List of rulers of Auvergne explained

This is a list of the various rulers of Auvergne.

History

In the 7th century Auvergne was disputed between the Franks and Aquitanians. It was later conquered by the Carolingians, and was integrated for a time into the kingdom of Aquitaine. The counts of Auvergne slowly became autonomous.

In the 10th century Auvergne became a disputed territory between the count of Poitiers and the counts of Toulouse.

In the Middle Ages Auvergne was broken into four feudal domains:

Auvergne was integrated in turn into the appanages of Alphonse, count of Poitou and Toulouse (1241–1271) and of John, duke of Berry and Auvergne and count of Poitiers and Montpensier (1360–1416).

During the Hundred Years' War Auvergne faced numerous raids and revolts, including the Tuchin Revolt.

In 1424 the Duchy of Auvergne passed to the House of Bourbon.

Quite contemporaneously, the County of Auvergne passed to the House of La Tour d'Auvergne, and upon its extinction in 1531 it passed to Catherine de' Medici before becoming a royal domain.

In 1434, the Dauphinate of Auvergne passed to the House of Bourbon-Montpensier.

Elected Counts of Auvergne (480–963)

Visigoth period

Frankish Merovingian period

Frankish Carolingian period

After the death of Acfred, who left the comital fisc completely diminished, there appeared no successor who could control the entire Auvergne, with Velay. Several relatives of surrounding regions made claims. Below are the dates of their effective control.

Hereditary Counts of Auvergne and the Dauphinate (963-1653/1693)

House of Auvergne

From the viscounty of Clermont, then vassal to the elective county of Auvergne, came the so-called House of Auvergne, a designation used by modern historians for the family that ruled consistently the Auvergne region from 963. After a period of comital vacancy, the viscounts of Clermont were elevated as successors of the elective counts: the county became hereditary.

Viscounts of Clermont

The splitting of the county and the Dauphinate

In 1155, count William VII the Young was usurped by his uncle, count William VIII the Old. However, William VIII left a smaller portion for his nephew to rule. In 1209, the county of William VIII the Old would be made smaller after a partial confiscation by Philip II of France, later to be made in 1360 as the Duchy of Auvergne.

As for William VII the Young, he was able to maintain his status in part of his county,[1] especially Beaumont, Chamalières, and Montferrand. From this smaller county raised, in 1302, the Dauphinate of Auvergne.

Based in the fact that William VII's wife was the daughter of the dauphin de Viennois, Guigues IV, and that William VII's descendants, in virtue of the Viennois blood, used the surname Dauphin, the majority of authors anticipate the formalization of the dauphinate in 1302 and choose to call William VII and his successors already as dauphins of Auvergne, for a clear distinction from the descendants of William VIII. Still others, out of convenience, choose to call these successors the counts-dauphins of Auvergne.

Partitions of Auvergne under Auvergne family

County of Auvergne
(963-1169)
      <---Elder Auvergne--->Younger County
of Auvergne
(1169-1302)
Raised to:
Dauphinate
of Auvergne
(1302–1434)
Part of the county
annexed to France (1209);
In 1360, emerged here the
Duchy of Auvergne		Elder County
of Auvergne
(1169-1437)
Inherited by
La Tour d'Auvergne 		Inherited by
Bourbon

Table of rulers

Note: The parallel existence of the usurpers of the Elder County of Auvergne and of the usurped Younger County-Dauphinate, who often carried the same first names, also complicates things.[2] To avoid confusion, the numbering system used here is continuous, and Dauphin is used as part of the name where applicable.

MonarchBornReignRuling partConsortDeathNotes
c.950?
Second son of Robert II, Viscount of Clermont and Ingelberga		963-989County of AuvergneAusenda
no children 		989
aged 38-39?		He was the first of the family to use the comital title in Auvergne. However, he left no descendants and was succeeded by his brother.
William IV[3] c.950?
Third son of Robert II, Viscount of Clermont and Ingelberga		989-1016County of AuvergneHumberge de Brioude[4]
five children 		1016
aged 65-66?
Robert Ic.970?
First son of William IV and Humberge de Brioude		1016-1032County of AuvergneUnknown or Ermengarde-Philippa(?)
two children		1032
aged 51-52?
William Vc.1000
Only son of Robert I		1032-1064County of AuvergnePhilippa of Gévaudan
five children		1064
aged 63-64?
Robert IIc.1030?
First son of William V and Philippa of Gévaudan		1064-1095County of AuvergneBertha of Rouergue
1051
no children

