Brissac was assigned the status of county in 1560 and allotted to Charles, the elder, who was grandmaster of artillery, and governor of Piedmont and of Picardy. It was he who introduced the Italian violin to the French court. The second, Artus, who held the offices of grand panetier of France and superintendent of finance, distinguished himself in the religious wars. Charles II de Cossé, Duke of Brissac fought for the League, and as governor of Paris opened the gates of that town to Henry IV, who created him marshal of France in 1594.

Brissac was raised in status to a duchy in the peerage of France in 1611. Louis Hercule Timoléon de Cossé-Brissac, the commandant of the constitutional guard of Louis XVI, was killed during the September Massacres at Versailles on September 9, 1792 for his devotion to the king, at which his body was butchered and his head severed. The head was wrapped in a cloth and transported by a drunken peasant mob to the château de Louveciennes, and thrown into an open window, landing at the feet of his lover, Madame du Barry.

Key members of the family

Military

• Charles ^I de Cosse ( in 1507 - one thousand five hundred and sixty-four ), Comte de Brissac , marshal of France in 1550 ;
• Artus de Cosse-Brissac ( 1512 - one thousand five hundred eighty-two ), lord of Gonnord and Earl of Secondigny († 1582 ), marshal of France in 1567 ;
• Timoleon de Cosse ( one thousand five hundred forty-three - one thousand five hundred sixty-nine ), French military;
• Charles II de Cosse ( 1562 - 1,626 ), first Duke of Brissac, Peer of France , Henry IV gave him the baton of Marshal of France;
• Jean Paul Timoleon de Cosse-Brissac ( 1,698 - 1 780 ), seventh Duke of Brissac, marshal of France in 1768 ;
• Louis Hercule Timoleon de Cosse-Brissac ( in 1734 - in 1792 ), the eighth Duke of Brissac, governor of Paris, Colonel of the Hundred Swiss ;
• Charles de Cosse-Brissac (1904-1990), general director of the History Department of the Army.

Writers

• Elvira de Brissac, writer.

Other

• Louis Joseph Timoleon de Cosse ( 1733 - in 1759 ), Duke de Cosse;
• Arthus Timoleon Hugues Gabriel (1790-1857), Count de Cosse-Brissac , knight of the orders of the King , the first of France Pannetier;
• Pierre de Cosse Brissac (1900-1993), Ecole Polytechnique, an artillery officer and then industrial, President of the Jockey Club.
• Francis de Cosse-Brissac , President of the Jockey Club and Grand Master Emeritus of the Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem ;
• Charles-Henri de Cosse-Brissac (1936-2003), Chairman of the General Council of Loire-Atlantique and Senator .
• During the war in Algeria , the Abbe de Cosse-Brissac, pastor of the church of Saint-Michel de Dijon , became known for his denunciation of the use of torture by the French army he calls " collective sin " .

The Genealogy of the Ducal House

Hyacinthe Hugues TIMOLÉON de Cossé-Brissac, Duc de Cossé (8 Nov 1746-Paris 19 Jun 1813); m.1st 18 Aug 1777 Marie Louise de Wignacourt (1750-2 May 1778); m.2d Paris 24 May 1784 Françoise Dorothée d'Orléans- Rothelin (29 Sep 1752-Paris 29 Nov 1818)

1a) Anne Pétronille Constance Sophie (Paris 30 Sep 1772- )

2a) Augustin Marie Paul Pétronille TIMOLÉON, Duc de Brissac (13 Jan 1775-8 Apr 1848); m.1st 14 Sep 1795 Elisabeth Louise de Malide (1778-29 Mar 1818); m.2d Paris 19 Mar 1828 Augustine Rosalie Css de Bruc de Signy (Graz 29 Mar 1802-Paris 8 Apr 1848)

1b) Marie Artus TIMOLÉON, Duc de Brissac (Dijon 13 May 1813-Paris 11 Sep 1888); m.Paris 22 Jun 1843 Angélique Marie Le Lièvre de La Grange (Paris 22 Mar 1822-Paris 2 Dec 1873)

1c) Roland, Marquis de Brissac (Paris 23 Oct 1843-Geneva 6 Apr 1871); m.Paris 25 Apr 1866 Jeanne Marie Say (Paris 17 Nov 1848-Brissac 18 May 1916)

1d) Anne Marie Timoléon FRANÇOIS, Duc de Brissac (Paris 12 Feb 1868-Saumur 17 Feb 1944); m.1st Bonnelles 6 Nov 1894 (rel) 7 Nov 1894 Mathilde Renée de Crussol (Paris 4 Mar 1875-Paris 31 May 1908); m.2d Paris 21 Nov 1911 Eugénie Joséphine Marie Marguerite de Beaurepaire (St.Germain-en-Laye 12 Apr 1875-Paris 8 May 1936)

