House of La Rochefoucauld


The House of La Rochefoucauld is an ancient family of French nobility. Its earliest origins date back to the 10th century, in the area of what is now the village of La Rochefoucauld, southwest by south of Paris. The family's lineage begins with , the first Lord of La Roche, later known as La Rochefoucauld. He was possibly the son of, also known as Amaury or Esmerin, Lord of La Roche. Over the centuries, the family rose in prominence, earning numerous titles and distinctions.

Overview of titles and roles

In April 1622, Louis XIII elevated the County of La Rochefoucauld to a Duchy and Peerage by ' issued at Niort. This act formally raised François V of La Rochefoucauld from Count to the inaugural Duke of La Rochefoucauld, as well as to the status of Peer of France.
Earlier titles held by the family included Baron and Count, the latter granted to ', godfather of King François I. François V of La Rochefoucauld married Gabrielle du Plessis-Liancourt , daughter of Antoinette of Pons, and their son François VI became a leading figure of La Fronde and is celebrated as the author of the Maxims''.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the family continued to ascend socially and politically. They were titled as in the 16th century, while François VII, a close friend of Louis XIV, married Jeanne du Plessis-Liancourt. Their son, François VIII, became the Duke of La Roche-Guyon in 1679 and married Marie Madeleine Charlotte Le Tellier , the daughter of François Michel Le Tellier of Louvois, prime minister to Louis XIV.
In the 18th century, the family acquired several additional titles, including Duke of Liancourt, Duke of Enville, and Duke of Estissac. François XII, an eminent philanthropist, is famously remembered for his statement to Louis XVI during the French Revolution: "Sir, it's not a revolt; it's a revolution." Over time, they also became the Prince of La Rochefoucauld-Montbel, Duke of Doudeauville, Duke of Estrées, and Duke of Bisaccia.
The La Rochefoucauld family held numerous other titles and roles, including Marquises of Montendre, Barbezieux, Surgères, and Bayers ; and Counts of Duretal, Roye, and Roucy; and Baron of Verteuil. Family members were also prominent in the Catholic Church, producing cardinals and bishops; and two family members, and , were massacred during the French Revolution and later beatified.
The family's legacy extends beyond nobility, with members serving as ambassadors, generals, and ministers, including Robert de La Rochefoucauld, a WWII spy and third great-grandson of François of La Rochefoucauld, the 8th Duke of La Rochefoucauld and a UK field marshal. They also held prestigious positions such as Grand Hospitaller of the Order of Malta and founded notable clubs like the Jockey Club de Paris. Many were elevated in the National Order of the Legion of Honour, and approximately 40 members have been, or still are, part of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.
The family's ancestral seat, the, has been in their possession since the 10th century. Additionally, the La Rochefoucauld-Montbel family owned the Lascaux Cave at the time of their discovery and maintain ties to the Pellevoisin sanctuary, a site of Marian apparitions in France.

Origins of the name

Authors have advanced, albeit with piecemeal evidence, that the first member of this family was Adémar, known as Amaury or Esmerin, by Viscounty of Limoges, or the son of the lord Hugh I of Lusignan. This latter hypothesis could be reinforced by the armorial bearings of the family. The late historian, , attributes the origins of the House of La Rochefoucauld to the House of Montbron in the 12th century, contrasting with theories that link their ancestry to Adémar or the Lusignan family. The seigniory of La Roche was originally a barony in the 13th century. The descendants of and his wife, Jarsande of Châtellérault, united their name Foucauld.

Lords then Barons of La Rochefoucauld (10th–15th centuries)

1st House of La Rochefoucauld: Lords of La Roche


  1. Adémar of La Roche.
  2. Foucauld I of La Roche , Lord of La Rochefoucauld; married to Jarsande and had four children.
  3. Guy I of La Roche , Lord of La Rochefoucauld, founded in 1060 the priory of Saint-Florent de La Rochefoucauld.
  4. Guy II of La Roche , Lord of La Rochefoucauld; married Eve and had three children.
  5. Guy III of La Roche , Lord of La Rochefoucauld.
  6. Aymar of La Roche , Lord of La Rochefoucauld and of Verteuil, led several wars against Wulgrin II, Count of Angoulême, married Mathilde of Chabanais and had a daughter, Emma de La Rochefoucauld, who married Robert of Marthon, Lord of Marthon.

2nd House of La Rochefoucauld: Lords of Marthon


    Robert of Marthon, Lord of Marthon; married Emma de La Rochefoucauld, daughter and heiress of Aymar de La Roche, Lord of La Rochefoucauld.
  1. Guy IV of La Rochefoucauld, took his mother's name and became Lord of La Rochefoucauld, Verteuil, Marthon, Blanzac. He took part in the wars against William, Count of Angoulême; married the daughter of Aimery, Viscount of Rochechouart, and had two children.
  2. Foucauld II of La Rochefoucauld, Lord of La Rochefoucauld, Verteuil, Blanzac, Marthon, he served in the army of the King Philip II Augustus and was made prisoner in 1198 at the Battle of Gisors. He was father of four children.
  3. Guy V of La Rochefoucauld, founded the Cordeliers Convent d'Angoulême in 1230.

