Sire de Bourbon
Encyclopedia
The Sire de Bourbon or Seigneur de Bourbon, meaning Lord of Bourbon, was the title
by which the rulers
of the Bourbonnais
were known, from 913 to 1327, and from which the cognomen
of the illustrious royal House
of the same name derives. Louis I
, comté de Clermont
, the ultimate holder, was created the first "Duke of Bourbon
" and made "count of La Marche" by his cousin, King Charles IV
of France
, in exchange for Clermont-en-Beauvaisis, thus absorbing the title.
This title dates to at least the early 10th century and Aymar de Bourbon. Aymar lived under the reign of the Carolingian
overlord Charles III
of France
who gave to him, in the year 913, several strongholds on the river Allier
, such as the castle
in the medieval town of Bourbon-l'Archambault
. Of Aymar's ten successors all but three took the name "d'Archambault". His line ended in 1200 with the death of Archambault VII, whose granddaughter, Matilda, then became the first dame de Bourbon (dame being the feminine form of seigneur/sire), as she was Archambault's eldest living relative (the title being heritable by female family members). Matilda's husband, Guy II de Dampierre, added Montluçon
to the possessions of the Lords of Bourbon, which had expanded to the river Cher
during the Eleventh and Twelfth-Centuries. Their son, Archambaud VIII "the Great", seigneur de Bourbon from the year 1216 to the year 1242, rose to connétable
de ("the constable of ...") France, the commander-in-chief
of the French military
.
Following the death of Archambaud IX
in 1249 on crusade
, the title then passed through his daughters; first, Matilda II
(also known as "Mahaut"), Countess of Nevers
, Auxerre
and Tonnerre
, and second, Agnes of Bourbon, whose husband, John of Burgundy, was the second son of the Duke of Burgundy, Hugh IV
, and therefore a male-line descendant of Hugh Capet. John, himself seigneur de Charolais
became lord of Bourbon as well upon the death of Matilda in 1262. He died five years later at the age of thirty-six and Agnes remained a widow. John's daughter by Agnes, Beatrice, after the death of her mother in 1287, became his heir both in Charolais and Bourbonnais. Her spouse, Robert
of France, was the sixth son of saint Louis IX
, king of the Franks, and the founder of the line
which was to reach the throne of France in the person of its 10th-degree descendant, King Henry IV of France
. The son of Robert and Beatrice, Louis, became the first Duke of Bourbon, superseding the previous rank of seigneur.
Title
A title is a prefix or suffix added to someone's name to signify either veneration, an official position or a professional or academic qualification. In some languages, titles may even be inserted between a first and last name...
by which the rulers
Manorialism
Manorialism, an essential element of feudal society, was the organizing principle of rural economy that originated in the villa system of the Late Roman Empire, was widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe, and was slowly replaced by the advent of a money-based market...
of the Bourbonnais
Bourbonnais
Bourbonnais was a historic province in the centre of France that corresponded to the modern département of Allier, along with part of the département of Cher. Its capital was Moulins.-History:...
were known, from 913 to 1327, and from which the cognomen
Cognomen
The cognomen nōmen "name") was the third name of a citizen of Ancient Rome, under Roman naming conventions. The cognomen started as a nickname, but lost that purpose when it became hereditary. Hereditary cognomina were used to augment the second name in order to identify a particular branch within...
of the illustrious royal House
House of Bourbon
The House of Bourbon is a European royal house, a branch of the Capetian dynasty . Bourbon kings first ruled Navarre and France in the 16th century. By the 18th century, members of the Bourbon dynasty also held thrones in Spain, Naples, Sicily, and Parma...
of the same name derives. Louis I
Louis I, Duke of Bourbon
Louis I de Bourbon, le Boiteux, the Lame was Count of Clermont-en-Beauvaisis and La Marche, and the first Duke of Bourbon.-Life:...
, comté de Clermont
Clermont, Oise
Clermont is a small city in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Oise.-Main sights:* Church St Samson containing numerous Painting from the seventeenth century...
, the ultimate holder, was created the first "Duke of Bourbon
Duke of Bourbon
Duke of Bourbon is a title in the peerage of France. It was created in the first half of the 14th century for the eldest son of Robert of France, Count of Clermont and Beatrice of Burgundy, heiress of the lordship of Bourbon...
" and made "count of La Marche" by his cousin, King Charles IV
Charles IV of France
Charles IV, known as the Fair , was the King of France and of Navarre and Count of Champagne from 1322 to his death: he was the last French king of the senior Capetian lineage....
of France
Kingdom of France
The Kingdom of France was one of the most powerful states to exist in Europe during the second millennium.It originated from the Western portion of the Frankish empire, and consolidated significant power and influence over the next thousand years. Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, developed a...
, in exchange for Clermont-en-Beauvaisis, thus absorbing the title.
This title dates to at least the early 10th century and Aymar de Bourbon. Aymar lived under the reign of the Carolingian
Carolingian
The Carolingian dynasty was a Frankish noble family with origins in the Arnulfing and Pippinid clans of the 7th century AD. The name "Carolingian", Medieval Latin karolingi, an altered form of an unattested Old High German *karling, kerling The Carolingian dynasty (known variously as the...
overlord Charles III
Charles the Simple
Charles III , called the Simple or the Straightforward , was the undisputed King of France from 898 until 922 and the King of Lotharingia from 911 until 919/23...
of France
Kingdom of France
The Kingdom of France was one of the most powerful states to exist in Europe during the second millennium.It originated from the Western portion of the Frankish empire, and consolidated significant power and influence over the next thousand years. Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, developed a...
who gave to him, in the year 913, several strongholds on the river Allier
Allier River
The Allier is a river in central France, and is the left tributary to the Loire River. Its source is in the Massif Central, in the Lozère département, east of Mende. It flows generally north...
, such as the castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
in the medieval town of Bourbon-l'Archambault
Bourbon-l'Archambault
Bourbon-l'Archambault is a spa town and a commune in the Allier department in Auvergne in central France.-Population:-Personalities:In 1681, Louise Marie Anne de Bourbon, Mademoiselle de Tours, the third daughter of Louis XIV and his mistress Françoise-Athénaïs, marquise de Montespan died there at...
. Of Aymar's ten successors all but three took the name "d'Archambault". His line ended in 1200 with the death of Archambault VII, whose granddaughter, Matilda, then became the first dame de Bourbon (dame being the feminine form of seigneur/sire), as she was Archambault's eldest living relative (the title being heritable by female family members). Matilda's husband, Guy II de Dampierre, added Montluçon
Montluçon
Montluçon is a commune in central France. It is the largest commune in the Allier department, although the department's préfecture is located in the smaller town of Moulins. Its inhabitants are known as Montluçonnais...
to the possessions of the Lords of Bourbon, which had expanded to the river Cher
Cher River
The Cher is a river in central France, left tributary to the river Loire. Its source is in the Creuse département, north-east of Crocq. It joins the river Loire in Villandry, west of Tours....
during the Eleventh and Twelfth-Centuries. Their son, Archambaud VIII "the Great", seigneur de Bourbon from the year 1216 to the year 1242, rose to connétable
Constable of France
The Constable of France , as the First Officer of the Crown, was one of the original five Great Officers of the Crown of France and Commander in Chief of the army. He, theoretically, as Lieutenant-general of the King, outranked all the nobles and was second-in-command only to the King...
de ("the constable of ...") France, the commander-in-chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
of the French military
Military history of France
The military history of France encompasses an immense panorama of conflicts and struggles extending for more than 2,000 years across areas including modern France, greater Europe, and European territorial possessions overseas....
.
Following the death of Archambaud IX
Archambaud IX of Bourbon
Archambaud IX of Bourbon , called "Le Jeune" , was a ruler of Bourbonnais in the modern region of Auvergne, France....
in 1249 on crusade
Seventh Crusade
The Seventh Crusade was a crusade led by Louis IX of France from 1248 to 1254. Approximately 800,000 bezants were paid in ransom for King Louis who, along with thousands of his troops, was captured and defeated by the Egyptian army led by the Ayyubid Sultan Turanshah supported by the Bahariyya...
, the title then passed through his daughters; first, Matilda II
Maud of Dampierre
Maud of Dampierre or Mathilda II of Bourbon was a daughter of Archambaud IX of Bourbon and Yolande de Châtillon, countess of Nevers. As heiress to the counties of Nevers, Auxerre and Tonnerre, she was married off to Odo, son and heir of Hugh IV, Duke of Burgundy...
(also known as "Mahaut"), Countess of Nevers
Nevers
Nevers is a commune in – and the administrative capital of – the Nièvre department in the Bourgogne region in central France...
, Auxerre
Auxerre
Auxerre is a commune in the Bourgogne region in north-central France, between Paris and Dijon. It is the capital of the Yonne department.Auxerre's population today is about 45,000...
and Tonnerre
Tonnerre
Tonnerre is a commune in the Yonne department in Burgundy in north-central France.-Twin town:* Nenagh, North Tipperary, Ireland-References:*...
, and second, Agnes of Bourbon, whose husband, John of Burgundy, was the second son of the Duke of Burgundy, Hugh IV
Hugh IV, Duke of Burgundy
Hugh IV of Burgundy was duke of Burgundy between 1218 and 1271. Hugh was the only son of duke Odo III and Alice of Vergy...
, and therefore a male-line descendant of Hugh Capet. John, himself seigneur de Charolais
Charolais
Charolais is an area of France, named after the town of Charolles, and located in today's Saône-et-Loire département, in Burgundy.-History:The county of Charolais was acquired by Philip II, Duke of Burgundy in 1390...
became lord of Bourbon as well upon the death of Matilda in 1262. He died five years later at the age of thirty-six and Agnes remained a widow. John's daughter by Agnes, Beatrice, after the death of her mother in 1287, became his heir both in Charolais and Bourbonnais. Her spouse, Robert
Robert, Count of Clermont
Robert of France was made Count of Clermont in 1268. He was son of King Louis IX of France and Margaret of Provence...
of France, was the sixth son of saint Louis IX
Louis IX of France
Louis IX , commonly Saint Louis, was King of France from 1226 until his death. He was also styled Louis II, Count of Artois from 1226 to 1237. Born at Poissy, near Paris, he was an eighth-generation descendant of Hugh Capet, and thus a member of the House of Capet, and the son of Louis VIII and...
, king of the Franks, and the founder of the line
House of Bourbon
The House of Bourbon is a European royal house, a branch of the Capetian dynasty . Bourbon kings first ruled Navarre and France in the 16th century. By the 18th century, members of the Bourbon dynasty also held thrones in Spain, Naples, Sicily, and Parma...
which was to reach the throne of France in the person of its 10th-degree descendant, King Henry IV of France
Henry IV of France
Henry IV , Henri-Quatre, was King of France from 1589 to 1610 and King of Navarre from 1572 to 1610. He was the first monarch of the Bourbon branch of the Capetian dynasty in France....
. The son of Robert and Beatrice, Louis, became the first Duke of Bourbon, superseding the previous rank of seigneur.