County of Valentinois


The Count of Valentinois was originally the official in charge of the region around Valence. It evolved in a hereditary title of nobility, still indicating control of the Valentinois and often of the Diois. The title later became the Duke of Valentinois.

Counts of Valentinois

The County of Valence was a fiefdom of the Holy Roman Empire, which was first held by Odilon, a count in Valence.

Family of Odilon

  • 886-887: Odilon
  • 879–912: Adalelm
  • 912–943: Boson
  • 943–960: Geilin I
  • 950-???: Gonthar.
  • 961-1011: The title was dormant.
  • 1011–???: Lambert
  • 1037–???: Adémar, Comes Valentinensis, in conflict with the Albon family.
  • 1058–???: Geilin II

    House of Poitiers

Named after the castle of Pictavis, now part of Châteauneuf-de-Bordette, and unrelated to the city of Poitiers in western France.
  • 1128–1148: Adémar I, vassal of Ermengard of Narbonne.
  • 1148-1152: Eustace, bishop and count of Valentinois.
  • 1152–1189: William.
  • 1188/9–1239: Adémar II husband of Rixende, heir countess of Valentinois.
  • 1239–1277: Adémar III
  • 1277–1329: Adémar IV
  • 1329–1339: Adémar V
  • 1339–1345: Louis I
  • 1345–1374: Adémar VI
  • 1374–1419: Louis II
The counts of Valentinois of House of Poitiers remained vassals of the Dauphin of Viennois until 1338; they held the title until the death of Louis of Poitiers in 1419.
On 1029 Valence passed to the House of Albon the Dauphins of Viennois. In 1338 it fell to Philip VI of France.

House of Valois

After the death of Cesar Borgia, the Duchy became a part of the French Royal domain as a part of the Dauphiné. It is now the capital of the Drôme department within the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.