When the Viking chieftain

Rollo Rollo (, ''Rolloun''; ; ; – 933), also known with his epithet, Rollo "the Walker", was a Viking who, as Count of Rouen, became the first ruler of Normandy, a region in today's northern France. He was prominent among the Vikings who Siege o ...

obtained the territories via the

Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte The treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte (911) is the foundational document of the Duchy of Normandy, establishing Rollo, a Norse warlord and Viking leader, as the first Duke of Normandy in exchange for his loyalty to Charles III, the king of West Fra ...

which would later make up

Normandy Normandy (; or ) is a geographical and cultural region in northwestern Europe, roughly coextensive with the historical Duchy of Normandy. Normandy comprises Normandy (administrative region), mainland Normandy (a part of France) and insular N ...

, he distributed them as estates among his main supporters. Among these lands were the

seigneurie In English law, seignory or seigniory, spelled ''signiory'' in Early Modern English (; ; ), is the lordship (authority) remaining to a grantor after the grant of an estate in fee simple. '' Nulle terre sans seigneur'' ("No land without a lord") ...

of Harcourt, near

Brionne Brionne () is a commune in the Eure department. Brionne is in the region of Normandy of northern France. Geography The commune along with another 69 communes shares part of a 4,747 hectare, Natura 2000 conservation area, called Risle, Guiel ...

, and the county of

Pont-Audemer Pont-Audemer () is a commune in the Eure department in the Normandy region in northern France.Bernard the Dane, ancestor of the lords (''seigneurs'') of Harcourt. he first to use Harcourt as a name, however, was Anquetil d'Harcourt at the start of the 11th century.

Lords of Harcourt

House of Harcourt The House of Harcourt is a Norman family, and named after its seigneurie of Harcourt in Normandy. Its mottos were "Gesta verbis praeveniant" (Olonde branch), "Gesta verbis praevenient" (Beuvron branch), and "Le bon temps viendra ... de Franc ...

* c.911–c.950 : Bernard the Dane,

governor A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...

and

regent In a monarchy, a regent () is a person appointed to govern a state because the actual monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge their powers and duties, or the throne is vacant and a new monarch has not yet been dete ...

of the

duchy of Normandy The Duchy of Normandy grew out of the 911 Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte between Charles the Simple, King Charles III of West Francia and the Viking leader Rollo. The duchy was named for its inhabitants, the Normans. From 1066 until 1204, as a r ...

in 943 *: married Sprote, princess of

Bourgogne Burgundy ( ; ; Burgundian: ''Bregogne'') is a historical territory and former administrative region and province of east-central France. The province was once home to the Dukes of Burgundy from the early 11th until the late 15th century. T ...

* c.950–c.960 : Torf le Riche, baron de Tourville, son of Bernard *: married Ertemberge de

Bricquebec Bricquebec () is a former commune in the Manche department in Normandy in northwestern France. On 1 January 2016, it was merged into the new commune of Bricquebec-en-Cotentin.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 The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' () "fame, glory, honour, praise, reno ...

, Brother 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'Elbeuf, son of William *:married Jeanne de Meulan in 1179 * 1212–1239 : Richard, Baron of Harcourt (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),

marshal Marshal is a term used in several official titles in various branches of society. As marshals became trusted members of the courts of Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the title grew in reputation. During the last few centuries, it has been used fo ...

and

admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in many 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. Admiral is ranked above vice admiral and below admiral of ...

of France, son of John I *:married first Agnès de Lorraine, daughter of

Frederick III, Duke of Lorraine Frederick III () (1240 – 31 December 1303) was the Duke of Lorraine from 1251 to his death. He was the only son and successor of Matthias II and Catherine of Limburg. He was not yet thirteen years of age when his father died, so his mother ...

*:married second Jeanne de Châtellerault * 1302–1329 : John III of Harcourt (d. 1329), son of John II and Jeanne de Châtellerault *:married Alix de Reginar, daughter of

Godfrey of Brabant Godfrey of Brabant (died July 11, 1302, in Kortrijk), was Lord of Aarschot, between 1284 and his death in 1302, and Lord of Vierzon, between 1277 and 1302. Biography Godfrey was the third son of Henry III, Duke of Brabant and Adelaide of Bu ...

