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Duke of Aubigny facts for kids

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Dukedom of Aubigny
Crown of a Duke of France.svg
Aubigny arms.png
Creation date 1684
Monarch King Louis XIV of France
Peerage Peerage of France
First holder Louise de Kérouaille, Duchess of Portsmouth
Present holder Charles Gordon-Lennox, 11th Duke of Richmond
Heir apparent Charles Gordon-Lennox, Earl of March and Kinrara
Seat(s) Goodwood House in England
Former seat(s) Château d'Aubigny in France

The Duke of Aubigny (French: Duc d'Aubigny) is a special title created in France in 1684. It was given by King Louis XIV of France to Louise de Kérouaille, Duchess of Portsmouth, who was a close friend of King Charles II of England.

This title was meant to be passed down to the children of Louise and King Charles II. Specifically, it went to the family of Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond (1672–1723). His family lived at Goodwood House in England.

King Louis XIV also gave Louise the Château de la Verrerie. This castle was once owned by the Stewart Seigneurs d'Aubigny. These Stewarts were a French-Scottish family, related to the Scottish kings. They lived at the Château d'Aubigny in France from 1422 to 1672.

The French dukedom and its lands were a way for King Charles II to connect his youngest son to these respected French-Scottish relatives. The last male in that Stewart line was Charles Stewart, 3rd Duke of Richmond (1639–1672).

During a time called the Auld Alliance, when Scotland and France were allies, the Château d'Aubigny was given to Sir John Stewart of Darnley in 1422. This was done by King Charles VII of France. Sir John was a famous military leader. He led the Scottish army in France, helping the French fight the English during the Hundred Years War. He was also a cousin of King James I of Scotland.

The Stewart family of Darnley was a branch of the wider Stewart family. This family included King Robert II of Scotland, who was the first king from the House of Stewart. Later, King James VI & I of Scotland and England brought together the main royal Stewart line with the Darnley branch. This happened because his father, Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley, was from the Darnley family.

History of the Dukedom

Sir JohnStewart Of Darnley 1stSeigneurD'Aubigny Arms GrantedBy KingCharlesVII OfFrance 1427
Arms given in 1427 by King Charles VII of France to Sir John Stewart of Darnley. He was a Scottish commander in France.

The leader of the town of Aubigny-sur-Nère was called the Seigneur d'Aubigny. This was a title linked to the land, not a noble rank like a duke. It meant the title could be given to a younger son, even if the older son already had a big estate.

The first person to hold the ducal title was Louise de Kérouaille. She was French and a close friend of King Charles II of England. In 1684, King Louis XIV of France created her "Duchess of Aubigny." This was done at King Charles II's request.

However, the official documents for the dukedom were not fully registered in Paris. So, when the Duchess died in 1734, the dukedom seemed to end. But in 1777, King Louis XV of France brought the title back for her family.

Louise's son, Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond, had died before her. But her grandson, Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond, had already received a special document. This document gave him the honors of a duke at the French royal court.

The French dukedom was taken away during the wars with Napoleon (1792–1814). But it was later given back to Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond. He inherited the title according to old French laws.

The English family of the Lennox Dukes of Richmond has a special part on their coat of arms. It shows three gold buckles on a red shield. These are their French arms as Dukes of Aubigny. These arms were made to be different from the French arms given in 1428. Those older arms were given by King Charles VII of France to John Stewart of Darnley.

John Stewart was a great warrior. He led the Scottish army that helped King Charles VII save his throne from the English. In 1428, King Charles VII gave John Stewart the special right to combine the French royal arms with his own family arms. This meant putting the royal French arms, with a red border and gold buckles, in the most important parts of his shield.

The red border with gold buckles refers to the arms of the Stewart of Bonkyll family. Their arms also had buckles, which was a clever way to show their name (like "buckles for Bonkyll").

The castle and its lands are no longer owned by the family. They were sold to help maintain other family properties. Aubigny is now a popular tourist spot in France. It helps people remember the old alliance between Scotland and France. The title of Duke of Aubigny is now mostly a historic honor.

Stewart Seigneurs d'Aubigny

These are some of the important Stewart family members who held the title of Lord of Aubigny before it became a dukedom:

Lennox Dukes of Aubigny

10th Duke of Richmond & Gordon 4 Allan Warren
Charles Gordon-Lennox, 10th Duke of Richmond, who was also Duke of Aubigny.

Here are the people who have held the title of Duke of Aubigny:

Family tree

See also

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