1e) Anne Marie Mathilde Françoise (Paris 17 Jul 1897-Billère 8 Aug 1982); m.Paris 21 Jun 1926 (rel) l'église Saint-Honoré d'Eylau 22 Jun 1926 Gaston Marie Joseph Antoine Vcte de Luppé (Paris 4 Mar 1872-Paris 13 Aug 1939)

2e) Jean Louis Timoléon Roland, Marquis de Brissac (Paris 14 Dec 1898-Nantes 30 Jul 1936); m.Paris 10 Jul 1933 (rel) 11 Jul 1933 Jeanne Helene Alix Bienvenue Pss and Dss d'Arenberg (Paris 3 Jul 1909-Larmor Baden, Morbihan 13 Aug 1964)

3e) Simon Charles Timoléon PIERRE, Duc de Brissac (13 Mar 1900-Boulogne- Billancourt 4 Apr 1993); m.Paris 21 Jun 1924 (rel) 23 Jun 1924 Mare Zélie Antoinette Eugénie Schneider (Paris 16 Jul 1902-château d'Apremont 14 Jul 1999)

1f) Eugénie Marguerite Marie-Pierre, b.Paris 12 Nov 1925; m.1st Meaudre 7 Jan 1947 (div 1954) Simon Nora (Paris 21 Feb 1921-5 Mar 2006); m.2d Paris 23 Jul 1964 (div 1976) Maurice André Raymond Herzog (b.Lyon 15 Jan 1919); m.3d Paris 25 May 1988 Christian Frédéric Henri Schmidt (b.Neuilly 20 Jul 1938)

2f) Eugène Marie Timoléon FRANÇOIS, Duc de Brissac, b.Le Creusot 19 Feb 1929; m.Paris 16 May 1958 (rel) La Celle les Bordes 31 May 1958 Jacqueline Alice Marie de Contades (b.Paris 17 Apr 1940)

1g) Agnès Alexandra Marie Bienvenue, b.Neuilly 5 Mar 1960; m.Brissac-Quincé 12 Sep 1981 Bruno Marie Michel Paul Gérard van den Broek d'Obrenan (b.Versailles 7 Sep 1952)

2g) Charles-André Raymond Timoléon Aymard Hubert Marie, Marquis de Brissac, b.Neuilly 3 Nov 1962; m.Maine-et-Loire 1993 Larissa Gfn Széchényi de Sárvár-Felsövidek (b.Vienna 28 Dec 1967)

1h) Laszlo, b.Angers 5 Jul 1994

2h) Irina, b.château de Brissac 13 Jul 1996

3h) Délia, b.château de Brissac 10 Aug 1998

4h) Annabel, b.Angers 17 Sep 2002

3g) Angélique Patricia Marie, b.Neuilly 6 Sep 1965; m.Brissac-Quincé 8 Jan 1983 Vcte Stanislas Trafford François Marie de Rougé (b.Paris 5 Jul 1961)

4g) Marie-Antoinette Elvire, b.Neuilly 26 Jan 1968; m.Philippe Leclerq

5g) Pierre-Emmanuel Timoléon Marie Raymond, b.Neuilly 20 Aug 1974; m. La Baule-Escoublac 29 Jul 2006 (rel) Brissac-Quincé 2 Sep 2006 Marie-Astrid Larue (b.Saint Nazaire 13 Nov 1981)

3f) Armand Marie Timoléon Gilles (Paris 11 Jul 1935-Paris 17 Feb 2002)

4f) Jacqueline Rolande Marie Elvire, b.Paris 19 Jan 1939

2d) Marguerite Constance Marie Diane (Paris 19 Dec 1869-Beloeil 10 Apr 1950); m.Paris 3 Jan 1887 (rel) 4 Jan 1887 Ernest Louis Henri Lamoral Pr de Ligne (Paris 12 Jan 1857-Brussels 23 Jun 1937)

2c) Augustin Marie Maurice (Brissac 7 Nov 1846-Fontainebleau 6 Nov 1910); m.Paris 3 Jan 1874 (rel) 5 Jan 1874 Jeanne-Marie Marrier de Boisdyver (Martagne 1 May 1850-Fontainebleau 5 Jun 1941)

1d) René Timoléon Marie (Paris 12 Oct 1874-Paris 27 Mar 1951); m.1st Paris 30 Nov 1899 Edmée Mathilde Marguerite Anne Mortier de Trévise (Paris 19 Nov 1878-Fontainebleau 25 Jan 1905); m.2d Paris 21 Apr 1908 Yvonne Pauline Marie Antoinette Ferron de La Ferronays (La Roche de Bran 16 Aug 1878-Paris 15 Nov 1959)

1e) Marguerite Marie Jeanne (Fontainebleau 24 Jun 1901-Nogent-sur-Marne 18 Dec 1966)

