The Rorgonides are a dynasty of the franque Noblesse whose several members prénommèrent Rorgon (or Roricon). Among the other frequent first names in this family, a certain number start with the root Gauz- : Gauzlin, Gauzbert, Gauzfrid or Gauzfred. In their entourage, one also finds some Herve and some Ragenold.

These precise details onomastics probably attach them to counts of Mans of the beginning of the 8th century, resulting from the family group of the Robert, who is also ancestor of the Robertiens.

This chalk-lining constituted the first Maison of Maine. Indeed, the count Rorgon Ier was invested county of Rennes (in 819), that it did not preserve, and of the Comté of Maine, in 832. One of its close, probably a nephew, at the same time was invested of the county of Herbauges.

Gauzbert succeeded his/her Rorgon brother, but missed conviction to fight the Breton ones which took and plundered Mans in 849, also Charles the Bald person made it carry out for treason, which caused disorders in the kingdom. Maine then passed to its nephew Rorgon II, then with Gauzfrid, which was also invested of one of both steps of Neustrie. With its death, Raino d' Herbauges, probably a cousin, inherited his honors. To died of Ragenold, the king being wary of Rorgonides, Maine was entrusted to the count Roger of the family of the Hugonide S. the wire of Gauzfrid, Gauzlin II and Gauzbert were combined in Robertiens and fought Roger. Under the reign of Eudes, Roger was relieved with the profit of Gauzlin II, but does not succeed in being maintained in Mans, was driven out in 898 and will die by it in 926.

From this date, Rorgonides disappear from the history, but one of the first names characteristic of Rorgonides, Gauzfrid or Gauzfred , later Geoffroy will be carried by several noble of the Middle Ages, and it is extremely possible which the family remained among the counts of the Pole, the Viscounts of Châteaudun, the Viscounts of Orleans and the Ingelgeriens.

Genealogy

Sources and bibliography

• Patrick Morel, " Counts of Maine with the IX° siècle" , in Re-examined Historical and archaeological of Maine , Mans, 2005,4° T.5 series, volume CLVI of the Collection, p.177 - 264. ISSN 1158-3371
• Robert Latouche, " First hereditary counts of Maine" , in Re-examined Historical and Archaeological of Maine , Mans, 1959, volume CXV of the Collection, p.37-41
• Régine Jan, Family and capacity in the frank world (VIIe-Xe century) , Publications of the Sorbonne, Paris, 1995 ISBN 2 85944 268 5.
• Katharine S.B. Keats-Rohan, " Bilichildis: Problems and possibilities of a study of onomastics and relationship of France of north-ouest"
• Christian Settipani, " Origins of the counts de Nevers: new documents"
• Christian Settipani, " Viscounts of Châteaudun and their alliés"