Les Baux (noble family)

Coat of arms of the lords of Les Beaux

Les Baux was a family of the southern French aristocracy who still exist in their Italian line Del Balzo .

The Barons des Baux had played a dominant role in the county of Provence since the 10th century, but were pushed back in the 13th century by the Counts of Barcelona , who had taken over Provence, and died there in 1426.

history

The family is first attested in the second half of the 10th century. The members appear from 1032 as lords of Les Baux , but quickly branch out over large parts of the western Mediterranean. Individual lines of the families in Provence acquire the Vice-County of Marseille and the Principality of Orange and the hereditary judicial office (Iudicarius) in Arborea in Sardinia .

After the conquest of southern Italy by Charles I of Anjou , in which members of the Baux family participated, they received the County of Avellino and the Duchy of Andria as fiefs. Here the family used the name del Balzo . A branch line of the Dukes of Andria is the family of the Dukes of Presenzano, which still exists today and belongs to the Italian nobility . The head of the family is Don Antonello del Balzo, 11th Duca di Presenzano (* Naples 1948).

Another branch inherited their property to the Roman house Orsini with the condition that the name del Balzo be added to their name; the Orsini del Balzo played a role in Italian history as the younger line of the House of Orsini.

With Alix , Baroness des Baux, Countess of Avellino (around 1365-1426), the main line of the family died out. The childless widow of Konrad III. of Freiburg-Neuchâtel decreed in will that her possessions Baux, Montpaon, Castillon, Mouriès , Éguilles and Séderon in Provence and her county of Avellino in Campania should fall to her distant cousin Francesco-Guglielmo del Balzo-Andria. However, this could only succeed in Avellino, since the Countess of Provence, Jolanthe von Aragón -Barcelona, had the Provencal possessions conquered and moved in.

Les Baux
View from the Montpaon ruins
View from Montpaon to Les Baux
Castillon

1642 awarded King Ludwig XIII. from France the rule of Les Baux the Prince of Monaco from the House of Grimaldi . Since then, the title of Marquis des Baux has traditionally been held by the respective Hereditary Prince of Monaco, currently Jacques von Monaco .

Master list (extract)

First generations

Pons, 961/1028 attested
1. Hugues, † after 1059, 1032 of the Baux
  1. Guillaume-Hugues, † before 1110
    1. Raymond des Baux, † 1150, 1148 pretender of the county of Provence , founder of the Silvacane abbey
      
      Hugues, † 1179, Sire des Baux; ∞ I NN; ∞ II NN, daughter of Comita II., King of Torres (Sardinia) - for descendants see below
      
      Bertrand, † 1180/81, Sire des Baux, 1171 Prince of Orange ; ∞ Tiburge d'Orange, daughter of Gaufred d'Omelaz from the Montpellier family
      
      Hugues (Ugo), † 1239/40, Sire des Baux, de Trinquetaille etc., 1195 Viscount de Marseille , ∞ Barrale, 1208 Viscountess de Marseille, † before 1234, daughter of Raimond Geoffroi called Barral, Viscount de Marseille - descendants see below
      
      Bertrand des Baux, Seigneur de Meyrargues, de Puyricard , d'Eguilles, de Marignane, de Saint-Victoret, de Berre , d ' Istres , de Miramas et de Vitrolles - descendants see below
      
      Guillaume I des Baux, called du Cornet, † 1218, 1182 Prince of Orange - descendants see below
      
      Matelle, † after 1175; ∞ I Pierre Vicomte de Gabarret , de Béarn et de Brulhois , † before 1154 ( House Dax ); ∞ II Centulle II., Viscount de Marsan, Comte de Bigorre , † probably 1185