2e) Charles Marie Edouard (Fontainebleau 5 Jun 1903-Paris 9 Apr 1990); m.Paris 15 Dec 1928 (rel) 17 Dec 1928 Herminie Renée Marie de Rohan-Chabot (La Lude 22 Aug 1907- Paris 27 Jun 1982)

1f) Edouard Marie René Maurice, b.La Lude 3 Sep 1929; m.Paris 27 Jun (rel) 29 Jun 1960 Diane Hélène Marie Roberte de Gramont (b.Paris 25 Jun 1941)

1g) Anne Claire Marie Béatrix, b.Paris 2 Jun 1962; m.Fayel 20 Jun 1983 [25 Jun?] Cte Patrice Henri Marie Lombard de Buffières de Rambuteau (b.Boulogne- Billancourt 21 Aug 1960)
2g) Henri Alain Armand Marie Charles, b.Paris 21 Apr 1963; m.Versailles 26 Oct 1996 Lucile Cornet-Vernet (b.Paris 11 May 1968)

1h) Côme Alain Edouard Marie, b.Paris 11 Mar 1998

2h) Eloi Charles Gui Marie, b.Paris 30 Sep 1999

3h) Élénor, b.Paris 31 May 2003

3g) Philippe Alain Jean Jacques Marie Noël Michel, b.Paris 25 Dec 1966; m.Le Fayel 25 Apr 1998 Cécile Thérèse Séverine Anne Lannes de Montebello (b.Geneva 22 Dec 1971)

1h) Charles Artus Marie Roger, b.Paris 12 Nov 1999

2h) Alix Marie Diane, b.Neuilly 29 Oct 2001

3h) Adrien Georges Marie Laurent, b.Neuilly 19 Aug 2005

4g) Armand Robert René Maurice Marie, b.Paris 18 Nov 1967; m.Châteaubriand 18 May 2002 Cécile Diquéro (b.Châteaubriant 6 Jul 1968)

1h) Flore (b.26 Feb 2004)

2f) Maurice Marie Jean, b.Paris 26 May 1931; m.Paris 15 Dec 1958 (rel) 17 Dec 1958 Béatrice Marie Jeanne Kate Millin de Grandmaison (Paris 9 Jun 1934-Paris 12 Dec 1967)

1g) Hélène Herminie Marie Hyacinthe, b.Neuilly 26 Sep 1960; m.1st Paris 5 Mar (rel) 7 Mar 1981 (div 1991) Vincenz Pr v.u.zu Liechtenstein (b.Graz 30 Jul 1950); m.2nd Biarritz 6 Jun 1996 Friedrich Klaus Andreas Byloff (b.Graz 2 Apr 1957)

3f) Louis René Marie Anne, b.Strasbourg 25 Oct 1938; m.Luché Pringé 27 May 1967 Armelle Hélène Marguerite Marie Roque (b.Montifray 13 Apr 1940)

1g) Eglantine Marie Elisabeth, b.Paris 14 Feb 1973

4f) Anne (Nancy) Marie Yvonne, b.Paris 19 Nov 1940; m.Le Fayel 10 Jun 1967 Geoffroy Henri Marie Roullet de La Bouillerie, Cte de La Bouillerie (Paris 5 Mar 1932-5 Sep 1996)

5f) Marguerite Marie Geneviève, b.Paris 19 Nov 1940; m.Le Fayel 18 May 1963 Alban Marie Clause Alefsen d'Assier de Boisredon, Cte d'Assier de Boisredon (b.Thonon-les-Bains 17 Mar 1936)

6f) Cathérine Marie Henriette, b.Paris 19 Nov 1940

3e) Philippe Pierre Artus (Fontainebleau 20 Jan 1905-Geneva 20 May 1963); m.Paris 3 Dec 1937 (rel) 6 Dec 1937 Henriette Anne-Marie Éliane de La Rochefoucauld (Paris 4 Aug 1912-14 Sep 1999)

1f) Gabrielle Anne Marie, b.Paris 17 Jun 1941; m.Paris 27 Aug 1964 (rel) 1 Sep 1964 Roland Marie Joseph Yves Gérard de Talhouët de Boishorand, Cte de Talhouët (b.Amanlis 11 May 1932)

2f) Florence Marie Thérèse, b.Châtres-sur-Cher 22 Aug 1944; m.Paris 20 Sep 1967 (rel) 22 Sep 1967 Baron Arnaud Marie Jean Jacques de Milleville (b.Bavay 3 Sep 1931)

4e) Magdelaine Marie Jeanne (Fontainebleau 1 Aug 1909-Paris 15 Nov 2004); m.Paris 14 Oct 1929 (rel) 15 Oct 1929 (div 1961) Jean Ursin Maximilien Marie Le Sellier Vcte de Chezelles (Paris 10 Jan 1906-23 Jul 1999)