Judith de Melgueil
c.1069
two children		c.1095
aged 64-65?
William VIc.1069
Son of Robert II and Judith de Melgueil		1095 – 25 January 1136County of AuvergneEmma of Sicily
1092[5]
two children		25 January 1136[6]
aged 66-67
Robert IIIc.1092?
First son of William VI and Emma of Sicily		25 January 1136 – 1147County of AuvergneUnknown[7]
one child		1147
Palestine
aged 51-52?
William VII the Young1102?
Only son of Robert III		1147-1155bgcolor=#fffCounty of AuvergneMarquise of Albon[8]
1150
four children		1169
aged 66-67?		In 1155, William VIII robbed William VII a great part of Auvergne.
1155-1169Younger County of Auvergne
William VIII the Oldc.1100?
Second son of William VI and Emma of Sicily		1155-1182Elder County of AuvergneAnne of Nevers
four children		1182
aged 81-82?
Robert IV Dauphin[9] c.1150
First son of William VII and Marquise of Albon		1169 – 22 May 1235Younger County of AuvergneGuillemette de Comborn
(d.May 1199)
1150
four children		22 May 1235
aged 84-85?		Held the surname Dauphin, after the title of his mother's family.
Robert IVc.1130
Son of William VIII and Anne of Nevers		1182-1194Elder County of AuvergneMatilda of Burgundy
1165
six children		1194
aged 81-82?
William IXc.1150
First son of Robert IV and Matilda of Burgundy		1194-1199Elder County of AuvergneUnmarried1199
aged 48-49?
Guy IIc.1165
Second son of Robert IV and Matilda of Burgundy		1199-1222Elder County of AuvergnePetronilla of Chambon
1180
eight children		1222
aged 81-82?
William Xc.1195
First son of Guy II and Petronilla of Chambon		1222-1246Elder County of AuvergneAdelaide of Brabant
23 May 1225
six children		1246
aged 81-82?		His wife was elected to succeed to the County of Boulogne, which then passed to her sons.
William VIII Dauphin[10] c.1175
First son of Robert IV Dauphin and Guillemette de Comborn		22 May 1235 – 19 November 1240Younger County of AuvergneHuguette de Chamalières
1196
one child

Isabelle de Montluçon
one child

Philippa de Baffie
no children		19 November 1240
aged 74-75?
Robert V Dauphin[11] c.1200
Only son of William VIII Dauphin and Huguette de Chamalières		19 November 1240 – 12 April 1262Younger County of AuvergneAlix de Ventadour
(d.c.1250)
c.1230
six children		12 April 1262
aged 61-62
Robert Vc.1225
Son of William X and Adelaide of Brabant		1246 – 17 January 1277Elder County of Auvergne
(with County of Boulogne)		Éléonore de Baffie
1245
six children		17 January 1277
aged 51-52		Also Count of Boulogne. From his reign, the remaining counts of Auvergne also had possession over the county of Boulogne.
Robert VI Dauphinc.1238
First son of Robert V Dauphin and Alix de Ventadour		12 April 1262 – 21 March 1282Younger County of AuvergneMatilda of Elder Auvergne
(1230- 21 August 1280)
c.1250
five children		21 March 1282
aged 43-44
William XI1248
First son of Robert V and Éléonore de Baffie		17 January 1277 – 1277Elder County of Auvergne
(with County of Boulogne)		Unmarried1277[12]
aged 31-32
1250
Second son of Robert V and Éléonore de Baffie		1277-1317Elder County of Auvergne
(with County of Boulogne)		Beatrice of Montgascon
14 June 1279
Luzillat
six children		1317[13]
aged 66-67
Robert VII Dauphinc.1255
First son of Robert VI Dauphin and Matilda of Elder Auvergne		21 March 1282 – 19 May 1324Younger County of Auvergne
(until 1302)

Dauphinate of Auvergne
(from 1302)		Alixente de Mercoeur
(d.15 July 1286)
1279
four children

Isabelle de Jaligny
(d.1 October 1297)
1289
four children		19 May 1324
aged 68-69		During his reign the county was elevated to a dauphinate.
1282
Son of Robert VI and Beatrice of Montgascon		1317 – 13 October 1325Elder County of Auvergne
(with County of Boulogne)		Blanche of Bourbon
(d.1304)
25 June 1303
Paris
one child