The part kings of Sardinia

Hugues, † 1179, Sire des Baux; ∞ I NN; ∞ II NN, daughter of Comita II., King of Torres (Sardinia) - ancestors see above
1. (II) Ugo de Basso, 1102 † before 1122, Iudicarius of Arborea
  1. Pietro I. de Lacon, 1228/30 King and Judicarius of Arborea, Viscount des Baux
    1. Mariano I, attested in 1284/86, Viscount des Baux, Iudicarius
      1. ? Giovanni I, † before 1310, Viscount des Baux, Iudicarius of Arborea
        (illegitimate) Mariano II., † before 1322, Viscount des Baux, Iudicarius of Arborea
        Ugo, † after 1336, Viscount des Baux, Iudicarius of Arborea
        
        Pietro II, Viscount des Baux, Iudicarius of Arborea; ∞ Konstanze von Saluzzo, daughter of Philipp
        
        Giovanni II, captured in 1376
        
        Niccolò - his grandson becomes Judicarius of Arboea in 1409
        
        Mariano III, 1339 Conte di Goceano, 1353 Viscount des Baux, Iudicarius of Arborea
        
        Ugo, † before 1384, 1377 Iudicarius of Arborea
        
        Eleonora , † 1404, Signora di Arborea; ∞ Brancaleone Doria, Conte di Monteleone, † after 1392
        
        Beatrice; ∞ Aymar VII, Viscount de Narbonne ( Manrique de Lara House )
        
        Bonaventure; ∞ Pedro Barón de Ejérica, † 1362 ( House of Barcelona )

The Counts of Avellino

Ruins of the Longobard fort in Avellino

Hugues (Ugo), † 1239/40, Sire des Baux, de Trinquetaille etc., 1195 Viscount de Marseille , ∞ Barrale, 1208 Viscountess de Marseille, † before 1234, daughter of Raimond Geoffroi called Barral, Viscount de Marseille - ancestors see above
1. Barral, † 1268, 1230 Sire des Baux, expropriated 1240/45, goes to Italy in 1253, Podestà from Milan in 1265 ; ∞ Sibylle d'Anduze, niece of Raymond VII , Count of Toulouse
  1. Bertrand, † 1304/05, Sire des Baux, 1268 Count of Avellino ; ∞ I Philippa de Poitiers, † after 1263, daughter of Aymar II, Comte de Valentinois ( House of Poitiers-Valentinois ); ∞ II Philippa de Poitiers, † before 1283, daughter of Aymar III., Comte de Valentinois (House of Poitiers-Valentinois); ∞ III Agathe de Mévouillon
    1. (I) Raymond I, X 1321, Sire des Baux, 2nd Count of Avellino, 1295 Regent of the Kingdom of Naples
      1. Sibylle, † before 1361; ∞ Jacob of Savoy, Prince of Achaia , † 1367 ( House of Savoy )
      2. (I) Hugues called Ugonello, † 1351, Sire des Baux, 3rd Count of Avellino
        
        Robert, † 1354, 4th Count of Avellino, ∞ Maria posthuma of Anjou-Sicily, † 1366, daughter of Karl , Prince of Calabria ( House of Anjou )
        
        Raymond II, † 1372, 5 Count of Avellino; ∞ Jeanne de Beaufort, † 1404, daughter of Guillaume III. Roger , Comte de Beaufort, Viscount de Turenne, niece of Pope Gregory XI. , Great niece of Pope Clement VI. ( House Rogier de Beaufort )
        Alix , Dame d ' Aubagne , † before 1426, 5th Countess of Avellino, 1399 Dame des Baux etc., 1426 Comtesse de Beaufort, Vicomtesse de Turenne; ∞ I Odo von Thoire and Villars , titular count of Geneva , † after 1413; ∞ II Konrad , Count of Freiburg , 1395 Count of Neuchâtel , † 1424
    2. (I) Sibylle, † 1360, ∞ Aymar V. de Poitiers, Count of Valentinois , † 1339/40 ( House of Poitiers-Valentinois )
    3. (I) Béatrix called Pontessona, † after 1344; ∞ Guigues Dauphin von Viennois , † before 1317
    4. (III) Agout (Agotus), Seigneur de Caromb, Brantes etc., † 1346
      1. Bertrand, called de Courthezon, † 1374/75, Seigneur de Brantes; ∞ Catherine des Baux, Dame de Courthezon, daughter of Bertrand VI. (see below)
    5. Agathe; ∞ Decanus Vicomte d'Uzès
  2. Marquise, † before 1279; ∞ Henri II. Count of Rodez , † 1304
  3. Cecile called Passerose, † 1275; ∞ Amadeus IV. , Count of Savoy , † 1253 ( House of Savoy )

