo has multiple meanings. It may mean:a first name*Rollo Armstrong, member of British dance act Faithless* Rollo May, American psychologist...
obtained via the Treaty of Saint Clair-sur-Epte
Treaty of Saint Clair-sur-Epte
The Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte was signed in the autumn of 911 between Charles III of France and Rollo, the leader of the Vikings, to settle the Normans in Neustria and to protect Charles' kingdom from any new invasion by the "northmen". No written records survive concerning the creation of the...
the territories which would later make up Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, he distributed them as estates among his main supporters. Among these lands were the seigneurie
Fiefdom
A fee was the central element of feudalism and consisted of heritable lands granted under one of several varieties of feudal tenure by an overlord to a vassal who held it in fealty in return for a form of feudal allegiance and service, usually given by the...
of Harcourt
Harcourt, Eure
Harcourt is a commune in the Eure department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France.-Population:-Sights:*Château d'Harcourt - a medieval-built château with the oldest arboretum in France.*Arboretum d'Harcourt-External links:*...
, near Brionne
Brionne
Brionne is a commune in the Eure department in Haute-Normandie in northern France.-Population:-Sights:The keep, built in the 11th century was one of the rare Norman squareshaped defensive keeps, reminding of British architecture. It was destroyed in the 18th century.The church Saint-Martin has a...
, and the county of Pont-Audemer
Pont-Audemer
Pont-Audemer is a commune in the Eure department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France.-Population:-Sights:The commune was spared substantial damage to its historic buildings during the Battle of Normandy. Nowadays the half-timbered buildings and the canals running between them are a...
, both of which Rollo granted to Bernard the Dane
Bernard the Dane
Bernard the Dane was a Viking jarl of Danish origins. He put himself in the service of another jarl installed at the mouth of the Seine, Rollo...
, ancestor of the lords (seigneurs) of Harcourt. The first to use Harcourt as a name, however, was Anquetil d'Harcourt at the start of the 11th century.
House of HarcourtHouse of HarcourtThe House of Harcourt is a Norman family, descended from the Viking Bernard the Dane and named after its seigneurie of Harcourt in Normandy. Its mottos were "Gesta verbis praeveniant" , "Gesta verbis praevenient" , and "Le bon temps viendra .....
- c.911–c.950 : Bernard the DaneBernard the DaneBernard the Dane was a Viking jarl of Danish origins. He put himself in the service of another jarl installed at the mouth of the Seine, Rollo...
, governorGovernorA governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
and regentRegentA regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
of the duchy of NormandyDuchy of NormandyThe Duchy of Normandy stems from various Danish, Norwegian, Hiberno-Norse, Orkney Viking and Anglo-Danish invasions of France in the 9th century...
in 943- married Sprote, princess of BourgogneBourgogneBurgundy is one of the 27 regions of France.The name comes from the Burgundians, an ancient Germanic people who settled in the area in early Middle-age. The region of Burgundy is both larger than the old Duchy of Burgundy and smaller than the area ruled by the Dukes of Burgundy, from the modern...
- married Sprote, princess of Bourgogne
- c.950–c.960 : Torf, baron de Tourville, son of Bernard
- married Ertemberge de BricquebecBricquebecBricquebec, a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France.Inhabitants are referred to as Bricquebétais.-History:...
- married Ertemberge de Bricquebec
- c.960–c.1020 : Turquetil
- married Anceline de Montfort-sur-Risle
- c.1020 – aft. 1066 : Anquetil d'Harcourt, son of Turquetil
- married Ève de Boissey
- aft. 1066 – aft. 1078 : Errand d'Harcourt, son of Anquetil
- married Emme d'Estouteville
- aft. 1078 – aft. 1100 : Robert I of Harcourt, son of Errand
- married Colette d'Argouges.
- aft. 1100 – aft. 1124 : William of Harcourt, son of Robert I
- married Hue d'Amboise.
- aft. 1124–1212 : Robert II of Harcourt, seigneur d'ElbeufLords, Marquesses and Dukes of ElbeufThe Seigneurie of Elbeuf, later a marquisate, dukedom and peerage, was based on the territory of Elbeuf in the Vexin, possessed first by the Counts of Valois and then the Counts of Meulan before passing to the House of Harcourt. In 1265, it was erected into a seigneurie for them...
, son of William- married Jeanne de Meulan in 1179
- 1212–1239 : Richard of HarcourtRichard of HarcourtRichard of Harcourt was Baron of Harcourt, Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte and Auvers, Lord of Elbeuf, Bourgtheroulde-Infreville, La Saussaye, Brionne, Beaumont-le-Roger, Angeville, and Saint-Nicolas-du-Bosc, and others.-Biography:...