5e) Artus Timoléon Henri Anne Marie Joseph (Châlons-sur-Marne 29 Feb 1912-Paris 12 May 1982); m.1st Paris 28 May 1935 (rel) 29 May 1935 Marie-Henriette Alice de Guéhéneuc de Boishue (Laval 23 Dec 1911-Paris 10 Mar 1938); m.2d Châteauroux 30 Oct 1942 [2 Oct 1942?] Marguerite Marie Mercedes Roselyne Balsan (b.Paris 27 Jan 1914)

1f) Charles-Henri Marie Artus (Paris 16 Mar 1936-15 Aug 2003); m.Paris 1 Jul 1959 (rel) 3 Jul 1959 Alyette Jeanne Marie Léonie Budes de Guébriant (b.Paris 6 Aug 1931)

1g) Marie-Henriette, b.Paris 23 Apr 1961; m.Paris 30 Jun 1984 (rel) 6 Jul 1984 Vcte Charles-Albert Guy Marie de Vanssay (b.Nice 20 Feb 1954)

2g) Anne-Françoise, b.Paris 5 Jun 1962; m.Paris 21 May 1986 Cte Jacques Chalres Marie Joseph de Bruce (b.Paris 19 Oct 1958)

3g) Alain Régis, b.Paris 8 Mar 1967; m.Haironville 5 Jul 1997 Sophie Lemarié (b.Paris 6 Apr 1971)

1h) Thomas, b.Paris 3 Aug 2001

2h) Augustin, b.Paris 3 Aug 2001

2d) Jean Marie Henri (Bordeaux 6 Nov 1879-Fontainebleau 12 Mar 1958)

3c) Joseph Gustave Pierre (Paris 28 Dec 1852- ); m.Paris 19 Jul 1886 Antoinette Felicie Marie Thérèse Seillière (Paris 15 Apr 1867- )

2b) Armandine (Villeneuve-sous-Dammartin 19 Sep 1816-Bordeaux 20 Apr 1882); m.Versailles 21 Sep 1841 Henri, Comte de Bonneval (Bordeaux 9 Mar 1806-La Tresne 13 Jun 1882)

3b) Aimé Maurice Artus Cte de Cossé Brissac (Brissac 1 Nov 1829-Paris 23 Apr 1890); m.Paris 28 May 1859 Alix Marie de Walsh Serrant (Château Serrant 2 Feb 1829-Paris 2 Jan 1895)

1c) Marie Augustine Elisabeth (21 Feb 1860- ); m.N Baron de Valsuzenay

2c) Louise Elisabeth Jeanne Marie Thérèse, Dss de la Mothe Houdancourt (Le Fayel 27 Jul 1861- Paris 4 Feb 1940); m.1st Paris 27 Jun 1883 (rel) 28 Jun 1883 Cte Anne Marie Renaud de Moustier (Paris 24 Feb 1850-Paris 2 Jan 1904); m.2d Paris 19 Oct 1907 Valentin John Hussen-Walsh (Blackrock, Dublin 17 Feb 1862-Le Fayel 25 Apr 1925)

3a) Charles (26 Mar 1776-30 Apr 1802); m.1797 Anne-Françoise de Cluzel (1775-6 Jan 1850)

1b) Charles Marcel Louis (11 Aug 1800-25 Apr 1881); m.15 Jan 1833 Marie Antoinette Françoise de Cluzel (1793-29 Oct 1869)

1c) Antoine François, Marquis de Cossé (Paris 1 Jan 1834-La Chabrerie 21 Sep 1902); m.1st Paris 24 Oct 1857 Marie Charlotte de Gontaut-Biron (Paris 24 Apr 1840-Saint-Luperce 12 Oct 1873); m.2d Paris 18 Jul 1883 Emily Spensley (England 16 Mar 1845-Reyrieux 20 Jan 1931)

1d) Charles Marie Laurent (Paris 10 Sep 1859-Paris 8 Jun 1892); m.Paris 2 Jul 1891 (rel) 4 Jul 1891 Nathalie Marie Charlotte de Biencourt (Guérard 4 Nov 1865-Blanville 28 May 1957)

2d) Louise (Paris 18 Sep 1862-2 May 1890); m.Paris 29 Nov 1884 Louis de Bourbon (Paris 24 Oct 1856-4 Jul 1920)

3d) Anne Marie Antoinette (Périgueux 1 Jul 1884-Neuilly 4 Nov 1963); m.1st château l'Eveque 25 Jul 1905 François Marie Joseph Edouard Jehan de la Croix de Saint Cyprien (Angoulême 17 Jun 1876-k.a.Ypres 3 Nov 1914); m.2d Paris 14 Sep 1920 Marie Antoine Louis Bellet de Tavernot, Baron de Saint-Trivier (Reyrieux 11 Nov 1868-Lyon 5 Jul 1926)