Marie of Termonde (de Dampierre)
1312
one child		13 October 1325
aged 81-82?
Johnc.1280
First son of Robert VII Dauphin and Alixente de Mercoeur		19 Mary 1324 – 10 March 1351Dauphinate of AuvergneAnne de Poitiers-Valentinois
(1289-17 August 1351)
27 May 1313
three children		10 March 1351
aged 70-71		Inherited also his mother's lordship of Mercoeur.
William XII1303
Son of Robert VII and Blanche of Bourbon		13 October 1325 – 6 August 1332Elder County of Auvergne
(with County of Boulogne)		Margaret of Évreux
1325
Busséol
one child		6 August 1332
aged 28-29		Children of Robert VII, divided the inheritance: William received the core county, and Godfrey the lordships of Montgascon and Roche-Savine.
Godfreyc.1315?
Second son of Robert VII and Marie of Termonde		13 October 1325 – 1387Elder County of Auvergne
(at Montgascon and Roche-Savine)		Margaret of Younger Auvergne
1364
no children

Jeanne de Ventadour
1375
one child

Blanche de Senlis
1376
no children		1387
aged 71-72?
Regency of Margaret of Évreux (1332–1338)In virtue of her second marriage she became queen of France.
Joanna I8 May 1326
Only daughter of William XII and Margaret of Évreux		6 August 1332 – 29 September 1360Elder County of Auvergne
(with County of Boulogne)		Philip, heir of Burgundy
November 1338
Vincennes
three children

John II of France
9 February 1350
Saint-Gemme, Yvelines
two children		29 September 1360
aged 34
Beraud Ic.1315
First son of John and Marquise of Albon		10 March 1351 – 27 August 1356Dauphinate of AuvergneMarie de Villemur
(1315-28 September 1338)
14 March 1333
Avignon
nine children		27 August 1356
aged 40-41
Beraud II the Great1333
First son of Beraud I and Marie de Villemur		27 August 1356 – 17 January 1399Dauphinate of AuvergneJoanna of Forez
22 June 1357
one child

Joanna of Elder Auvergne
(d.1 October 1373)
June 1371
no children

Margaret, Countess of Sancerre
27 June 1374
Riom
eight children		17 January 1399
aged 65-66
Philip of Rouvres1346
Rouvres-en-Plaine
Son of Philip, heir of Burgundy and Joanna I		29 September 1360 – 21 November 1361Elder County of Auvergne
(with County of Boulogne)		Margaret III, Countess of Flanders
1355
no children		21 November 1361
Rouvres-en-Plaine
aged 14-15		From the Ducal/Capetian House of Burgundy. Left no descendants after a very short reign, and the county went to another son of Robert VII.
John Ic.1310?
First son of Robert VII and Marie of Termonde		21 November 1361 – 24 March 1386Elder County of Auvergne
(with County of Boulogne)		Joanna of Clermont
1328
three children		24 March 1386
Compiègne
aged 39-40
John IIc.1330
Son of John I and Joanna of Clermont		24 March 1386 – 28 September 1404Elder County of Auvergne
(with County of Boulogne)		Aliénor of Comminges
11 August 1373
one child		28 September 1404
aged 73-74?
Beraud III1380
Ardres
First son of Beraud II and Margaret, Countess of Sancerre		17 January 1399 – 28 July 1426Dauphinate of AuvergneJeanne de La Tour
(d.1415)
1409
one child

Marguerite de Chauvigny
(d.23 July 1473)
14 July 1426
Issodoun
no children		28 July 1426
Ardres
aged 45-46		Children of Beraud II, both titled Dauphin/Dauphine, inherited separately their possessions:
  • Anne inherited her deceased maternal uncle's possessions of Forez in 1372, as Dauphine de Forez. After her death this part was inherited by the Bourbons.
  • Beraud inherited, after their father's death in 1399, the Dauphinate itself, plus the county of Sancerre from his mother.
Anne1358
Only daughter of Beraud II and Joanna of Forez		15 May 1372 – 22 September 1417Dauphinate of Auvergne
(at Forez)		Louis II, Duke of Bourbon
19 August 1371
four children		22 September 1417
Cleppé
aged 58-59
align=center colspan="8"Dauphinate of Forez inherited by Bourbon
Joanna II1378
Daughter of John II and Aliénor of Comminges		28 September 1404 – 1424Elder County of Auvergne
(with County of Boulogne)		John, Duke of Berry
5 June 1390
Puy-de-Dôme
no children

Georges de La Trémoille
16 November 1416
Puy-de-Dôme
no children		1424
aged 45-46		Ruled alongside her husbands.
MariaSeptember 1376
Daughter of Godfrey and Jeanne de Ventadour		1387-1424