(d. 1239), son of Robert II- married Jeanne de la Roche-Tesson, heiress of the Viscount of Saint-Sauveur, in 1213
- 1239–1288 : John I of Harcourt (1199–1288), son of Richard
- married Alix de Beaumont
- 1288–1302 : John II of Harcourt (1240–1302), marshalMarshal of FranceThe Marshal of France is a military distinction in contemporary France, not a military rank. It is granted to generals for exceptional achievements...
and admiralAdmiralAdmiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
of France, son of John I- married first Agnès de Lorraine, daughter of Frederick III, Duke of LorraineFrederick III, Duke of LorraineFrederick III was the Duke of Lorraine from 1251 to his death. He was the only son and successor of Matthias II and Catherine of Limburg....
- married second Jeanne de Châtellerault
- married first Agnès de Lorraine, daughter of Frederick III, Duke of Lorraine
- 1302–1329 : John III of Harcourt (d. 1329), son of John II and Jeanne de Châtellerault
- married Alix de Brabant
Counts of Harcourt
The barony of HarcourtHouse of Harcourt
The House of Harcourt is a Norman family, descended from the Viking Bernard the Dane and named after its seigneurie of Harcourt in Normandy. Its mottos were "Gesta verbis praeveniant" , "Gesta verbis praevenient" , and "Le bon temps viendra .....
was erected into the county of Harcourt, together with the seigneuries of Lillebonne
Lillebonne
Lillebonne is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France. It lies miles north of the Seine and east of Le Havre by railway.-History:...
, Troispierres, La Saussaye
La Saussaye
La Saussaye is a commune in the Eure department in Haute-Normandie in northern France.-Population:-References:*...
and Elbeuf
Elbeuf
-Population:-Places of interest:* The mairie, also housing the museum.* Two seventeenth century churches.* Some sixteenth century houses.* A fifteenth century stone cross.* The theatre , renovated in the late twentieth century.-Notable people:...
, by letters patent
Letters patent
Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch or president, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation...
of Philip VI
Philip VI of France
Philip VI , known as the Fortunate and of Valois, was the King of France from 1328 to his death. He was also Count of Anjou, Maine, and Valois from 1325 to 1328...
in March 1338.
House of Harcourt
- 1329–1346 : John IV of Harcourt (d. 1346), Count of Harcourt in 1338, son of John III
- married Isabeau de Parthenay, dame de Vibraye, de Montfort-le-Rotrou, d'Aspremont and de Bonnétable
- 1346–1355 : John V of Harcourt (d. 1355), son of John IV
- married Blanche de Ponthieu, Countess of Aumale, sister of Jeanne of Ponthieu
- 1355–1389 : John VI of Harcourt (1342–1389), son of John V
- married Catherine de Bourbon (d. 1427), daughter of Peter I, Duke of BourbonPeter I, Duke of BourbonPeter I of Bourbon was the second Duke of Bourbon, from 1342 to his death.Peter was son of Louis I of Bourbon, whom he also succeeded as Grand Chamberlain of France, and Mary of Avesnes....
, in 1359
- married Catherine de Bourbon (d. 1427), daughter of Peter I, Duke of Bourbon
- 1389–1452 : John VII of HarcourtJohn VII of HarcourtJean VII d'Harcourt was a count of Aumale, viscount of Châtellerault, seigneur of Mézières, of Elbeuf, of Lillebone, of La Saussaye etc....
(1370–1452), son of John VI- married Marie of AlençonMarie of AlenconMarie d'Alençon was a French noblewoman, a Princess of the Blood, and the wife of John VII of Harcourt, Count of Harcourt and of Aumale, Viscount of Châtellerault, Baron of Elbeuf, of Mézières, of Lillebone, of La Saussaye....
(1373–1417), daughter of Peter II of AlençonPeter II of AlençonPeter II of Alençon, called the Noble , was the son of Charles II of Alençon and Maria de la Cerda. He was Count of Alençon 1361–1404 and Count of Perche 1377–1404....
, in 1390
- married Marie of Alençon
His only son, John VIII, was killed in battle in 1424. Upon the death of John VII in 1452, his inheritance was to be divided between his elder daughter, Marie
Marie of Harcourt (1398-1476)
Marie of Harcourt was Countess of Aumale and Baroness of Elbeuf from 1452 to 1476. She was the eldest daughter of John VII of Harcourt, Count of Harcourt and Aumale and Baron of Elbeuf, and of Marie of Alençon....
, wife of Antoine of Vaudémont
Antoine of Vaudémont
Antoine of Vaudémont was Count of Vaudémont and sieur de Joinville from 1418 to 1458. By marriage, he was also Count of Aumale and Baron of Elbeuf from 1452 to 1458.-Life:...