4d) Eugène Marcel de Cossé-Brissac de Liencourt, Marquis de Cossé (château Bouteyre 14 Sep 1886-Blanville 31 Oct 1957); m.1st Paris 4 Aug 1910 (rel) 6 Aug 1910 Marie Thérèse Gouhier de Charencey (Paris 11 Feb 1887-Leysin 27 Jun 1924); m.2d Paris 19 Jul 1930 (rel) 21 Jul 1930 Jeanne Béatrix Marie Victurnienne de Ludre (Paris 7 Jun 1895-Paris 16 May 1977)

1e) Marie Raoul François Antoine, Marquis de Cossé (château Nauvay 22 Sep 1912-Aug 1994); m.Paris 21 Jan 1941 Claude Marguerite Marthe Marie Boudousquié (Paris 16 Nov 1917-Six-Fours-les-Plages (Var) 16 Dec 2005)

1f) Laurence Cathérine, b.Nauvay 27 May 1943; m.Nauvay 27 Oct 1973 Sixte Marie Charles Jean Rossignol de La Ronde (b.St-Firmin 20 Jan 1943)

2f) Marie-Anne Cathérine, b.Nauvay 27 Jul 1944; m.Nauvey 8 Oct 1966 Charles Marie Georges Michel de Bertoult de Hautecloque, Cte de Bertoult (b.Saint-Germain-Lespinasse 8 Dec 1939)

3f) Marie-Christine Louise Cathérine, b.Nauvay 12 Aug 1946; m.Nauvay 26 Jun 1971 Jacques Marie Laurent Merveilleux du Vignaux (b.Paris 5 Jan 1938)

4f) Chantal Evelyne Andrée Cathérine Marie, b.Nauvay 13 Oct 1948; m.Nauvay 25 Apr 1970 François-Louis Gustave Nusse (b.Paris 16 Jun 1935)

5f) Marcel Marie Albert, Marquis de Cossé, b.Toulon 1 May 1962; m.Wennigsen 9 Apr 1994 Benita v.Wedel (b.Hannover 27 Jun 1961)

1g) Charlotte, b.Nauvay 29 Jan 1996

2g) Céline, b.Nauvay 5 Sep 1997

3g) Matthieu Antoine Olaf Marie, b.Nauvay 21 May 2001

2e) Évelyne Marie Marcelle, b.Paris 25 Jul 1915; m.Saint-Luperce 3 Dec 1938 Baudouin Marie Joseph Henry de Calonne d'Avesnes, Cte de Calonne (Evreux 12 Sep 1907-29 Jan 1999)

3e) Marie Henriette Simone (Paris 16 May 1917-Jun 1997; m.Paris 24 Jan (rel) 25 Jan 1945 Jean Marie Louis de la Tour du Pin Chambly de la Charce (b.Chamarande 1 Jul 1914)

4e) Charles Louis Ferri Marie, b.Lyon 23 May 1931; m.Saint-Luperce 19 Sep (rel) Chartres 20 Sep 1958 Anita Marie Olga Thérèse de Lisieux Camille Balthazare Pss v.Lobkowicz (b.Neuilly 13 Dec 1937)

1f) Anita Diane Françoise Elisabeth Thérèse Jeanne Kaspara Marie, b.Neuilly 4 Oct 1959; m.Paris 1991 Marc Robert Boucard

2f) Diane Marie Jeanne Irma Melchiora, b.Neuilly 5 Dec 1960; m.28 Aug 1995 Vcte Philippe Gilart de Keranflec'h

3f) Emmanuel Ferri Marie Georges Christian, b.Neuilly 6 Oct 1962; m.Saint-Luperce 8 Jul 1988 (rel) Chartres 9 Jul 1988 Lisa Jane Cooper (b.Brisbane, Australia 2 Dec 1959)

1g) Clémence, b.Brisbane 1990

2g) Hugo, b.Brisbane 1992

3g) Gabrielle, b.Brisbane 1993

5e) Thérèse Marie Charlotte (Paris 3 May 1933-London 22 Nov 2004); m.Saint-Luperce 29 Jan 1959 (rel) Paris 30 Jan 1959 Cte Etienne Gilles Marie de Maupeou d'Ableiges (b.Angers 1 Apr 1931)

6e) Paule Jeanne Marie Bernadette (Paris 4 Dec 1934--Paris 11 Jul 2001); m.Saint-Luperce 23 Apr 1960 Baron Louis Hainguerlot (Toulon 11 Nov 1931-Paris 24 Jun 2005)

7e) Eliane Marie, b.Paris 31 May 1936; m.Saint-Luperce 9 May 1959 Cte Charles-Albert Marie de Lévis Mirepoix, Marquis de Lévis (b.Paris 18 Jul 1929)

