Guy I of Albon

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Guigues Ier of Albon, known as Veteris ("the Old"), born c.1000, died in 1070 at Cluny, was Count in Oisans, Grésivaudan and in Briançonnais. He was the son of Guigues d'Albon and Gotelana de Clérieux. The “official” history of George de Manteyer has caused him to be known as the first Dauphin, despite this name only appearing a century later. In fact, Guiges was an ambitious minor noble, who extended his domain between the Rhone andthe Alps: as of 1016, it is made call count in a charter concerning of the goods which it has with Moirans. Thereafter, it is discovered owner in Champsaur (1027), in Oisans with the title of count (1035), Grésivaudan (towards 1050), Briançonnais (towards 1053) and in valley of Oulx (1070). As of 1035, dignity comtale is always associated for him. One does not know how Guigues took possession of these grounds, but their incipient power already enables them to impose members of their family as bishop, and thus to plunder and alienate the goods of church to their profit: the uncle de Guigues is évêque of Grenoble and succeeds Isarn. The episcopate will pass then to his/her Mallen cousin. His/her brother is a bishop of Valence and the archbishop's palace of Vienna, charges of the most prestigious church of the province, is with the hands of a cousin by alliance! Throughout XIe century, it is always the elder, fore-mentioned son Humbert, who is dedicated to becoming bishop; the second wire, always fore-mentioned Guigues, is him intended to inherit the laic goods. Mallen is undoubtedly that which systematized the transfer of the goods of church towards his/her Guigues cousin. The other laic lords do not seem able to be opposed to the policy of expansion of Guigues. At the end of its life, Guigues is withdrawn in Burgundy with Cluny where he dies in 1070. It had married Adelaide, who seems to be of the family of the counts de Turin, and had had a son: * Guigues II (v.1025 † 1079), which will succèdera