List of counts of Perche
Encyclopedia
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Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
and Maine
Maine (province)
Le Maine is one of the traditional provinces of France . It corresponds to the old county of Maine, with its center, the city of Le Mans.-Location:...
.
It was held by an independent line of counts until 1226. One of these, Geoffroy V, would have been a leader of the Fourth Crusade
Fourth Crusade
The Fourth Crusade was originally intended to conquer Muslim-controlled Jerusalem by means of an invasion through Egypt. Instead, in April 1204, the Crusaders of Western Europe invaded and conquered the Christian city of Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Roman Empire...
had he not died before the assembled forces could depart. The county then became a possession of the crown, which removed part of it to create the county of Alençon
Alençon
Alençon is a commune in Normandy, France, capital of the Orne department. It is situated west of Paris. Alençon belongs to the intercommunality of Alençon .-History:...
.
After 1325, both counties were generally held by a member or members of a cadet line
Cadet branch
Cadet branch is a term in genealogy to describe the lineage of the descendants of the younger sons of a monarch or patriarch. In the ruling dynasties and noble families of much of Europe and Asia, the family's major assets – titles, realms, fiefs, property and income – have...
of the House of Valois. Upon the death without children of the last Duke of Alençon in 1525, it returned to the crown, and was granted only sporadically thereafter.
Lords of Mortagne-au-Perche, lords of Nogent-le-Rotrou and viscounts of Châteaudun
The lords of Perche were originally titled lords of Mortagne-au-PercheMortagne-au-Perche
Mortagne-au-Perche is a commune in the Orne department in north-western France.-Heraldry:-Demographic evolution:* 1962: 3909* 1968: 4322* 1975: 4877* 1982: 4851* 1990: 4584* 1999: 45131962 population without double counting-People:...
, until Routrou II adopted the style of count of Perche in 1126, thus uniting the lordship of Mortagne-au-Perche
Mortagne-au-Perche
Mortagne-au-Perche is a commune in the Orne department in north-western France.-Heraldry:-Demographic evolution:* 1962: 3909* 1968: 4322* 1975: 4877* 1982: 4851* 1990: 4584* 1999: 45131962 population without double counting-People:...
, the viscountcy of Châteaudun
Châteaudun
Châteaudun is a commune in the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France. It is a sub-prefecture of Eure-et-Loir.-Geography:Châteaudun is located about 45 km northwest of Orléans, and about 50 km south-southwest of Chartres, on the river Loir, a tributary of the...
and the lordship of Nogent-le-Rotrou
Nogent
Nogent is the name or part of the name of several communes in France:* Nogent, in the Haute-Marne département* Nogent-l'Abbesse, in the Marne département* Nogent-l'Artaud, in the Aisne département* Nogent-sur-Aube, in the Aube département...
in the countship of Perche and Montagne.
House of Rorgonid
- Hervé I, 941- 955
- ...
- Hervé II, 974-980, grandson of
Here after, the title is merged with the viscount of Châteaudun and the lord of Nogent-le-Rotrou.
House of ...
- Rotrou I, 960-996
- Melisende, daughter of, married
Here after, the title is merged with the viscount of Châteaudun and the lord of Mortagne-au-Perche
House of Châteaudun
- Fulcuich, c. 1000
- Geoffroy I, d. bef. 1041 (viscount of Châteaudun, lord of Nogent-le-Rotrou and of Mortagne-au Perche)
- Hugh I, d. c. 1077-1080]] (viscount of Châteaudun, lord of Nogent-le-Rotrou and of Mortagne-au Perche)
- Rotrou II, d. c. 1077–1080 (viscount of Châteaudun, lord of Nogent-le-Rotrou and of Mortagne-au Perche)
Here after, the title is separated in count of Perche and count of Mortagne.
House of Châteaudun
- Geoffroy II, d. 1100, a Companion of William the Conqueror
- Rotrou III the GreatRotrou III of PercheRotrou III , called the Great , was the Count of Perche and Mortagne from 1099. He was a notable Crusader and a participant in the Reconquista in eastern Spain, even ruling the city of Tudela in Navarre from 1123 to 1131. He is commonly credited with introducing Arabian horses to the Perche, giving...
, d. 1144 (also Count of Mortagne 1126-1144) - Rotrou IV, d. 1191
- Geoffroy III, d. 1202
- Thomas, d. 1217
- William, d. 1226 (Bishop of Châlons-sur-Marne)
Here after the county returned to the royal domain
Crown lands of France
The crown lands, crown estate, royal domain or domaine royal of France refers to the lands, fiefs and rights directly possessed by the kings of France...