4a) Emmanuel Desiré Delie Michel Timoléon Cte de Brissac (3 Jul 1793-24 Apr 1870); m.27 Oct 1817 Henriette de Montmorency, Pss de Robech (28 Aug 1798-22 Sep 1860)

1b) Henri, Pr de Robech (13 Aug 1822-5 Aug 1887); m.26 Apr 1851 Louise Marie Mathéa de Beau de Robiac (24 Feb 1829-Paris 26 Nov 1914)

1c) Louis Henri Marie Timoléon, Pr de Robech (Paris 21 Aug 1852-Paris 17 Oct 1925)

2c) Charles Timoléon Anne Marie Illide (Paris 18 Jan 1856-Paris 15 Jun 1899); m.Paris 6 Jul 1881 Marie Jeanne Isabelle Radegonde Mathilde de Pérusse des Cars (La Roche-de-Bran 14 Nov 1860-château de La Morosière 20 Oct 1928)

1d) Marie Jeanne Henriette Elisabeth, Pss de Robech (Brestot 8 Jul 1884-Paris 17 Dec 1951); m.Paris 11 Jun 1906 (rel) 12 Jun 1906 Guy Emmanuel Ghislain Marie Louis, Cte de Lévis-Mirepoix, Pr de Robech (Paris 11 Mar 1879-château de La Morosière 12 Mar 1940)

3c) Anne Marie Henriette (Paris 8 Jun 1865-château de Pontcallec 22 Oct 1934); m.Paris 30 Aug 1888 Guy de Durfot-Civrac, Duc de Lorge (d.26 Jul 1912)

2b) Marie Berthe (17 Sep 1825-25 Jan 1896); m.29 May 1849 Emile Cte de Robien (11 Sep 1814-19 Jun 1861)

3b) Marie Chrétien Timoléon Fernand (Paris 14 Dec 1826-Paris 16 Apr 1905); m.Paris 5 Jul 1852 Caroline Joséphine Marie Boutet (Maranville 15 Apr 1833-25 Mar 1934)

1c) Marie Emmanuel Christian Charles, Cte de Brissac (Paris 14 May 1853-Paris 27 Jun 1943); m.Paris 9 Jul 1884 Laurence de Mandat-Grancey (Dôle 24 Feb 1867-Paris 19 Jul 1953)

1d) Henri (Crépan 15 Dec 1885-Esternay 6 Sep 1914)

2d) Marie Anne Louise Laurence Madeleine Rhingarde Alphonsine Françoise (Pruly 26 May 1887-château de Bruyelle 18 Mar 1975); m.Paris 6 Feb 1919 Jacques Cte de Chastel de la Howarderie (château d'Hingène 11 Aug 1885-château de Bruyelle 14 Dec 1966)

3d) Marie Artus Amable Charles François Georges (Grancey 28 Jan 1889-19__)

2c) Marie Geneviève Gabrielle (Paris 7 Jul 1854-Paris 27 May 1943); m.Paris 3 Jun 1874 Cte Marie Auguste Théodore de Gontaut Biron (Paris 2 Mar 1846-Paris 28 Jul 1938)

3c) Marie Louise Henriette Gabrielle (Paris 11 Apr 1857-Paris 20 Jan 1950); m.Paris 14 Apr 1883 Charles Henry Aimé Prince de Clermont Tonnerre (Paris 6 Jun 1857-Crépan 22 Dec 1916)

DUCAL HOUSE OF CRUSSOL D'UZÈS

 The Duchy of Uzès, often called the First Duchy of France, is France's oldest ducal peerage. The Viscounty of Uzes was elevated to Duchy in 1565, and to the Peerage in 1572 by Charles 1X. Ever since then, the Duke of Uzes, 1st Peer of France, Count of Crussol, Prince of Soyons, takes precedence over all other noble houses of France, both in Parliament and at Coronations. At Court, after the extinction of the Duchy of Montmorency under Louis XIII in 1632, only the Duchy of Trémoille, created in 1563 had precedence, until it became extinct at the beginning of the 20th century. Today, Jacques de Crussol d'Uzes is the 17th Duke.

On 24 June 1486 Jacques, Baron of Crussol, married Simone, only daughter of the Viscount of Uzes, and last direct descendant of the house of Uzes, thus uniting the 2 families through marriage. Jacques Baron of Crussol came from a family of Knights from the Vivarais region. His father Louis was President of the Privy Council, Governor of the Dauphiné and a confidant of Louis XI. The king created the Order of St Michael in 1469 and Louis de Crussol was one of the first members of this order. The fortified town of Crussol (now in ruins) can be seen on the Ardeche hills overlooking the Rhone opposite the town of Valence. Jacques and his son Charles, (who was a friend of the Chevalier Bayard, known as the "Knight without Fear, and Beyond Reproach") took part in the Italian Campaigns and were appointed commanders in the Languedoc. Charles also became Grand Master of the Artillery following in the footsteps of his father-in-law Jacques Galiot de Genouihac.

