House of Roquefeuil-Anduze facts for kids

Quick facts for kids House of Roquefeuil-Anduze
Country	France
Parent house	House of Roquefeuil
Titles	Comtor of Nant Viscount of Creyssels Baron of Roquefeuil-Meyrueis
Founded	1150
Founder	Raymond I of Roquefeuil
Cadet branches	Versols

The Roquefeuil family was a very important noble family in France. The House of Roquefeuil-Anduze started in 1129. This happened when Adelaïs of Roquefeuil married Bernard of Anduze. Adelaïs was the only child to inherit from the first Roquefeuil family. She passed her family's lands and titles to her son, Raymond.

Both the Roquefeuil and Anduze families controlled large areas in a region of France called Languedoc. They held many noble titles and even made their own money.

Some people think that the famous Rockefeller family might be related to the Roquefeuil family. This connection is thought to be through Goddard Rockefeller, who was born in 1590.

The Roquefeuil Family: Where They Came From

The Roquefeuil family first appeared around the year 900. They were a branch of the House of Barcelona. They quickly became one of the most famous noble families in southern France. Their lands in Languedoc included important areas like the barony of Roquefeuil-Meyrueis. They also held the viscounty of Creyssels. You can still see some ruins of the old Roquefeuil castle today. It is located in a town called Saint-Jean-du-Bruel.

The Roquefeuil-Anduze Family: A New Beginning

In 1129, Bertrand of Anduze married Adélaïde of Roquefeuil. She was the heiress, meaning she would inherit her family's wealth. Their son, Raymond, kept the Roquefeuil name. He inherited his mother's lands and titles. This is how the House of Roquefeuil-Anduze began.

Raymond and his family members fought in many wars during the Middle Ages. These included the Cathar Crusade, the Seventh Crusade, and the Hundred Years War.

• Raymond I of Roquefeuil was the son of Bertrand of Anduze and Adelaïde of Roquefeuil. He married Guillemette of Montpellier. She was the daughter of Guilhem VII and Mathilde of Bourgogne. They had several children, including:
  • Raymond II of Roquefeuil. He took part in an important church meeting called the Fourth Council of the Lateran. With his wife, Dauphine de Turenne, he had a daughter named Isabeau of Roquefeuil. She married Hugues IV of Rodez in 1230. Raymond II also fought in the Seventh Crusade. His family's coat of arms was even painted at the Palace of Versailles in the Hall of Crusades.
  • Arnaud I of Roquefeuil. He later became the head of the family after his brother. In 1228, he married Beatrix of Anduze. They had six children. Arnaud also had a son named Guillaume (or William). Guillaume was officially recognized as his son in 1263 by the King of Aragon. This Guillaume started a new branch of the family, called Roquefeuil-Versol.
    • Raymond III of Roquefeuil. He married Alazie du Tournel in 1259. They had ten children together.
      • Raymond IV of Roquefeuil. He married Vaurie of Hébrail in 1287.

* Arnaud II of Roquefeuil. He served King John II of France in his military campaigns. He was named a seneschal (a royal officer) of Périgord in 1360. Later, he became an ambassador. Arnaud was famous for winning a war against King James II of Majorca. King James II had killed Arnaud's oldest son, Bernard. The pope Clement IV and King Philip VI of France helped to settle the conflict. Arnaud famously declared, "Honour remains, it is enough!" This phrase became the family's motto. ** Arnaud III of Roquefeuil. He was a captain in Montpellier. In 1361, he married Hélène of Gourdon. They had five daughters. The oldest daughter, Catherine of Roquefeuil, married Jean of Blanquefort in 1393. She inherited the Roquefeuil-Anduze family's titles. Jean changed his name to Roquefeuil. This led to the creation of the House of Roquefeuil-Blanquefort.

The Roquefeuil-Versols Family

William of Roquefeuil's seal on the Treaty of Corbeil

William I of Roquefeuil was born in 1230. His parents gave him the land of Versol. He married Ricarde of Bonvoisin. They had two sons, Jean and Raymond.

William and his brother Raymond supported King James I of Aragon. They helped him during the Reconquista in Spain. Because of his military success, King James I of Aragon made William the governor of Montpellier. He also became a high-ranking official in Murcia. William also signed the important Treaty of Corbeil in 1258 for King James I of Aragon.

Branches of La Tour and La Roquette

Jean of Roquefeuil's descendants formed two different family branches:

The branch of La Tour existed until 1729.

The branch of La Roquette was started by Jean of Roquefeuil. He married Anne of Vergnole, the lady of La Roquette, in 1534.

• Fulcrand of Roquefeuil married Mary of Fay-Péraud in 1583. He inherited the land of La Roquette from his parents and grandparents.
  • François of Roquefeuil was a colonel in the army. He married Jacquette of Agulhon in 1618.
    • Henry of Roquefeuil became the Marquess of La Roquette. He married Cécile of Mac-Mahon. They had one son who died in 1892 without any children.

Raimondo Perellos y Roccafull

The Rocafull Family Branch

This branch was started by Raymond, who was Jean's younger brother. This family actively took part in the Reconquista. They also supported the kings of Aragon and later the kings of Spain.

Some famous members of this branch include:

• William Emmanuel de Rocafull-Puigmarín y Rocaberti. He held many titles, including Duke of Mandas and Marquess of Anglesola. King Philip V of Spain gave him the title of grandee in 1704. A grandee was a very high-ranking noble in Spain.
• Ramon Perellos y Roccaful. He was the Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller from 1697 to 1720. The Knights Hospitaller were a famous military and religious order. Ramon was buried in Saint John's Co-Cathedral in Malta.

The Versols-Saint-Etienne Family Branch

Rigaud of Roquefeuil married Béatrix of Maffred in 1411. They started a new branch of the family that ended in 1756. The last male in this line was Henri of Roquefeuil. He did not marry. He gave his lands to his nephew, Joseph Bessodes. Joseph agreed to take Henri's name, titles, and coat of arms. Joseph Bessodes de Roquefeuil's descendants still live in the Languedoc region. They have kept the land and castle of Versols in the family.

After the French Revolution, this branch mainly had members who became doctors or lawyers. One famous member was a politician:

• Pierre-Frédéric Roquefeuil. He was a general councilor for the Hérault department. This was at the end of the Second French Empire.

See also

In Spanish: Casa de Roquefeuil para niños

• House of Roquefeuil-Blanquefort
• Treaty of Corbeil
• Grandee of Spain