House of Baux

The House of Baux is a French noble family from the south of France. It was one of the richest and most powerful families of medieval Provence, known as the 'Race d’Aiglon'. They were independent lords as castellans of Les Baux and Arles and wielded very considerable authority at the local level. They held important fiefs and vast lands, including the principality of Orange.

In Old French: baux (and in Provençal-Occitan, li baou) is the word for 'cliffs, escarpment'. In its use as the family name, it refers to the natural fortress on which the family built their castle, the Château des Baux and the village that surrounded it. The escarpment provided a raised and protected mountain valley that protected their food supply; the natural ridge of the Alpilles allowed control of all the approaches to the citadel of Les Baux-de-Provence and the surrounding countryside, including the passage up and down the Rhone, and the approaches from the Mediterranean. Together, these natural advantages made the fortress impervious to the military technology of the time.

Les Baux-de-Provence seen from the side, showing the natural fortress created by the escarpment. Without gunpowder, it was impregnable.

The family of des Baux is still thriving today in Naples in the person of several noble families descended from younger sons who followed Charles of Anjou south. In particular from Bertrand, Lord of Baux and Prince of Orange, derive three cadet branches of the house, which moved to southern Italy, giving rise to the Italianized branches of the "Orsini del Balzo" Counts of Avellino, Dukes of Andria and Princes of Taranto.

After the death of Alix des Baux [fr], the last sovereign of Baux, the chateau and town were seized by King Rene, who gave them to his second wife, Queen Jeanne of Laval. When Provence was united with the crown almost 150 yrs of royal governors followed, including the lords, later counts and princes, de Manville. Les Baux became a centre for Protestantism. Its unsuccessful revolt against the crown led Cardinal Richelieu in 1632 to order that the castle and its walls should be demolished. This was accomplished with the aid of artillery.

Lords of Baux

Original coat of arms of the House of Baux (Lords of Baux). Some authors, and local tradition, with a hagiographic aim, fancifully claimed that the family was descended from Balthazar, one of the three Magi (the 16-rayed star symbolizing the star of Bethlehem). Some, that they descended from the first kings of Armenia, the star signifying that they directly knew Jesus. The mottoes of the family were Au Hasard Baltasar; Jamais Vassal; and Latin: Semper Ardentius.

The earliest definite ancestor was Pons (Poncius Iuvenis, 'Pons the Younger'). The name may indicate a trader from Greece,[why?] while his sobriquet, 'the Younger', distinguished him from his father, Pons the Elder. Pons the Younger was mentioned in three legal acts:

  • 1st in the act of donation of 14 May 971 donating Montmajour to Boson & his wife Folcoare,
  • 2nd in 975 in the act of donation of land to St Etienne d'Arles, now called St. Trophime (Arch. du chap. d'Arles, liv. autent. f. 22)
  • 3rd with his wife Profecte in an act of donation in 981

The family descent then is:

  • Pons the Younger (born c. 950, fl. 971-1028), father of
  • Hugh I (born c. 970 – after 1059), father of
  • William Hugh of Baux [fr] French: Guillaume Hugues or "Guilhem Uc" (after 1030 – 1105), father of
  • Raymond I (before 1095 – 1150), father of
  • Hugh II (reigned 1150 – 1167; retired to Sardinia where he died in 1179)
  • Betrand I (1167–1181), brother of Hugh II
  • Hugh III (1181–1240), lord of Baux, viscount of Marseille, eldest son of Bertrand I
  • Barral of Baux (Barral I, 1240–1268), father of
  • Bertrand III (1268–1305), father of
  • Raymond II (1305–1322), father of
  • Hugh IV (1322–1351), father of
  • Robert (1351–1353)
  • Raymond III (1353–1372), brother of Robert, father of
  • John I (1372–1375)
  • Alice I (1372–1426), sister of John

This branch of the House of Baux was declared extinct in 1426. The domains were inherited by Counts of Provence.

Lords of Berre, Meyragues, Puyricard and Marignane

  • Bertrand II des Baux [fr], second oldest son of Bertrand I des Baux [fr], lord of Berre, Meyragues and Puyricard, and Marignane (1181–1201)
  • ...

From this branch originated the family branches of the Seigneurs de Berre [fr], Lords of Meyrargues and Puyricard, who became extinct in 1349, and lords of Marignane, acquired by House of Valois-Anjou, as well as the Dukes of Andria.