, and his second daughter, Jeanne, wife of Jean III de Rieux. However, Marie and her son John of Vaudémont
John of Vaudémont
John VI of Harcourt was a count of Harcourt. He was son of John V of Harcourt and Blanche of Ponthieu who was the sister of Jeanne of Ponthieu....
were able to control the entire inheritance until 1454, when the de Rieux gained control of the County of Aumale
Aumale
Aumale is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in north-western France.-Geography:A village of farming and associated light industry, situated in the valley of the Bresle River of the Norman Pays de Bray in Normandy on the border with Picardie. It is around ...
. However, litigation continued between the de Rieux and the Vaudémont-Lorraine through the late 15th century.
House of Vaudémont-Lorraine
- 1454–1476 : Marie of HarcourtMarie of Harcourt (1398-1476)Marie of Harcourt was Countess of Aumale and Baroness of Elbeuf from 1452 to 1476. She was the eldest daughter of John VII of Harcourt, Count of Harcourt and Aumale and Baron of Elbeuf, and of Marie of Alençon....
, daughter of John VII, with:- her husband Antoine of VaudémontAntoine of VaudémontAntoine of Vaudémont was Count of Vaudémont and sieur de Joinville from 1418 to 1458. By marriage, he was also Count of Aumale and Baron of Elbeuf from 1452 to 1458.-Life:...
1454–1458 - her son John of VaudémontJohn of VaudémontJohn VI of Harcourt was a count of Harcourt. He was son of John V of Harcourt and Blanche of Ponthieu who was the sister of Jeanne of Ponthieu....
1458–1473 - her grandson René II, Duke of LorraineRené II, Duke of LorraineRené II was Count of Vaudémont from 1470, Duke of Lorraine from 1473, and Duke of Bar from 1483 to 1508. He claimed the crown of the Kingdom of Naples and the County of Provence as the Duke of Calabria 1480–1493 and as King of Naples and Jerusalem 1493–1508...
1473–1476
- her husband Antoine of Vaudémont
- 1476–1495 : René II, Duke of LorraineRené II, Duke of LorraineRené II was Count of Vaudémont from 1470, Duke of Lorraine from 1473, and Duke of Bar from 1483 to 1508. He claimed the crown of the Kingdom of Naples and the County of Provence as the Duke of Calabria 1480–1493 and as King of Naples and Jerusalem 1493–1508...
House of Rieux
- 1495–1518 : Jean IV de Rieux (1447–1518)), son of François
- married Isabelle de Brosse (died 1527), daughter of John V, Count of Penthièvre
- 1518–1532 : Claude de Rieux (1497–1532), son of Jean IV
- married Suzanne de Bourbon-Montpensier (died 1570), daughter of Louis de Bourbon, Prince de La Roche-sur-Yon and Louise de MontpensierLouise de Bourbon, Duchess of MontpensierLouise de Bourbon was the Duchess of Montpensier, suo jure from February 1538 to 1561. She was the great great great grandmother of La Grande Mademoiselle.- Inheritance :...
- married Suzanne de Bourbon-Montpensier (died 1570), daughter of Louis de Bourbon, Prince de La Roche-sur-Yon and Louise de Montpensier
- 1532–1557 : Henri de Rieux (died 1557), son of Claude, died without issue
Upon the death of Henri, the county of Harcourt passed to his sister Louise, who had married René, Marquis of Elbeuf
René, Marquis of Elbeuf
René of Guise,Marquis d'Elbeuf was the youngest son of Claude, Duke of Guise and Antoinette de Bourbon....
, head of a cadet branch of the House of Lorraine.
House of LorraineHouse of LorraineThe House of Lorraine, the main and now only remaining line known as Habsburg-Lorraine, is one of the most important and was one of the longest-reigning royal houses in the history of Europe...
- 1557–1570 : Louise de Rieux (1531–1570), sister of Henri
- married René, Marquis of ElbeufRené, Marquis of ElbeufRené of Guise,Marquis d'Elbeuf was the youngest son of Claude, Duke of Guise and Antoinette de Bourbon....
(1536–1566) in 1555
- married René, Marquis of Elbeuf
- 1566–1605 : Charles I, Duke of ElbeufCharles I, Duke of ElbeufCharles de Lorraine was a French duke and nobleman. He was marquis of Elbeuf from 1566 to 1572, then duke of Elbeuf from 1582 to 1605 and count of Harcourt from 1566 to 1582, lord of Rieux, baron of Ancenis and peer of France...
(1556–1605), son of René- married Marguerite de Chabot (1565–1652) in 1583
- 1605–1666 : Henri de Lorraine, count of HarcourtHenri de Lorraine, count of HarcourtHenri de Lorraine , known as Cadet la Perle, was a French nobleman. He was count of Harcourt, count of Armagnac, count of Brionne and viscount of Marsan...