The Dukes of Andria

Bertrand des Baux, Seigneur de Meyrargues , de Puyricard , d ' Eguilles , de Marignane , de Saint-Victoret , de Berre , d' Istres , de Miramas et de Vitrolles - ancestors see above
1. Raymond, † 1235/37, Seigneur de Berre et d'Istres, 1209/21 Viscount de Marseille
  1. Bertrand, Seigneur de Meyrargues, de Puyricard etc., † 1266 - descendants † after 1391
  2. Gilbert called lo Dous, † after 1277, Seigneur de Marignane - descendants, † after 1513
  3. Guillaume, † 1265/66, Seigneur de Berre, d'Istres
    1. Bertrand, Seigneur de Berre et d'Istres, went to Italy in 1265
      1. Hugues, † 1334
      2. Guillaume, † before 1344
      3. Ducal palace in Andria
        
        Bertrand, † 1351, 1308 Count of Andria, Signore de Squillace , 1309 Conte the Montescaglioso ; ∞ I Beatrix of Anjou-Sicily, † 1320/21, daughter of Charles II , King of Naples ( House of Anjou ); ∞ II Marguerite d'Aulnay
        
        (I) Marie, † 1347; ∞ Humbert II , Dauphin von Viennois , 1352 Archbishop of Reims , † 1355 ( House La Tour-du-Pin )
        
        (II) Francesco I, † 1422, 1351 2 Conte and 1351 1st Duca di Andria, 2nd Conte de Montescaglioso e Squillace; ∞ I Luisa Sanseverino ( House Sanseverino ); ∞ II Margaret of Anjou-Sicily, daughter of Philip I , Prince of Taranto ( House of Anjou ); ∞ III Sveva Orsini, daughter of Niccolò Conte di Nola
        
        (II) Antonia, † 1374; ∞ Friedrich III. , King of Sicily , † 1377 ( House of Barcelona )
        
        (II) Jacopo , † 1384, 1373 Prince of Taranto and Prince of Achaia , 1377 Despot of Romania , Lord of Albania , Titular Emperor of Constantinople , 1382 Lord of Corfu ; ∞ Agnes of Anjou-Sicily , † 1383, daughter of Karl , Duke of Durazzo ( House of Anjou )
        
        (III) Guglielmo, † probably 1444, 1422 2nd Duca di Andria, 1427 heir to Alix des Baux, Contessa di Avellino
        Francesco II, † 1482, 3rd Duca di Andria; ∞ Sancia di Chiaramonte, Contessa di Copertino , sister-in-law of Ferrante I , King of Naples
        
        Pietro, † 1487, 1482 4. Duca di Andria, Conte di Montescaglioso, Bisceglie e Copertino, 1486 1. Principe di Altamura ; ∞ Maria Donata Orsini Balzo, daughter of Gabriel, Duca di Venosa
        
        Antonia del Balzo -Gonzaga (1461-1538)
        
        Federigo, Conte di Acerra
        
        Isotta, † 1530, 2nd Principessa di Altamura; ∞ Pietro de Guevara, Marchese del Vasto
        
        Antonia (1461-1538); ∞ Gianfrancesco Gonzaga , Conte di Sabbioneta , † 1498
        
        Isabella; ∞ Frederick IV , King of Naples , † 1504 ( House of Trastámara )
        
        Agilberto, † 1487, Conte di Castro e Ugento, 1st Duca di Nardo; ∞ Antonia Sanseverino, Contessa di Castro e Ugento ( House Sanseverino )
        
        Gianpaolo, † 1487, Conte di Ugento
        
        Elena; ∞ (Richisenz Conte di Avellino)
        
