The Duke of Gesvres ( Fr.: ''duc de Gesvres'') was a title in the peerage of France from 1670 to 1794, named after

Gesvres Gesvres () is a commune in the Mayenne department located in the Pays de la Loire region in north-western France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of O ...

in northwestern

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

Background

The title of Baron of Gesvres first came to the Potier family with the marriage of Jacques Potier to Françoise Cueillette, daughter of Jean, seigneur de Freschines et de Gesvres. Their son,

Louis Potier Louis may refer to: * Louis (coin) * Louis (given name), origin and several individuals with this name * Louis (surname) * Louis (singer), Serbian singer * HMS ''Louis'', two ships of the Royal Navy See also Derived or associated terms * Lewis ( ...

inherited this title. From 1608, however, Louis Potier was known as the

Count of Tresmes The Duke of Tresmes ( Fr.: ''duc de Tresmes'') was a title in the peerage of France from 1648 to 1670, at which point the title was changed to Duke of Gesvres. Thereafter, the Duke of Gesvres was sometimes referred to as the "Duke of Tresmes an ...

, and his son, René Potier, succeeded in elevating the title to

Duke of Tresmes The Duke of Tresmes ( Fr.: ''duc de Tresmes'') was a title in the peerage of France from 1648 to 1670, at which point the title was changed to Duke of Gesvres. Thereafter, the Duke of Gesvres was sometimes referred to as the "Duke of Tresmes an ...

. In 1670, René Potier's son Léon Potier (who became Duke of Tresmes in 1669) changed the name of the title to "Duke of Gesvres". Thereafter, the Dukes of Gesvres were sometimes known as the "Duke of Tresmes and Gesvres" and the eldest son of the Duke of Gesvres sometimes used the title "Duke of Tresmes" as a

courtesy title A courtesy title is a title that does not have legal significance but rather is used through custom or courtesy, particularly, in the context of nobility, the titles used by children of members of the nobility (cf. substantive title). In some co ...

and the younger sons sometimes used "Count of Tresmes". The title was abolished at the time of the

French Revolution The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in November 1799. Many of its ideas are considere ...

when the last Duke of Gesvres was

guillotined A guillotine is an apparatus designed for efficiently carrying out executions by beheading. The device consists of a tall, upright frame with a weighted and angled blade suspended at the top. The condemned person is secured with stocks at the ...

List of Dukes of Gesvres

External links

History of the Potier Family
{{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081117190140/http://www.heraldique-europeenne.org/Regions/France/Duche_Gesvres.htm , date=2008-11-17