(1601–1666), younger son of Charles I
- 1666–1694 : François Louis de Lorraine, count of Harcourt, (1627–1694), nephew of Henri, son of Charles II, Duke of ElbeufCharles II, Duke of ElbeufCharles de Lorraine was a French nobleman, the son of Charles I of Lorraine, Duke of Elbeuf by his wife, Marguerite de Chabot. He succeeded his father in the Elbeuf dukedom in 1605.- Biography :He joined the French royal court in 1607, becoming a playmate to the future King Louis XIII...
- married Anne d'Ornano (died 1695) in 1645
- 1694–1718 : Alphonse Henri Charles de Lorraine (1648–1718), styled the prince d'Harcourt, son of François Louis
- married Marie Françoise de Brancas (died 1715) in 1667
- 1719–1739 : Joseph de Lorraine (1679–1739), styled the prince d'Harcourt, son of Alphonse
- married Marie Louise Chrétienne Jeannin de Castille (1680–1736) in 1705
- 1739–1747 : Louis Marie Léopold de Lorraine (1720–1747), styled the prince d'Harcourt, son of Joseph
Modern titles
"Harcourt" has been given as a title to descendants of cadet branches of the family of Harcourt, without a territorial connection to the medieval county. Both branches descend from Philippe d'Harcourt (1353–1403), Lord of BonnétableBonnétable
Bonnétable is a commune in the Sarthe department in the region of Pays-de-la-Loire in north-western France.Bonnétable is twinned with Horncastle in rural Lincolnshire. The towns' relationship is commemorated by a Rue Horncastle in Bonnétable, and a Bonnetable Road in Horncastle.-References:*...
, son of John V of Harcourt.
Dukes of Harcourt
The title of duc d'Harcourt was granted in 1700 by Louis XIVLouis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
to Henry d'Harcourt (1654–1718), marshal of France
Marshal of France
The Marshal of France is a military distinction in contemporary France, not a military rank. It is granted to generals for exceptional achievements...
, of the branch of Beuvron, upon the erection of the marquisate de La Mothe and de Thury
Thury-Harcourt
Thury-Harcourt is a French commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.Situated in the Orne valley, its surroundings are much like Clécy, but the Rock of Oëtre contrasts with the plateau of Caen to the north....
to a duchy, with the name of Harcourt. The title was made a peerage in 1709, by letters patent
Letters patent
Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch or president, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation...
.
- 1700–1718 : Henry d'Harcourt (1654–1718), duc d'Harcourt, marshal of France
- married Marie Anne Claude de Brulart de Genlis (1669–1750) in 1687
- 1700–1750 : François (1689–1750), duc d'Harcourt, marshal of France, son of Henry
- married Marguerite Sophie Louise de Neufville (1699–1716) in 1716, then in 1717 Marie Madeleine Le Tellier (1697–1735)
- 1750–1783 : Anne Pierre d’Harcourt (1701–1783), duc d'Harcourt, marshal of France, brother of François
- married Eulalie de Beaupoil de Sainte-Aulaire (1715–1738) in 1725
- 1783–1802 : François-Henri d'HarcourtFrançois-Henri d'HarcourtFrançois-Henri d'Harcourt was a French general....
(1726–1802), duc d'Harcourt, son of Anne- married Françoise Cathérine d'Aubusson de la Feuillade (1733–1815) in 1752
- 1802–1839 : Marie François (1755–1839), duc d'Harcourt, nephew of François-Henri
- married Madeleine Jacqueline Le Veneur de Tillières (died 1825) in 1780
- 1839–1840 : Alphonse Aymar François (1785–1840), duc d'Harcourt, son of Marie
- 1840–1846 : François Eugène Gabriel (1786–1865), duc d'Harcourt, brother of Alphonse
- married Aglaé Terray (1788–1867) in 1807
- Henri Marie Nicolas (1808–1846), marquis d'Harcourt, son of François (predeceased his father)
- married Slanie de Choiseul-Praslin (1807–1843) in 1829
- 1846–1895 : Charles François Marie (1835–1895), duc d'Harcourt, son of Henri
- married Marie (1843–1916), comtesse de Mercy-Argenteau, in 1862
- 1895–1908 : Henri Eugène François Marie (1864–1908), duc d'Harcourt, son of Charles
- married Marie de la Rochefoucauld (1871–1952) in 1892
- 1908–1997 : Charles Jean Marie (1902–1997), duc d'Harcourt, son of Henri
- married Antoinette Gérard (1909–1958) in 1927, then in 1961 Maria Teresa de Zayas (born 1930)
- 1997 : François Henri (born 1928), duc d'Harcourt