        Caterina (Isabella); ∞ Giordano Colona, Duca dei Marsi
        
        Guglielmo, † after 1497, Conte di Nola
        
        Raimondo, 1507 Conte di Castro ed Ugento; ∞ Laura Colonna, daughter of Giordano Duca dei Marsi
        Francesco, † 1530, 2nd Conte di Castro ed Ugento
        Antonia; ∞ NN Branciforte, Marchese di Licodia , Principe di Butera
        
        (III)
        
        The Normannenburg in Presenzano
        
        Marguerite, † 1469; ∞ Pierre de Luxembourg, Count of Saint-Pol , Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece , † 1433 ( House Luxemburg-Ligny )
        
        (III) Bianchino del Balzo, disinherited, attested in 1422/23 - descendants: the dukes of Schiavi († 1726), Caprigliano († 1745) and Presenzano (existing to this day)
        
        (II) Isabella, † 1379; ∞ Antonio Sanseverino, 5th Conte di Marsico, † 1384 ( House of Sanseverino )
        
        (II) Catarina, ∞ Onorato Caetani, Conte di Fondi , † 1400
        
        (II) Blanca (Sancha); ∞ Jean d'Enghien, Conte di Castro, † 1380 ( House Enghien )

The princes of Orange

Guillaume I des Baux, called du Cornet, † 1218, 1182 Prince of Orange - ancestors see above
1. Seal of Raymond I († 1282), Prince of Orange
  
  Raymond I, † 1282, Prince d'Orange
  1. Guillaume IV., † before 1281
    1. Stéphanette; ∞ Bertrand III. des Baux, Co-Prince d'Orange (see below)
  2. Bertrand IV., Prince d'Orange (3/4)
    1. Guillaume, † 1312 - Descendants: the Lords of Sérignan , † after 1410
    2. Raymond IV, † 1340, Prince d'Orange
      1. Raymond V., † 1393, Prince d'Orange; ∞ Johanna von Geneva, † before 1389, daughter of Amadeus III., Count of Geneva
        Marie, † 1417, Princesse d'Orange; ∞ Jean III. de Chalon, Sire d ' Arlay , 1393 Prince d'Orange, † 1418 ( House Chalon ) - descendants: the other princes of Orange
    3. Béatrix, ∞ Guillaume (Armand VI.) De Polignanc ( Polignac House )
    4. Marguerite, ∞ Bertrand V. des Baux, Seigneur de (1/4) Courthezon
2. Guillaume II., † before 1239, Co-Prince d'Orange
  1. Bertrand II., 1239/48 attested
  2. Guillaume III., † 1256/57, Co-Prince d'Orange (1/4)
  3. Raymond II, † 1278/79, Co-Prince d'Orange
    1. Bertrand III., † 1305, Co-Prince d'Orange (1/4); ∞ Stéphanette des Baux, daughter of Guillaume IV. (See above)
      1. Raymond VI., † after 1332, Seigneur de Courthézon - descendants † 1392/94
      2. Bertrand V., † 1345, Seigneur de (14) Courthézon; ∞ Marguerite des Baux, daughter of Bertrand IV, Prince d'Orange (see above)
      3. Hugues, X 1315, 1304 Neapolitan Conte di Soleto
        
        Raymond, † 1375, 2nd Conte di Soleto
        
        Sveva; ∞ Roberto Orsini Conte di Nola - Descendants: the other Counts of Soleto
      4. Amiel des Baux, † 1351, 1325/26 Lord of the Signoria Florence - descendants: the Counts of Alessano, † 16th century
    2. Raymond III., † before 1339, titular Co-Prince d'Orange - descendants of the Lords of Suze † after 1409
3. Bertrand, Co-Prince d'Orange 1229/35

literature

Detlev Schwennicke, European Family Tables , Volume III.4 (1989) Plate 745ff.

Web links

Tribe list of the del Balzo, Dukes of Presenzano
http://delbalzo.net/genealogia2.htm Genealogy del Balzo / de Baux