Counts of Harcourt

The barony of Harcourt was erected into the county of Harcourt, together with the seigneuries of

Lillebonne Lillebonne () is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Normandy region in Northern France. It lies north of the Seine and east of Le Havre. History Before the Roman conquest of Gaul, the site was the capital of the Caletes tribe ...

, Troispierres, La Saussaye and

Elbeuf Elbeuf () is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Normandy region in northern France. Geography A light industrial town situated by the banks of the Seine some south of Rouen at the junction of the D7, D321 and the D313 roads. The ...

, by

letters patent Letters patent (plurale tantum, plural form for singular and plural) are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch, President (government title), president or other head of state, generally granti ...

of Philip VI in March 1338.

House of Harcourt

* 1329–1346 : John IV (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 * 1346–1356 :

John V John V may refer to: * Patriarch John V of Alexandria or John the Merciful (died by 620), Patriarch of Alexandria from 606 to 616 * John V of Constantinople, Patriarch from 669 to 675 * Pope John V (685–686), Pope from 685 to his death in 686 ...

(d. 5 April 1356,

Rouen Rouen (, ; or ) is a city on the River Seine, in northwestern France. It is in the prefecture of Regions of France, region of Normandy (administrative region), Normandy and the Departments of France, department of Seine-Maritime. Formerly one ...

), son of John IV *:married Blanche de Ponthieu,

Countess of Aumale The County of Aumale, later elevated to a Duchy, was a medieval fief in the Duchy of Normandy, disputed between France and England during parts of the Hundred Years' War. Norman nobility Aumale was a medieval fief in the Duchy of Normandy and, ...

, sister of Joan of Ponthieu, Dame of Epernon * 1355–1389 : John VI (1342–1389), son of John V *:married Catherine de Bourbon (d. 1427), daughter of

Peter I, Duke of Bourbon Peter I of Bourbon (Pierre Ier, Duc de Bourbon in French; 1311 – 19 September 1356) 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 M ...

, in 1359 * 1389–1452 : John VII (1370–1452), son of John VI *:married

Marie d'Alençon Marie d'Alençon (29 March 1373 – 1417) was a French noblewoman, a Princess of the Blood, and the wife of Jean VII of Harcourt, Count of Harcourt and of Aumale, Viscount of Châtellerault, Baron of Elbeuf, of Mézières, of Lillebone, of L ...

(1373–1417), daughter of

Pierre II, Count of Alençon Pierre II of Alençon, called The Noble e Noble(1340 – 20 September 1404; , or ''Pierre de Valois''), was Count of Alençon from 1361 and Count of Perche from 1377. He was the son of Charles II of Alençon and María de la Cerda. Biog ...

, in 1390 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 may refer to the following. People Given name * Marie (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the name ** List of people named Marie * Marie (Japanese given name) Surname * Jean Gabriel-Marie, French compo ...

, wife of

Antoine, Count of Vaudémont Antoine of Vaudémont ( – 22 March 1458) was Count of Vaudémont and Sieur de Joinville from 1418 to 1458. By marriage, he was also Count of Harcourt, Count of Aumale, and Baron of Elbeuf from 1452 to 1458. Life His uncle Charles II, Duke o ...

, 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 Aumale (), formerly known as Albemarle," is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Normandy region in north-western France. It lies on the River Bresle. History The town's Latin name was ''Alba Marla''. It was raised by William ...

. However, litigation continued between the de Rieux and the Vaudémont-Lorraine through the late 15th century.

House of Vaudémont-Lorraine

* 1454–1476 : Marie, Countess of Harcourt, daughter of John VII, with: *: her husband

1454–1458 *: her son John of Vaudémont 1458–1473 *: her grandson

René II, Duke of Lorraine René II (2 May 1451 – 10 December 1508) 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 ...

