Jean de la Flèche explained

Jean de la Flèche
Noble Family:de La Flèche-de Baugency
Issue:Elias I de la Flèche
Father:Lancelin I de Beaugency
Mother:Mathilde de Chateau du Loir
Spouse:Paula of Maine
Death Date:1097

Jean de la Flèche, also known as Jean de Beaugency, Seigneur de la Flèche (c. 1030 – c. 1097) was an 11th-century nobleman. He was the son of Lancelin I de Beaugency and Adelberg de Maine and was born about 1030 in La Flèche, Sarthe.

Jean's father Lancelin I, was the first lord of both Beaugency and La Flèche. On his death, the older son Lancelin I was given Beaugency and Jean La Flèche. This was unusual for the time as normal the older son inherited all.

The family of de la Flèche built the original wooden fort, Château de Beaugency, which was later replaced by a stone castle. The massive keep still survives as a ruined shell. A later mansion was built on the grounds of the castle.

Jean de la Flèche became seigneur of La Flèche where he held its original castle (the current one is from the 15th century). In 1059, Jean married Paula of Maine, daughter of Herbert I, Count of Maine. Jean and Paula were the parents of Elias I, Count of Maine, who married Mathilde de Château-du-Loir.

Jean de la Fleche was given land in Yorkshire, England and this is where the name was first recorded. (source Betham in his 'Baronetage of England.') FLETCHER is 'de la Fleche' anglicised.

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