Princes of Orange

When a branch of the lords of Baux married the heiress of the princes of Orange, they quartered their arms with those of the princes of Orange.
  • Bertrand I des Baux (1171–1181)
  • Raymond II of Baux, (1218–1282)
  • William I, youngest son of Bertrand I des Baux, (1181–1218)
  • William II, co-Prince (with brothers),1218-1239
  • Bertrand II, (1281–1314)
  • Raymond III (1314–1340)
  • Raymond V (1340–1393)
  • Mary of Baux-Orange (1393–1417), daughter, married John III of Châlon-Arlay

In 1417, the House of Ivrea or House of Châlon-Arlay succeeded as princes of Orange.

A brother of William I started the branch of the Lords of Courbezon (House of Baux-Courbezon), which became extinct in 1393. Another brother started the line of Lords of Suze, Solerieux and Barri (House of Baux-Suze-Solerieux-Barri), which became extinct and reverted afterwards to the counts of Orange.

Family Genealogy

Ancestors of the Lords of Baux

The ancestors of the Lords of Baux:[full citation needed]

Ancestors of the Lords of Baux
  • Leibulf de Provence (vers 750-835)
    • m. Odda ?
      • Leibulf des Baux (middle of the 9th century).
        • m. ??
          • Pons d’Arles (end of the 9th century)
            • m. Blismodis de Mâcon
              • Humbert, Bishop of Vaison-la-Romaine (890-933)
              • Ison d’Arles (890-942)
                • m. Princess ? of Benevento
                  • Lambert Ursus seigneurs de Reillanne
                    • m. Galburge de Bénévent
                  • Pons de Marseille (910-979),
                    • m. Judith de Bretagne, daughter d'Alain II de Bretagne
                      • Honoratus de Marseille (930-978), Bishop of Marseille
                      • William of Marseille (935-1004)
                      • m. Bellilde, daughter d’Arlulf de Marseille
                        • Vicomtes de Marseille
                    • m. Belletrude
                      • (hyp) Pons de Fos (vers 945-1025)
                        • m. Profecta de Marignane
                          • Seigneurs de Fos
                          • (hyp) Hugues des Baux (981-1060)
                            • m. Inauris de Cavaillon (?)
                              • Guillaume Hugues de Baux (1060–1095)
                                • m. Vierne
                                  • Raymond-Raimbaud des Baux (1095–1150)
                                    • m. Étiennette de Gévaudan
                                      • Bertrand des Baux
                                        • m. Thiburge II d'Orange

Simplified Family Tree of the Lords of Baux

The family tree of the lords of Baux:

Pons the Younger
"Iuventus"

945-1025
Hugh
981-1060
Lord of Baux
Geoffrey I of Provence, 1013-1062, Count of Provence
William Hugo
c. 1026 - c. 1105
Lord of Baux
William Bertrand
1051-1094
Count of Provence
Gerberga
1094-1118
Countess of Provence
Gilbert
Viscount of Gévaudan
Count of Arles
d.ca. 1110
Raymond I
1095-1150
Lord of Baux
Stephanie
d. c. 1160
The younger daughter.
This marriage was
the start of the
Baussenque Wars over the
succession to Provence
Dulcia
Countess of Provence
c. 1090–1127
Ramon Berenguer III
"the Great"

Count of Barcelona
c. 1082–1131
Hugh II
1150-1170

Iudicarus of Arborea
Sardinia
Vcte. des Baux
to 1384
Bertrand I
Lord of Baux
1130-1181
Count & from 1163
Prince of Orange

Tiburge d'Orange
died 1189
daughter & heiress of
Raimbaud II d'Orange
Count of Orange
Counts of
Provence


Barrale
Viscountess of Marseille
died 1234
Hugh III
1173- 1240
Lord of Baux
Vcte of Marseille
Bertrand II
died 1201
co-Prince of Orange
William I
?-1218
Prince of Orange
Barral I
1217-1270
Lord of Baux
Vcte of Marseille
Raymond II
d.1236

Vcte of Marseille
Bertrand III
Count of Andria, Montescaglioso, and Squillace
Raymond I
1202-1282
co-Prince of Orange
William II
1218-1239
co-Prince of Orange
Bertrand II
1244-1305
Lord of Baux
Vcte of Marseille
1st Count d'Avellino
(Naples) 1278
Bertrand III
Sg Meyrargues
et Puyricard
+1266
Line of
Sg de Meyrargues
et de Puyricard
ended 1352 in
the male line.
Gilbert
Sg de Marignane
Line of
sg de Marignane
line continues to
present in Provence
William I
Sg de Berre
+1265/1266
dukes d'Andria(Naples)
from whom "del Balzo"
dukes of Capriglianode
dukes of Presenzano
Raymond
Vcte of Berre
No descendants
Francis I
Duke of Andria, Count of Montescaglioso & Squillace
Bertrand IV
died 1314
4th-Prince of Orange
Eléonore
de Genève

