The House of Albret, which derives its name from the lordship (''seigneurie'') of Albret ( Labrit), situated in the Landes, was one of the most powerful feudal families of

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

and

Navarre Navarre ( ; ; ), officially the Chartered Community of Navarre, is a landlocked foral autonomous community and province in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Autonomous Community, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and New Aquitaine in France. ...

during the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...

History

The work of Anthony M. H. J. Stokvis establishes the

genealogy Genealogy () is the study of families, family history, and the tracing of their lineages. Genealogists use oral interviews, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kin ...

of the Albrets to start with the 800s AD

Basque Basque may refer to: * Basques, an ethnic group of Spain and France * Basque language, their language Places * Basque Country (greater region), the homeland of the Basque people with parts in both Spain and France * Basque Country (autonomous co ...

nobleman Jimeno of Pamplona, patriarch of the Spanish Jiménez dynasty. Members of the House of Albret distinguished themselves during the major local wars of that era. During the 14th century they espoused the English cause for some time, afterwards transferring their support to the side of France. Arnaud Amanieu I, Lord of Albret, helped to take Guienne from the English. His son

Charles Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English language, English and French language, French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic, Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''* ...

became constable of France, and was killed at the

Battle of Agincourt The Battle of Agincourt ( ; ) was an English victory in the Hundred Years' War. It took place on 25 October 1415 (Saint Crispin's Day) near Azincourt, in northern France. The unexpected victory of the vastly outnumbered English troops agains ...

in 1415. At that time the House of Albret had attained considerable territorial importance, due in great part to the liberal grants which it had obtained from successive kings of France. The House of Albret then continued its ascension, favored by both Charles VI and Charles VII. It reached its apogee in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. They familiarized themselves with the court of France through their alliances. In 1470, they inherited the

County of Périgord The County of Périgord was a historical region of France. The name Périgord derived from the Gauls, Gaul Gallic tribes, tribe of the Petrocorii, who resisted the Roman Republic, Roman Roman conquest of Gaul, conquest. It was preserved in the ea ...

and the Viscounty of Limoges. Their new strength then allowed them to claim the inheritance of the

Duchy of Brittany The Duchy of Brittany (, ; ) was a medieval feudal state that existed between approximately 939 and 1547. Its territory covered the northwestern peninsula of France, bordered by the Bay of Biscay to the west, and the English Channel to the north. ...

. Alain the Great, Lord of Albret (died 1522), wished to marry

Anne of Brittany Anne of Brittany (; 25/26 January 1477 – 9 January 1514) was reigning Duchess of Brittany from 1488 until her death, and Queen of France from 1491 to 1498 and from 1499 to her death. She was the only woman to have been queen consort of Fran ...

, and to that end fought against Charles VIII; but his hopes being ended by the betrothal of Anne to Maximilian of Austria, he surrendered

Nantes Nantes (, ; ; or ; ) is a city in the Loire-Atlantique department of France on the Loire, from the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic coast. The city is the List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, sixth largest in France, with a pop ...

to the French in 1486. They took possession of the county of Foix, when Jean I of Albret, son of Alain, became King of

by his marriage with Catherine of Foix, Queen of Navarre in 1484. Their son Henry II, King of Navarre, was created Duke of Albret and a peer of France in 1550. By his wife Marguerite d'Angoulême, sister of Francis I, Henry II had a daughter, Jeanne d'Albret, Queen of Navarre, who married Anthony de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme, and became the mother of Henry IV, King of France. These new possessions (Bearne, Foix, Bigorra, Tartas, Castres, Dreux, etc.) gave them a real political role in the Renaissance century. However, the Albrets did not stay long at the top of the society of orders. Navarre was invaded by Spain in 1512, and the house of Albret kept only the small part on the French side of the Pyrenees (Lower-Navarre), and Joan of Albret is the last of her name to sit on the throne, because the Dukedom of Albret, was united to the crown of France by the accession of the crown prince. The title of Duke of Albret was later granted to the family of

La Tour d'Auvergne The House of La Tour d'Auvergne () was an important French nobility, French noble dynasty. Its senior branch, extinct in 1501, held two of the last large fiefs acquired by the French crown, the counties of count of Auvergne, Auvergne and count of ...