    1. Aimery I of La Rochefoucauld , Lord of La Rochefoucauld in 1219, and of Verteuil, Count of La Marche; married Létice de Parthenay and had five children.
  4. Guy VI of La Rochefoucauld, Lord of La Rochefoucauld, of Verteuil, of Marthon, of Saint Claud, of Saint Laurent, of Blanzac and of Cellefrouin, rallied to the cause of Hugues VII of Lusignan, Count of La Marche, against King Louis IX, retired to Grosbos Abbey; married Agnès de Rochechouart and had nine children.
  5. Aimery II of La Rochefoucauld, Baron of La Rochefoucauld, Lord of Verteuil, of Marthon, of Saint Claud, of Saint Laurent, of Blanzac, of Monteil and of Cellefrouin ; married Dauphine de La Tour-d'Auvergne in 1280, and had five children.
  6. Guy VII of La Rochefoucauld , Baron of La Rochefoucauld; he in 1309, married Agnès de Culant and had nine children, served King Philip V against the County of Flanders from 1317 to 1318, was excommunicated by Bishop Aiguelin de Blaye, founded the Couvent des Carmes de La Rochefoucauld in 1329, and was killed September 19, 1356, next to the King Jean II during the Battle of Poitiers.
  7. Aimery III de La Rochefoucauld , Baron of La Rochefoucauld, who served King Philippe VI in 1338; married Rogette de Grailly.
  8. Guy VIII de La Rochefoucauld, Baron of La Rochefoucauld, governor of l'Angoumois, Councillor and Grand Chamberlain of France of Kings Charles V, Charles VI and of Philip II of Burgundy, he acquired the lands of Marcillac and Montignac; married Jeanne de Luxembourg, and Marguerite de Craon and had eight children.
  9. Foucauld III de La Rochefoucauld , Baron of La Rochefoucauld, Councillor, chamberlain of King Charles VII, participated in the Siege of Fronsac, rescued King Charles VII at the battle of Castillon ; married Jeanne de Rochechouart.
  10. , Baron of La Rochefoucauld, Marthon, Blanzac, Bayers, Montignac, Marcillac, Councillor and Grand Chamberlain of France for Kings Louis XI and Charles VIII, and governor of Bayonne, in August 27, 1446, married his cousin Marguerite de La Rochefoucauld, Lady of Barbezieux and Montendre.

Counts of La Rochefoucauld (and Princes of Marcillac) (16th century)

In April 1528, King Francis I gave his godfather, François I of La Rochefoucauld, the title of Count of La Rochefoucauld.

  1. François I of La Rochefoucauld , Count of La Rochefoucauld, Chambellan of Kings Charles VIII and Louis XII, on April 30, 1470, married Louise of Crussol, daughter of . In 1500, he married Barbe Jeanne of Fiennes du Bois d'Esquerdes
  2. , Count of La Rochefoucauld,, Baron of Verteuil, in 1518, married , Lady of Randan and Beaumont.
  3. François III of La Rochefoucauld , Count of La Rochefoucauld,, Count of Roucy, Baron of Verteuil, he was killed at the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre, in 1552, married Sylvie Pic of La Mirandole, and in 1557, married Charlotte of Roye , Countess of Roucy.
  4. François IV of La Rochefoucauld , Count of La Rochefoucauld,, Baron of Verteuil, a Protestant, he was killed at Saint-Yrieix by the Catholic League; married Claude d'Estissac in 1587.

Dukes of La Rochefoucauld (17th–21st centuries)

Elder branch

On 22 April 1622, King Louis XIII raised the Count of La Rochefoucauld into a Duchy-peerage as the Duke of La Rochefoucauld.

  1. François V of La Rochefoucauld , 1st Duke of La Rochefoucauld, in 1611 he married Gabrielle of Plessis-Liancourt, daughter of Antoinette de Pons, sister of , Duke of Liancourt.
  2. François VI of La Rochefoucauld , 2nd Duke of La Rochefoucauld, Prince of Marcillac, moralist writer:

    3. And, he also wrote a history of the Fronde.
    In 1628, he married Andrée of Vivonne.
  3. François VII of La Rochefoucauld , 3rd Duke of La Rochefoucauld, Prince of Marcillac, Grand veneur de France, grand maître de la garde robe of the king, one of Louis XIV closest friend, married his cousin Jeanne Charlotte of Plessis-Liancourt, great granddaughter of Antoinette de Pons and heiress of the Duke of La Roche-Guyon. She brought the domains of La Roche-Guyon and Liancourt in the La Rochefoucauld family.
  4. François VIII of La Rochefoucauld , 4th Duke of La Rochefoucauld, grand maître de la garde robe of the King, Duke of La Roche-Guyon in 1679, Prince of Marcillac; married to Magdeleine Charlotte of Tellier, daughter of François Michel Le Tellier de Louvois.

    1. Alexandre I of La Rochefoucauld , 5th Duke of La Rochefoucauld, grand maître de la garde robe of the King, duke of La Roche-Guyon, Prince of Marcillac, married, in 1715, Elisabeth Marie Louise Nicole van Bermond of Caylar of Toiras in Amboise.