At Amboise, on 10 April 1556 in the presence of King Henry II, Antoine, Viscount of Uzes, Baron of Crussol, married Louise de Clermont-Tallart. As Viscountess, and later Duchess, of Uzes, she gained esteem both at the French court and abroad, for her lively intellect, her knowledge and her rank. She became one of Catherine de Medici's favourites, and was very close to Elizabeth 1st, Queen of England, with whom she exchanged copious correspondence. She was governess to (the heir) Charles 1X who called her "Ma vielle lanterne" (My old guiding light). Her husband too was held in high regard, and was appointed Lieutenant General of the Languedoc, of Provence and of the Dauphiné. He was respected by both catholics and protestants who each named him as their leader. He managed to secure peace among them during the Wars of Religion. He became the first Duke of Uzes.

Antoine died in 1573 without an heir and the dukedom passed to his brother Jacques, a protestant leader known as The Steely Baron. After his capture at the battle of Moncontour in 1569, he converted to catholicism and became a faithful servant of the Crown. He was made Colonel General of the Infantry, and in 1578, a Knight of the Holy Spirit. He is the common ancestor of all the suceeding Dukes of Uzes. From the 17th century onwards the Dukes were obliged to be at Court attending the King. They only returned to Uzes occasionally, or when they had retired after handing over their charge to their eldest son whose title from 1674 onwards was the Duke of Crussol. Various members of the House of Uzes became Lieutenant Generals, Colonels of regiments bearing their name, officers of the King's Household, military men, (army officers) bishops or archbishops, Abbots, Bailiffs of the Order of Malta, ambassadors, Members of the Queen's Household, Grand Master of the Royal Household, Members of Parliament under the Republic, and there was even an explorer in Africa.

 However certain titles were never attained, and Louis XVIII remarked one day that no Duke of Uzes had ever been a Marshal of France (meaning he had not led France to victory on the battlefield). The Duke replied "Sire, we get killed before then. "It was the same Duke of Uzes who, on the death of Louis XVIII, uttered the time honoured proclamation "The King is dead, long live the King". Before the second world war, the Marchioness of Crussol, presided over one of the last Parisian salons. She was a close friend of Edouard Daladier, President of the Council of Ministers, and in 1964 persuaded André Malraux, Minister of Culture under General de Gaulle to classify Uzes as a conservation area. To thank him she invited him to come and visit, but the writer laughed that "Uzes is further away than China" and never came.

In 1727, the 20-year-old Duke of Crussol went to the opera with a novelty box out of which sprang a metalic spider. He did this in front of Count Rantzau who was not amused. Despite duels being banned they fought one, and after the Duke killed the Count he was exiled to Uzes for a year. In 1740 he was again exiled and led a joyous party life, full of fun and pranks. He also kept up a substantial correspondence with Voltaire.  The Duchesse of Uzes, née Rochechouart de Mortemart was the first woman in France to obtain a driving licence...in 1889 she and her son Jacques were fined for speeding at nearly 15 kph in their Delahaye in the Bois de Boulogne. Her Hunt, the Rallye Bonnelles, chased more than 2000 deer and she was the first woman Lieutenant de Louveterie. (An Official Appointment to get rid of Wolves...) Heiress to the Veuve Cliquot fortune, she financed General Boulanger whose ambition it was to overthrow the French Republic. She wrote under the name of Manuela, and also sculpted the statue of St Hubert (Patron of the Hunt) in the Sacré Coeur Basilica in Paris. She was a feminist who was interested in furthering social welfare, and became a friend of the anarchist Louise Michel.

Viscounts of Uzès (Vicomte d'Uzès)

Dukes of Uzès (Duc d'Uzès)

La viscounty of Uzès became a duchy by letters patent of Charles IX issued at Mont-de-Marsan in May 1565. The dukes were included in the peerage of France from 1572, and by the time of the French Revolution they were the senior peers, ranked immediately after the Princes of the Blood.