1424 – 7 August 1437		Elder County of Auvergne
(at Montgascon and Roche-Savine until 1424; in all Auvergne and Boulogne from 1424)		Bertrand IV de La Tour
1389
four children		7 August 1437
aged 60
align=center colspan="8"Elder Auvergne inherited by La Tour d'Auvergne
Joanna1414
Only daughter of Beraud III and Jeanne de La Tour		28 July 1426 – 26 May 1436Dauphinate of AuvergneLouis I, Count of Montpensier
8 December 1426
no children		26 May 1436
Ardres
aged 21-22		Heiress of her father and last of her family, her possessions were inherited by the Montpensier branch of the House of Bourbon.
align=center colspan="8"Dauphinate of Auvergne inherited by Bourbon-Montpensier

The successors of the Auvergne family in the county and the dauphinate

County of AuvergneDauphinate of Auvergne

As Appanage:

From 1525–1538 the dauphinate was confiscated by the king and united with the royal domain.

At her death in 1693, the title returned to the royal domain. It was later given to:

Became part of the royal domain upon the ascension of Louis XIII of France, son of Henry IV and Marie de'MediciAfterwards, the title returned to the royal domain and was claimed as a courtesy title by the dukes of Orléans, and the modern Orleanist pretenders

Bishops of Clermont

The title of bishop of Clermont is used from 1160 onwards. Before then they were called bishop of Arvernes. In 2002, the Bishopric of Clermont was incorporated into the Archbishopric of Clermont-Ferrand.

List of bishops of Arvernes

List of bishops of Clermont

List of archbishops of Clermont-Ferrand

Dukes of Auvergne

The Duchy of Auvergne was created in 1360 by John II of France, out of part of the Elder County of Auvergne, confiscated by Philip II of France in 1209.

List of dukes of Auvergne

After his death in 1527, the title was confiscated and passed to the royal domain.

Louise confronted Charles III's right to succession with the support of her son, King Francis I of France. After her death in 1531, the title passed to the royal domain.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Some authors have named William VII and his descendants counts of Clermont (after the viscounty from which the family emerged), as a way to mark them as the legitimate line. However, this risks confusion with the episcopal County of Clermont in Auvergne, and also with the unrelated County of Clermont-en-Beauvaisis.
  2. Some authors create a new numbering starting with the first dauphins even though the dauphinate did not really begin until 1302. Others choose to reestablish, beginning with William the Young, the numbering of the viscounts of Clermont who became counts of Auvergne, particularly for the dauphins named Robert.
  3. The numbering of the counts named William follows the one of the elective counts. However, the most traditional counting does not include William III, Duke of Aquitaine as a de facto count of Auvergne.
  4. Sauxillanges, 402, p. 311.
  5. According to Pontiari, E. (ed.) (1927-8), De rebus gestis Rogerii Calabriæ et Siciliæ comitis et Roberti Guiscardi ducis fratris eius, (Bologna) (“Malaterra”) IV.8, p. 90, Emma was intended to marry Philip I of France, but her father didn't know he was still married to Bertha of Holland, and it was Raymond IV, Count of Toulouse who arranged for her to marry William VI. This could only have happened in 1092, probably between the separation of the royal couple, and the beginning of the bigamous marriage of the king to Bertrade of Montfort.
  6. Baluze (1708) Auvergne, Tome II, p. 59.
  7. Baluze contests historians who consider Robert's wife to be Beatrice, daughter of Guigues III of Albon. See Baluze, Histoire généalogique de la maison d'Auvergne, tome 1, pag 60.
  8. A previous marriage to Joanna of Calabria is mentioned in a spurious document. See Baluze (1708) Auvergne, Tome II, p. 62.
  9. He is alternatively named Robert I Dauphin, thus restarting the numbering. In the present table the numbering will continue from the original county of Auvergne.
  10. The numbering in the Dauphinate starts from where the division left it; He was the eighth William in this part of the county.
  11. Somes sources state him as I or II, depending on whether his grandfather was named Robert or simply Dauphin For the reason of the numbering on the present table see footnote on Robert IV Dauphin.
  12. https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k1041285c/f169.image#ES Histoire généalogique de la maison d'Auvergne, Livre 1, pag. 103
  13. https://books.google.fr/books?id=D5VFAAAAcAAJ&printsec=frontcover&hl=fr&source=gbs_ge_summary_r#v=onepage&q&f=true#ES Histoire généalogique de la maison d'Auvergne, Livre 1, pag. 110

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