County of Longueville facts for kids
The Count of Longueville was an important noble title in France. It was given to people who controlled the land called the County of Longueville. This area was later made even more important in 1505, becoming a Duchy, which is a higher noble rank.
The Beginning of Longueville
The land of Longueville was first a "fief." This means it was land given by a king or lord in exchange for loyalty and service. It belonged to the Giffard family for a long time. Later, in 1191, a famous knight named William Marshal received half of this land. He got it through his wife, Isabel de Clare.
Isabel was the daughter of Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke. The other half of Longueville belonged to Richard de Clare, 3rd Earl of Hertford. After 1204, William Marshal managed to keep his part of the land. Even after he died, his widow, Isabel de Clare, and their children still owned it in 1219.
When Isabel de Clare passed away, her son, William Marshal, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, gave his brother Richard the lands in Normandy, including Longueville. Richard died without having any children. Because of this, Louis IX of France, the King of France, took control of these lands.
Who Ruled Longueville?
In 1305, King Philip IV gave Longueville to his minister, Enguerrand de Marigny. But Marigny lost the land in 1314. The County of Longueville then belonged to the family of the Counts of Evreux. This lasted until 1363, when Philip of Navarre died. He was the brother of a famous king called Charles the Bad.
On May 27, 1364, King Charles V gave the County of Longueville to Bertrand du Guesclin. He was a very famous French knight and military leader. Later, the title of Count of Longueville was given to Archibald Douglas, Earl of Wigtown. This happened in thanks for the help the Scottish army gave to the future King Charles VII of France.
The Scottish army was led by Archibald Douglas, 4th Earl of Douglas. He was killed in the Battle of Verneuil in 1424. Archibald Douglas, Earl of Wigtown, died in 1438, and his son, William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas, became Count. William died in 1440.
After James Douglas, 9th Earl of Douglas and 3rd Earl of Avondale died in 1488, all his titles were taken away. The title of Count of Longueville was then given to Jean de Dunois. His family, the Orléans-Longueville family, held the title until Jean Louis Charles d'Orléans died in 1694.
Longueville Becomes a Duchy
In 1364, after King John II of France died, the County of Tancarville was separated from Longueville. Also, the city of Montivilliers became part of the king's own lands.
A big change happened in 1505. The land of Auffay was joined with the County of Longueville. Then, King Louis XII of France made the County into a Duchy. This meant it was a higher and more important noble rank. The first Duke of Longueville was François d'Orléans. He was a cousin of the King.
The title of Duke of Longueville ended in 1694 when Marie de Nemours died. From 1648, the Duke of Longueville was also the ruler of Neuchâtel, which is a territory in Switzerland. In 1654, the eighth duke was also made a "peer" as the Duke of Coulommiers. However, this peerage was never officially recorded, so it ended when he died.
See also
- Duke of Longueville
