Odet d'Aydie (c. 1425 – August 1490) was a knight from
Béarn
The Béarn (; ; oc, Bearn or ''Biarn''; eu, Bearno or ''Biarno''; or ''Bearnia'') 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 Bas ...
, Lord of
Lescun
Lescun () is a village and a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.
It is at an elevation of approximately in a grand cirque.
Lescun is situated on the GR 10 long-distance footpath traversing the Pyrenees. ...
. He held the titles of count of
Comminges
The Comminges (; Occitan/ Gascon: ''Comenge'') is an ancient region of southern France in the foothills of the Pyrenees, corresponding closely to the arrondissement of Saint-Gaudens in the department of Haute-Garonne. This natural region is norma ...
and governor of
Guyenne
Guyenne or Guienne (, ; oc, Guiana ) was an old French province which corresponded roughly to the Roman province of '' Aquitania Secunda'' and the archdiocese of Bordeaux.
The name "Guyenne" comes from ''Aguyenne'', a popular transformation o ...
at the end of the 15th century. He was the son of
Bertrand d'Aydie and his first wife Marie Domin.
Biography
His career began in 1454 when he was appointed bailiff of
Cotentin
The Cotentin Peninsula (, ; nrf, Cotentîn ), also known as the Cherbourg Peninsula, is a peninsula in Normandy that forms part of the northwest coast of France. It extends north-westward into the English Channel, towards Great Britain. To its w ...
, a position he held until 1461. He was a confidant of
Charles de France, Duke of Berry (1472), brother of
King Louis XI
Louis XI (3 July 1423 – 30 August 1483), called "Louis the Prudent" (french: le Prudent), was King of France from 1461 to 1483. He succeeded his father, Charles VII.
Louis entered into open rebellion against his father in a short-lived revol ...
. He took part in all the conspiracies against the king, including the
League of the Public Weal
The War of the Public Weal (French: ''La guerre du Bien public'') was a conflict between the king of France and an alliance of feudal nobles, organized in 1465 in defiance of the centralized authority of King Louis XI of France. It was masterminded ...
(1465) and the
Mad War
The Mad War (french: la Guerre folle) was a late medieval conflict between a coalition of feudal lords and the French monarchy. It occurred during the regency of Anne of Beaujeu in the period after the death of Louis XI and before the majority of ...
.
Thanks to the support of Charles, he became
admiral
Admiral is one of the highest ranks in some navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force, and is above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet, ...
in 1469. After the death of Charles of France in November 1472, he rallied on the side of King Louis XI. He was appointed
Admiral of France
Admiral of France (french: Amiral de France) is a French title of honour. It is the naval equivalent of Marshal of France and was one of the Great Officers of the Crown of France.
History
The title was created in 1270 by Louis IX of France, du ...
and remained great seneschal of Guyenne.
[Jean Favier : Louis XI, Fayard 2001, p.644.]
In 1473, he received the county of Comminges, the viscounty of
Fronsac with the seigniory of
Coutras
Coutras () is a commune in the Gironde department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France. Coutras station has rail connections to Bordeaux, Angoulême, Périgueux, Brive-la-Gaillarde and Limoges.
History
The Battle of Coutras, one of the mo ...
. He married Marie of Lescun, lady of Lescun and baroness of
Esparros, the heiress of Lescun and the daughter of Mathieu of Lescun and Diane of Béarn (natural daughter of
John I, Count of Foix
John I, Count of Foix also known as Jean de Foix-Grailly (1382 – 4 May 1436) was Count of Foix from 1428 until his death in 1436. He succeeded his mother Isabella, Countess of Foix. His father was Archambaud de Grailly.
Life Early life
As ...
, Count of Foix and Viscount of Béarn, whose husband Mathieu was the cousin of the bastard of Armagnac Jean of Lescun,
Marshal of France
Marshal of France (french: Maréchal de France, plural ') is a French military distinction, rather than a military rank, that is awarded to generals for exceptional achievements. The title has been awarded since 1185, though briefly abolished (1 ...
and already Count of Comminges). In 1479 he became governor of Rouen and Caen, and played an important role at the court of the Duke of Brittany,
Francis II. He opposed
Anne of France
Anne of France (or Anne de Beaujeu; 3 April 146114 November 1522) was a French princess and regent, the eldest daughter of Louis XI by Charlotte of Savoy. Anne was the sister of Charles VIII, for whom she acted as regent during his minority fro ...
, daughter of Louis XI and regent for his brother
Charles VIII and rallied with the Duke of Orleans, the future
King Louis XII
Louis XII (27 June 14621 January 1515), was King of France from 1498 to 1515 and King of Naples from 1501 to 1504. The son of Charles, Duke of Orléans, and Maria of Cleves, he succeeded his 2nd cousin once removed and brother in law at the time ...
. He was appointed governor of Guyenne in 1484 - while remaining seneschal. However his participation in the Mad War made him lose all of his titles (1487).
Marriage and family
Odet d'Aydie married Marie of Lescun, heiress of the property of his family (including Esparros). They had two daughters:
*Jeanne d'Aydie, wife of Jean de Foix, Viscount of Lautrec, in 1480, mother of, among others,
Odet of Foix.
*Madeleine d'Aydie, wife of Louis de Gramont, Viscount of Castillon.
References
1490 deaths
Counts of Comminges
Year of birth uncertain