The Seneschal of Poitou was an officer carrying out and managing the domestic affairs of the lord of the

County of Poitou The County of Poitou (Latin ''comitatus Pictavensis'') was a historical region of France, consisting of the three sub-regions of Vendée, Deux-Sèvres and Vienne. Its name is derived from the ancient Gaul tribe of Pictones. The county was bounded ...

. During the course of the twelfth century, the seneschalship, also became an office of military command. Originally, the seneschal managed the comital household, coordinating between the receivers of various landholdings and the chamber, treasury, and the chancellery or chapel. From 1138, the office was converted into that of a vice-regent governing the county in the absence of the count. In that year, King

Louis VII of France Louis VII (1120 – 18 September 1180), called the Younger or the Young () to differentiate him from his father Louis VI, was King of France from 1137 to 1180. His first marriage was to Duchess Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of the wealthiest and ...

, who had become count by marriage to the countess,

Eleanor of Aquitaine Eleanor of Aquitaine ( or ; ; , or ; – 1 April 1204) was Duchess of Aquitaine from 1137 to 1204, Queen of France from 1137 to 1152 as the wife of King Louis VII, and Queen of England from 1154 to 1189 as the wife of King Henry II. As ...

, appointed the hereditary seneschal William de Mauzé to govern the county in his absence.Judith Everard, "The 'Justiciarship' in Brittany and Ireland under Henry II", ''Anglo-Norman Studies'' 20 (1997), p. 93. The seneschals of Poitou, like those appointed in

Normandy Normandy (; or ) is a geographical and cultural region in northwestern Europe, roughly coextensive with the historical Duchy of Normandy. Normandy comprises Normandy (administrative region), mainland Normandy (a part of France) and insular N ...

Gascony Gascony (; ) was a province of the southwestern Kingdom of France that succeeded the Duchy of Gascony (602–1453). From the 17th century until the French Revolution (1789–1799), it was part of the combined Province of Guyenne and Gascon ...

, and Anjou had custody of demesne fortresses, the regional treasuries, and presidency of the highest court of regional custom.

List of Seneschals

*William de Mauzé (1138) *Geoffrey de la Celle (1201) *

Savari de Mauléon Savari de Mauléon (also Savaury) () (died 1236) was a French people, French soldier, the son of Raoul de Mauléon, Viscount of Thouars and Lord of Mauléon, Deux-Sèvres, Mauléon. Having espoused the cause of Arthur I, Duke of Brittany, he w ...

(1205) - first appointment * Robert of Thornham (1207) *

Hubert de Burgh Hubert de Burgh, Earl of Kent ( , ; – before 5 May 1243) was an English nobleman who served as Chief Justiciar of England (1215–1232) and Justiciar of Ireland (1232) during the reigns of King John and his son and successor King Henry I ...

(1212–?) * Geoffrey de Neville (1215) * Reginald of Pons (1215–?) **

Philip of Oldcoates Philip of Oldcoates (or Philip Oldcoates, Philip de Ulcotes,Warren ''King John'' p. 350 Philip de Ulecot; died 1220) was an English nobleman and royal official. Royal service Philip first appears in the historical record in 1194 when he was depr ...

(1220) - died while en route *Savari de Mauléon (1220?) - second appointment * Eustache de Beaumarchais (1268–1276) * Philippe de Rémi (1284-1287) * Jean de Lille (1349) * William Felton (1360) *

John Chandos Sir John Chandos, Viscount of Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte, Saint-Sauveur in the Cotentin Peninsula, Cotentin, Constable of Aquitaine, Seneschal of Count of Poitiers, Poitou, (c. 1320 – 31 December 1369) was a medieval English knight who haile ...

(1369)

Notes

References

* Warren, W.L.; ''Henry II (English Monarchs)'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Seneschal Of Poitou 12th century in France 13th century in France Historical legal occupations Legal history of France