The Seneschal of Poitou was an officer carrying out and managing the domestic affairs of the lord of the

County of Poitou The County of Poitou (Latin ''comitatus Pictavensis'') was a historical region of France, consisting of the three sub-regions of Vendée, Deux-Sèvres and Vienne. Its name is derived from the ancient Gaul tribe of Pictones. The county was bounded ...

. During the course of the twelfth century, the seneschalship, also became an office of military command. Originally, the seneschal managed the comital household, coordinating between the receivers of various landholdings and the chamber, treasury, and the chancellory or chapel. From 1138, the office was converted into that of a vice-regent governing the county in the absence of the count. In that year, King Louis VII of France, who had become count by marriage to the countess,

Eleanor of Aquitaine Eleanor ( – 1 April 1204; french: Aliénor d'Aquitaine, ) was Queen of France from 1137 to 1152 as the wife of King Louis VII, Queen of England from 1154 to 1189 as the wife of King Henry II, and Duchess of Aquitaine in her own right from 1 ...

, appointed the hereditary seneschal William de Mauzé to govern the county in his absence.Judith Everard, "The 'Justiciarship' in Brittany and Ireland under Henry II", ''Anglo-Norman Studies'' 20 (1997), p. 93. The seneschals of Poitou, like those appointed in

Normandy Normandy (; french: link=no, Normandie ; nrf, Normaundie, Nouormandie ; from Old French , plural of ''Normant'', originally from the word for "northman" in several Scandinavian languages) is a geographical and cultural region in Northwestern ...

, Gascony, and

Anjou Anjou may refer to: Geography and titles France * County of Anjou, a historical county in France and predecessor of the Duchy of Anjou **Count of Anjou, title of nobility *Duchy of Anjou, a historical duchy and later a province of France **Duk ...

had custody of demesne fortresses, the regional treasuries, and presidency of the highest court of regional custom.

List of Seneschals

*William de Mauzé (1138) *Geoffrey de la Celle (1201) * Savari de Mauléon (1205) - first appointment *

Robert of Thornham Robert of Thornham (or Robert de Turnham) (died 1211) was an English soldier and administrator. The namesake of his landowner father, he was the younger brother of Stephen of Thornham. Robert made his reputation in connection with the conquest o ...

(1207) *

Hubert de Burgh Hubert de Burgh, Earl of Kent (; ; ; c.1170 – before 5 May 1243) was an English nobleman who served as Chief Justiciar of England and Ireland during the reigns of King John and of his son and successor King Henry III and, as a consequenc ...

(1212–?) * Geoffrey de Neville (1215) * Reginald of Pons (1215–?) ** Philip of Oldcoates (1220) - died while enroute *Savari de Mauléon (1220?) - second appointment *

Eustache de Beaumarchais Eustache de Beaumarchais (''c''. 1235 – 23 August 1294) was a French baron and military leader who served as seneschal of the County of Poitou (1268–76) and the County of Toulouse (1272–94). He took part in the War of the Navarrería in 12 ...

(1268–1276) * Philippe de Rémi (1284-1287) *

Jean de Lille Jean de Lille, Seneschal of Poitou was a 14th century French noble. Life Lille raised a Poitevin army to besiege Lusignan Castle held by an Anglo-Gascon garrison in Summer 1349. He attacked an Anglo-Gason force of 500 mounted men, led by Thomas ...

(1349) * William Felton (1360) *

John Chandos Sir John Chandos, Viscount of Saint-Sauveur in the Cotentin, Constable of Aquitaine, Seneschal of Poitou, (c. 1320 – 31 December 1369) was a medieval English knight who hailed from Radbourne Hall, Derbyshire. Chandos was a close friend of ...

(1369)

Notes

References

* Warren, W.L.; ''Henry II (English Monarchs)'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Seneschal Of Poitou 12th century in France 13th century in France Historical legal occupations Legal history of France