William IV
d. 1281
co-Prince of Orange
William III
died 1256/7
co-Prince of Orange
Sg Courthézon
Raymond II
died 1256/7
co-Prince of Orange
sg Courthézon
et Suze, Séguret
Sérignan, Camaret
Raymond I
1268-1321
Lord of Baux
Vcte of Marseille
Count d'Avellino (Naples)
Sénéchal de Provence 1315
Régent de Naples
in 1295
Hugh
assassinated
Milan 1302
Sg de Loriol
Sénéchal of Piémont
Vicaire Général Lombardy
no descendants
Barral II
1301-1331
Sg de Loreto
Agoult
d.1346/7
Sg. de Caromb, Brantes
Le Barroux, St Léger
Sénéchal Beaucaire
and Nimes 1340
Toulouse/Albi 1342
Cap. gén. en Languedoc
James
Prince of Taranta & Achaia
titular Latin emperor of Constantinople
William II
Duke of Andria
Raymond IV
died 1340
5th Prince of Orange
Bertrand III
died 1305
co-Prince of Orange
Sg Courthézon
Raymond III
d.ca.1339
co-Prince of Orange
2nd sg de Suze, & Bari
Hugh II
1311-1351
Lord of Baux
Vcte of Marseille
Count d'Avellino (Naples)
Sénéchal de Provence 1343
Grand Admiral of Naples
Bertrand
d. 1355
Seig of Caromb
Dragobert
1327/8-1340
sg de Villefranche
Raymond
1328-1381
Sg of Caromb
Amiel
d. 1375
Sg of Caromb
Francis II
Duke of Andria
Raymond V
died 1393
6th Prince of Orange
Jeanne
de Genève

Bertrand
d.1380
Sg. of Gigondas
Suze, Condorcet
Guiges
d.1390
Guillaume
d.1390
Sg of Camaret
Travaillan, Condorcet
Antoine
d. 1374
Sg of Aubagne
Robert
d.1354
Lord of Baux
Vcte of Marseille
Count d'Avellino
Raymond II
1331-1372
Lord of Baux
Vcte of Marseille
Count d'Avellino
Francis
d. 1390
Sg of Aubagne
Pirro
Duke of Andria,
Prince of Altamura
Mary
died 1417
7th Princess of Orange
John III
of Châlon

lord of Arlay
died 1418
William
d. 1427
Sg. of St-Roman
de Malegarde
John
1372-1375
posthumous child
Alix
1367-1426
last sovereign
of the indep.
state of Baux

Countess d'Avellino
Frederick
king of Naples
Isabella del BalzoChâlon & Nassau
Princes of Orange

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Line of the dukes d'Andria and Nardo, counts of Squillace, princes of Tarento (in Naples) and Achaïa (Greece). Elder branch ended in 1530 in the male line. A younger branch survives in Naples as the "del Balzo" in multiple branches, as dukes of Capriglianode, another as counts del Balzo (died out 1932) and another as the dukes of Presenzano.del Balzo di Presenzano, Gioacchino. "GENEALOGY Maison del Balzo/des Baux, with bibliography cited there". Retrieved 2012-08-28.
  2. ^ a b Sg Courthézon, gave his rights to the principality to Raymond IV for this lordship. One male line died out c.1372, the other two lead to the counts d'Alessano, and counts d'Alessano, including the Orsini des Baux, died out by 1550.del Balzo di Presenzano, Gioacchino. "GENEALOGY Maison del Balzo/des Baux, with bibliography cited there". Retrieved 2012-08-28.
  3. ^ (Per the references cited in the Simplified family tree footnote section below, rather than footnote each person, as they are from all these sources)
  4. ^ Gave his rights to his brother. Male line died out c. 1409. del Balzo di Presenzano, Gioacchino. "GENEALOGY Maison del Balzo/des Baux". Retrieved 2012-08-28. del Balzo di Presenzano, Gioacchino. "GENEALOGY Maison del Balzo/des Baux, with bibliography cited there". Retrieved 2012-08-28.
  5. ^ She was married to Odon de Villars and Conrad IV de Furstemberg. Her uncle, on her mother's side, Raymond de Turenne used the fortress of Baux to wage war on the counts of Provence. On her death, the lordship of Baux was seized by King Rene, the count of Provence and given to his wife, Jeanne of Laval, thus ending its independence.fr:Alix des Baux

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