The Genealogy of the Ducal House

AMABLE Antoine Jacques Emmanuel de Crussol, Duc d'Uzès, Cte de Crussol (Paris 18 Jan 1840-Paris 28 Nov 1878); m.Paris 11 May 1867 Marie Adrienne de Rochechouart (Paris 10 Feb 1847-château de Dampierre 3 Feb 1933)

1a) JACQUES Marie Géraud, Duc d'Uzès, etc (Paris 19 Nov 1878-Cabinda, Congo 20 Jun 1893)

2a) Simone Louise Laure (Paris 7 Jan 1870-28 Jun 1946); m.Paris 12 Dec 1889 Honoré d'Albert Duc de Luynes et de Chevreuse (d.Paris 13 Mar 1924)

3a) LOUIS EMMANUEL, Duc d'Uzès, etc (Paris 15 Sep 1871-Neuilly 28 Sep 1943); m.1st Paris 10 Jan 1894 (div 1938) Thérèse d'Albert de Luynes (Sablé 12 Jan 1876-Paris 21 Oct 1941); m.2d Paris 18 Nov 1940 Josephine Angela (San Francisco 24 Aug 1888-Washington 1965)

1b) Anne Emmanuela Sophie Pauline Marie Thérèse (Bonnelles 2 Jan 1895-Paris 1 Jun 1984); m.Paris 4 Nov 1919 Gaston Cte de La Rochefoucauld (Paris 25 Apr 1893-Paris 5 Jun 1930)

2b) Géraud François Marie Paul (Paris 7 Feb 1897-Paris 14 Jan 1929); m.Uzès 10 Oct 1921 Evelyn Gordon (London 3 Jul 1897-Paris 9 Dec 1947)

1c) EMMANUEL Jacques Géraud, Duc d'Uzès, etc (Paris 19 Jul 1927-Montpellier 8 Sep 1999); m.1st Raleigh, North Carolina 18 Jul 1946 (div 1947) Carolyn Baily Brown (b.New York 8 Nov 1925); m.2d Marakesh 5 Jul 1968 Margaret Bedford (New York 18 Oct 1932-Saclay 16 Oct 1977)

1d) Emmanuelle (b.Southampton, New York 1945)

2d) Nathalie (b.Southampton, New York 8 Aug 1947)

3b) Emmanuel Simon André Marie, Marquis de Crussol (Neuilly 24 Jul 1902-Paris 26 Jan 1952); m.1st Paris 26 Aug 1924 (div 1941) Marie-Louise Béziers (Lorient 15 Feb 1904-Paris 1991); m.2d Paris 25 May 1943 Henriette Mendelssohn (Paris 13 Sep 1905-d.in concentration camp Auschwitz 13 Feb 1944); m.3d Paris 29 Oct 1951 his 1st wife

1c) LOUIS Frédéric Emmanuel Marie Jean, Duc d'Uzès, etc (Paris 24 Dec 1925-Nîmes 19 Sep 2001); m.1st Paris 29 Jan 1954 (div 1955) Françoise Marque (b.Neuilly 20 Jun 1929); m.2d Uzès (civ) 31 Aug 1955 (rel) 1 Sep 1955 (div 1976) Elisabeth de Belleville (b.Paris 1 Aug 1931); m.3d Nîmes 12 Nov 1999 Jeannine Rolande Coudouneau

1d) Yolande Marie Thérèse Emy (b.Neuilly 12 Mar 1956)

2d) JACQUES Emmanuel Eric Raymond Marie, Duc d'Uzès, etc (b.Neuilly 13 Oct 1957); m.10 Jul 1993 Alessandra Passerin d'Entreve et Courmayeur (b.Lugano 5 Jun 1970)

1e) Charles Louis Jacques Emanuel Marie (b.Boulogne 19 Jan 1997)

4a) Mathilde Renée (Paris 4 Mar 1875-Paris 31 May 1908); m.Paris 7 Nov 1894 François de Cossé Duc de Brissac (d.Saumur 17 Feb 1944)

PRINCELY AND DUCAL HOUSE OF CZARTORYSKI

Czartoryski (Polish plural: Czartoryscy) (Ukrainian: Chortoryisky Lithuanian: Cartoriskis) is the surname of a Polish-Ruthenian-Lithuanian magnate family also known as the Familia. They used the Czartoryski coat of arms and were the leading noble family of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the 18th century. The Princes Czartoryski ruled the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 13 th century. In 1386 Grand Duke Jogaila married a Polish princess and became King Wladyslaw Jagiello, thereby founding the Royal Dynasty of the Jagellonian which was to rule for two centuries. The junior branch of the family came to be known by a name deriving from the main Czartorysk seat in Volhynia. At around the end of the 17 th Century the family's royal ambitions were revived by Prince Kazimierz Czartoryski (1674-1741), who was Duke of Klewan and Zukow, and Castellan of Wilno. Intelligent, highly educated and ambitious, in 1693 Kazimierz marries Isabella Morsztyn, daughter of the Grand Treasurer of Poland. Thus begins the "Familia" dynasty carried on by Kazimierz and Isabella's four children: Mikhal, August, Konstancja and Teodor. Mikhal (1696-1777) became Chancellor of Lithuania and his daughter Antonina married Jan Jerzy Flemming, the wealthy treasurer of Lithuania. The couple's only daughter Izabella founded the museum.