Viscount of Thouars

It is at the end of the 9th century that the first Viscounts of Thouars appear before even those of Chatellerault, Lusignan,…. They represented the count of Poitou (also duke of Aquitaine) in the territory that this one entrusted to their guard.

The family of the Viscounts of Thouars is undoubtedly originating in the surroundings of Poitiers where they had goods at the 10th century. At that time, their gifts with the abbeys are intended for Saint-Cyprien of Poitiers, Saint-Jouin of Marnes (15 km in the south of Thouars), Saint-Florent of Saumur and Saint Martin's day de Tours. At the 11th century, following the marriage of Geoffroy II with Agnes of Blois, are added there the abbey of Bourgueil and Marmoutier. The succession of the Viscounts of Thouars is original in this direction which the brother succeeded the groin, then the Viscount turned over then to the son of the groin. With died of the Viscount the children shared only the pieces of furniture and a provision with height of the two ninth of the buildings of the succession. If there were girls, the oldest son kept only the three quarters of the buildings with the principal hotel, the other quarter was reserved to the girls. Family members of Thouars, same if they were not titular Viscounts, were called Viscounts and used this title in their charters.

The first Viscounts of Thouars come from large officers of the Carolingian time.

Upon the departure they are land great landowners and their possessions extend thanks to the remuneration which is given to them for their services by the count of Poitou. In this case, they are often ecclesiastical goods (concerning the Cathédrale Saint-Pierre of Poitiers or Saint-Hilaire abbey for example).

They have goods with Bressuire, Thézenay, the Rock on Yon like with Poitiers. This richness enables them to concede benefit. The principal lords of Thouarsais are their vassal as well as the lords of Airvault, of Argenton, Bressuire and Mauléon. The Viscounts of Thouars are also powerful in the countries of Herbauge and Tiffauges.

Starting from the end of the 10th century, the local authorities becoming increasingly strong, the Viscounts of Thouars quickly take distance compared to the counts of Poitou while playing of their proximity and their bond vassalic with the Counts of Anjou in particular. Thus in 1030, the Viscount Geoffroy II returns in fight against its suzerain Guillaume the Large, count de Poitiers and duke of Aquitaine. Aimery IV, the son of the Geoffroy Viscount, accompanies William the Conqueror, duke of Normandy, during the invasion of England. He takes part in the Bataille of Hastings the October 14th, 1066.

Between 1150 and 1230, the Viscounts of Thouars could allow themselves to have their own policy between the king of France and the Plantagenêts.

Two centuries later, Thouars is found in the middle of the fights of the Guerre One hundred Year old, the city is taken by the Prince de Galles (called Prince Noir), then by Bertrand of Guesclin on behalf of King de France.

In 1397, the last viscountess of the original dynasty dies. The Viscounts of Thouars will never find the capacity of their predecessors.

Sources

Hugues Imbert, History of Thouars, Memory of the Company of Statistics of Two-Sevres, T.X, Niort, Clouzot edition, 1870. ISBN 2-84178-083-X.

H. Imbert, " Note on the Viscounts of Thouars" ; Memories of the Company of the Antique dealers of the West, year 1864, p. 321-431.

Published in the bulletin of the Historical and Scientific Company of Two-Sevres, third series, volume II, 1st half of 1994, p. 11-20.

See too

List of the Viscounts of historical Thouars
List of the Viscounts of France

Heraldic description

The blazon of the family of Thouars is from the weapons of the Viscount of Thouars, Herbert II (of gold to the frank district of mouths, sown flowers of lily of azure).

When the town of Thouars adopted the blazon, the colors were reversed (of azure to the frank district of mouths, sown flowers of gold lily), one does not know exactly why.

Random links: