House of Roquefeuil-Anduze explained

Surname:House of Roquefeuil-Anduze
Coat Of Arms:De Roquefeuil-Anduze.svg
Motto:Honour me resto, resto m'a basto!
Honour remains, it is enough!
Country:France
Parent House:House of Roquefeuil
Titles:Comtor of Nant
Viscount of Creyssels
Baron of Roquefeuil-Meyrueis
Founder:Raymond I of Roquefeuil
Founded:1150
Cadet Branches:Versols

The House of Roquefeuil-Anduze is an old French noble family. It was formed in 1129 after the marriage between Adelaïs of Roquefeuil and Bernard of Anduze. Heiress of the first Roquefeuil family, Adelaïs inherited from her father and transmitted her family possessions to her son Raymond.

Both the Roquefeuil and Anduze family controlled vast territories in the Languedoc, France under various noble titles and coined money.

Origin of the Roquefeuil family

The Roquefeuil family appeared in 900 as an offshoot of the house of Barcelona and became one of the most illustrious noble families in the south of France. Their possessions in the Languedoc, France included the barony of Roquefeuil-Meyrueis or the viscounty of Creyssels.[1] Some ruins of the Roquefeuil castle still exits in Saint-Jean du Bruel (formerly Saint-Jean of Roquefeuil).

Roquefeuil-Anduze

In 1129, Bertrand of Anduze married the heiress Adélaïde of Roquefeuil. Their son Raymond maintained the name of Roquefeuil and inherited from his mother creating the House of Roquefeuil-Anduze. He and his descendants fought in multiple medieval wars: the Cathar Crusade, the Seventh Crusade and the Hundred Years War.

Roquefeuil-Versols

William I of Roquefeuil, was born in 1230 and received from his parents the land of Versol married Ricarde of Bonvoisin who gave him two sons: Jean and Raymond

With his brother Raymond, William supported the king James I of Aragon during the Spanish Reconquista. From his military success, James I of Aragon named him governor of Montepellier and Adelantado maior of Murcia. He also signed the Treaty of Corbeil on behalf of James I of Aragon in 1258.[4]

Branch La Tour and La Roquette

Jean of Roquefeuil's descendance formed different branches:

The branch of La Tour which ended in 1729

The branch of La Roquette was funded by Jean of Roquefeuil married in 1534 with Anne of Vergnole lady of La Roquette.

Branch of Rocafull

Created by Raymond, cadet brother of Jean, his branch actively participated in the Reconquista and supported the kings of Aragon and latter of Spain.

Some of its most famous members included:

Branch of Versols-Saint-Etienne

Rigaud of Roquefeuil married in 1411 to Béatrix of Maffred and formed a cadet branch that ended in 1756. The last male member, Henri of Roquefeuil, did not marry but donated his possessions to his nephew Joseph Bessodes who would take on his name, titles and coat of arms. Joseph Bessodes de Roquefeuil descendents remain in the Languedoc to the present day and have kept both the land and castle of Versols in the family.

After the French Revolution, this branch mainly produced doctors or lawyers but also a notable politician:

See also

References

  1. Book: Documents historiques et généalogiques sur les familles du Rouergue. de Barrau. Hippolyte. 1853. Batery. Tome 1. Rodez.
  2. Histoire de Montpellier par Albert Fabre - Montpellier 1897
  3. cf. Vaquette d'Hermilly - 1777 - "Histoire du royaume de Majorque avec ses annexes" - Page 280
  4. https://books.google.com/books?id=IWJDAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA355 Le grand dictionnaire historique - Louis Moreri
  5. Henri Jougla de Morenas, "Grand Armorial de France", tome 6, 1952, pages 58-59
  6. Bulletin de la Société héraldique et généalogique de France, Volume 1, 1879, page 48 (Ramon Perellos de Rocafull grand maître de Malte en 1697 n’appartenait à ce rameau que par sa mère)
  7. Généalogie Roquefeuil Versols, in Filiations languedociennes (Tome 3, Mémoires et documents, 2006,), by Hubert de Vergnette de Lamotte