(see duc de Bouillon) in 1651, in exchange for Sedan and Raucourt. A cadet of this house was , seigneur of Orval, count of Dreux and of Rethel, governor of

Champagne Champagne (; ) is a sparkling wine originated and produced in the Champagne wine region of France under the rules of the appellation, which demand specific vineyard practices, sourcing of grapes exclusively from designated places within it, spe ...

(died 1524), who was employed by Francis I in many diplomatic negotiations, more particularly in his intrigues to get himself elected emperor in 1519. Notable descendants include the Kings of Navarre (

basque Basque may refer to: * Basques, an ethnic group of Spain and France * Basque language, their language Places * Basque Country (greater region), the homeland of the Basque people with parts in both Spain and France * Basque Country (autonomous co ...

region), French-Mexican politicians, and Luis Ruben de Valadéz (née Valadez-Hernandez II) from the marriage of Carlos Beaumont de Navarre, Count of Beaumont and Ana de Curton d'Albret,

Dame ''Dame'' is a traditionally British honorific title given to women who have been admitted to certain orders of chivalry. It is the female equivalent of ''Sir'', the title used by knights. Baronet, Baronetesses Suo jure, in their own right also u ...

of Curton and Guiche.

Lords of Albret

* Amanieu I (

fl. ''Floruit'' ( ; usually abbreviated fl. or occasionally flor.; from Latin for 'flourished') denotes a date or period during which a person was known to have been alive or active. In English, the unabbreviated word may also be used as a noun indic ...

1050) * Amanieu II (fl.

1096 Year 1096 (Roman numerals, MXCVI) was a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. Events By place First Crusade * Spring – Peter the Hermit begins his preaching of the First Crusade, traveling from Berry, France, B ...

) * Amanieu III (fl. 1130) * Bernard I (fl. 1140) * Amanieu IV (fl. 1174, died c. 1209) * Amanieu V (died 1255) * Amanieu VI (died c. 1270) * Bernard Ezi I, 1270–1281 * Mathe d'Albret, 1281–1295 * Isabelle d'Albret, 1295–1298 * Amanieu VII, 1298–1324 * Bernard Ezi II, 1324–1358 * Arnaud Amanieu, 1358–1401 *

Charles I d'Albret Charles I d'Albret (December 1368 – 25 October 1415) was the Lord of Albret and the Constable of France from 1402 until 1411, and again from 1413 until 1415. He was also the co-commander of the France, French army at the Battle of Agincourt wh ...

, 1401–1415 * Charles II d'Albret, 1415–1471 * Jean I of Albret (associated, died before 1471) also known as Jean I, viscount of Tartas * Alain I of Albret ''le Grand'', 1471–1522 * Jean II of Albret (associated, died 1516) * Henry I of Albret 1522–1555 King of Navarre as Henry II * Jeanne d'Albret 1555–1572 Queen of Navarre as Jeanne III of Navarre. *

Henry IV of France Henry IV (; 13 December 1553 – 14 May 1610), also known by the epithets Good King Henry (''le Bon Roi Henri'') or Henry the Great (''Henri le Grand''), was King of Navarre (as Henry III) from 1572 and King of France from 1589 to 16 ...

1572–1610 (son of Jeanne III) Genealogy of the Lords and Dukes of Albret

Armorial

Citations

References

* * * * * * Attribution: * {{Royal houses of Navarre

Albret The House of Albret, which derives its name from the lordship (''seigneurie'') of Albret (Labrit), situated in the Landes of Gascony, Landes, was one of the most powerful feudal families of Kingdom of France, France and Kingdom of Navarre, Navarr ...

History

Lords of Albret

Armorial

See also

Citations

References