1473–1476 * 1476–1495 :

House of Rieux

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. * 1495–1518 : Jean IV de Rieux (1447–1518), son of François *:married Isabelle de Brosse (died 1527), daughter of John VI, 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 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, head of a cadet branch of the House of Lorraine.

House of Lorraine The House of Lorraine () originated as a cadet branch of the House of Metz. It inherited the Duchy of Lorraine in 1473 after the death without a male heir of Nicholas I, Duke of Lorraine. By the marriage of Francis of Lorraine to Maria Ther ...

* 1557–1570 : Louise de Rieux (1531–1570), sister of Henri *:married René, Marquis of Elbeuf (1536–1566) in 1555 *1566–1605 :

Charles I, Duke of Elbeuf Charles I de Lorraine, duc d'Elbeuf (Joinville, 18 October 1556 – Moulins, 4 August 1605) was a French noble, military commander and governor during the French Wars of Religion. The son of the most minor cadet house of the children of Claude, D ...

(1556–1605), son of René *:married Marguerite de Chabot (1565–1652) in 1583 * 1605–1666 :

Henri, Count of Harcourt Henri de Lorraine (20 March 1601 – 25 July 1666, Royaumont Abbey), known as ''Cadet la Perle'', was a French nobleman. He was count of Harcourt, count of Armagnac, count of Brionne and viscount of Marsan. He was the younger son of Charles ...

(1601–1666), younger son of Charles I * 1666–1694 :

François Louis, Count of Harcourt François Louis de Lorraine (1623 – 27 June 1694) was a member of the House of Lorraine. He was Count of Harcourt. He was also the Count of Rieux, Rochefort and Montlaur. He was also Marquis of Maubec as well as the Baron of Aubenas. Biography ...

, (1627–1694), nephew of Henri, son of

Charles II, Duke of Elbeuf Charles II, Duke of Elbeuf (5 November 1596 – 5 November 1657), was a French nobleman, the son of Charles I, Duke of Elbeuf, by his wife, Marguerite de Chabot. He succeeded his father in the Elbeuf dukedom (Elbœuf is an alternate, anglicized s ...

*: married Anne d'Ornano (died 1695) in 1645 * 1694–1718 :

Alphonse Henri, Count of Harcourt Alphonse Henri de Lorraine (Alphonse Henri Charles; 14 August 1648 – 19 October 1718) was a member of the House of Lorraine and Count of Harcourt. Early life Born to François Louis, Count of Harcourt and his wife, Anne d'Ornano, Marquise de ...

(1648–1718), styled the prince d'Harcourt, son of François Louis *:married Marie Françoise de Brancas (died 1715) in 1667 * 1719–1739 : Joseph, Count of Harcourt (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

Bonnétable Bonnétable () is a commune in the Sarthe department in the region of Pays de la Loire, northwestern France. In February 1965, it absorbed the former commune Aulaines.John V of Harcourt.

Dukes of Harcourt

The title of ''duc d'Harcourt'' was granted in 1700 by

Louis XIV LouisXIV (Louis-Dieudonné; 5 September 16381 September 1715), also known as Louis the Great () or the Sun King (), was King of France from 1643 until his death in 1715. His verified reign of 72 years and 110 days is the List of longest-reign ...

to Henry d'Harcourt (1654–1718),

marshal of France Marshal of France (, plural ') is a French military distinction, rather than a military rank, that is awarded to General officer, generals for exceptional achievements. The title has been awarded since 1185, though briefly abolished (1793–1804) ...

, 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

. Their most famous residence was the Château du Champ-de-Bataille. * 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 d'Harcourt (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'Harcourt François Henri d'Harcourt, 5th Duke of Harcourt (12 January 1726 – 22 July 1802) was a French general, duke and peer. He emigrated during the French Revolution, and he became a representative of Louis XVIII of France to the British governmen ...

(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) * 1997-2020 : François Henri (1928-2020), duc d'Harcourt, son of Charles *:married Isabelle Roubeau (1961-) * 2020-present : Geoffroy (1952-), duc d'Harcourt, cousin of François *:married Hélène de Nicolay (1962-)

References

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