.
The title of count of Perche was given a new by the king to members of the House of Maine and the House of Châteaudun.
- ...
House of Valois
- 1325-1346 : Charles II of AlençonCharles II of AlençonCharles II of Alençon, called the Magnanimous was the second son of Charles of Valois and his first wife Margaret, and brother of Philip VI, King of France...
- 1346-1377 : Robert of AlençonRobert of AlençonRobert of Alençon was the son of Charles II of Alençon and Maria de La Cerda y Lara. He succeeded his father in 1346 as Count of Perche....
- 1377-1404 : Peter II of AlençonPeter II of AlençonPeter II of Alençon, called the Noble , was the son of Charles II of Alençon and Maria de la Cerda. He was Count of Alençon 1361–1404 and Count of Perche 1377–1404....
- 1404-1415 : John I of AlençonJohn I of AlençonJohn I of Alençon, called the Sage , was the son of Peter II of Alençon and Marie de Chamaillard. In 1404, he succeeded his father as Count of Alençon and Perche. He was made Duke of Alençon in 1414.He commanded the second division of the French army at the Battle of Agincourt...
- 1415-1474 : John II of AlençonJohn II of AlençonJohn II of Alençon was the son of John I of Alençon and Marie of Brittany. He succeeded his father as Duke of Alençon and Count of Perche as a minor in 1415, after the latter's death at the Battle of Agincourt.He saw action as a young man at the Battle of Verneuil on 17 August 1424, and was...
The county was confiscated by the crown between 1474 and 1478, but was then returned to the family.
- 1478-1492 : René of AlençonRené of AlençonRené of Alençon , was the son of John II of Alençon and Marie of Armagnac.-Restoration of title:...
- 1492-1525 : Charles IV of AlençonCharles IV of AlençonCharles IV of Alençon was the son of René of Alençon and the Blessed Margaret of Vaudémont.He succeeded his father in 1492 as Duke of Alençon and Count of Perche, and was also Count of Armagnac, Fézensac, Viscount of Rodez, Count of Fezensaguet, l'Isle-Jourdain, and Perdiac.In 1509 he married...
, son of, married Margareth of NavarreMarguerite de NavarreMarguerite de Navarre , also known as Marguerite of Angoulême and Margaret of Navarre, was the queen consort of Henry II of Navarre... - 1525-1549 : Margareth of NavarreMarguerite de NavarreMarguerite de Navarre , also known as Marguerite of Angoulême and Margaret of Navarre, was the queen consort of Henry II of Navarre...
, widow of
After the death of Margareth of Navarre the fief went to the royal domain. Here after the title of duke of Perche was personally granted by the king from time to time.
English title
- Thomas Montacute, 4th Earl of SalisburyThomas Montacute, 4th Earl of SalisburyThomas Montacute, 4th Earl of Salisbury, 6th and 3rd Baron Montacute, 5th Baron Monthermer, and Count of Perche, KG was an English nobleman...
was created Earl of Perche in 1419 as part of Henry V of EnglandHenry V of EnglandHenry V was King of England from 1413 until his death at the age of 35 in 1422. He was the second monarch belonging to the House of Lancaster....
's policy of creating Norman titles for his noblemen. - Thomas Beaufort, Count of PercheThomas Beaufort, Count of PercheThomas Beaufort, Count of Perche was a member of the Beaufort family and an English commander during the Hundred Years' War.He was the third son of John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset and his wife, Margaret Holland....
was created Count of Perche in December 1427, but the title was contested with John II of AlençonJohn II of AlençonJohn II of Alençon was the son of John I of Alençon and Marie of Brittany. He succeeded his father as Duke of Alençon and Count of Perche as a minor in 1415, after the latter's death at the Battle of Agincourt.He saw action as a young man at the Battle of Verneuil on 17 August 1424, and was...
. - Humphrey Stafford, 6th Earl of Stafford, 1st Duke of BuckinghamHumphrey Stafford, 1st Duke of BuckinghamHumphrey Stafford, 1st Duke of Buckingham KG , an English nobleman, great grandson of King Edward III on his mother's side, was best known as a military commander in the Hundred Years' War and in the Wars of the Roses....
was created count of Perche in 1431 by Henry VI of EnglandHenry VI of EnglandHenry VI was King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. Until 1437, his realm was governed by regents. Contemporaneous accounts described him as peaceful and pious, not suited for the violent dynastic civil wars, known as the Wars...
as titular king of France.