Guigues I of Albon

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Guigues I, 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 written by 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 and the Alps: in 1016, he is called count in a charter concerning possessions in Moirans. Thereafter, he is found to be a landowner in Champsaur (1027), in Oisans with the title of count (1035), Grésivaudan (towards 1050), Briançonnais (towards 1053) and in the valley of Oulx (1070).

From 1035, he is always dignified as "count". We do not know how Guigues took possession of these lands, but growing power already enables him to impose family members as bishop, and to plunder and alienate church goods. Guy's uncle de Guigues was bishop of Grenoble, and succeeds Isarn. The episcopate will pass then to a cousin, Mallen . His brother is bishop of Valence and the archbishop's palace at Vienne, attached to the most prestigious church of the province, is in the hands of a cousin by marriage.

Throughout eleventh century, it is always the elder son, Humbert, who is dedicated to becoming bishop; the second son, always Guigues (Guy), is intended to inherit the lay goods. Mallen undoubtedly systematized the transfer of the goods of church towards his cousin Guigues. The other lay lords do not seem able to oppose the expansionism.

At the end of his life, Guigues retired to Burgundy at Cluny where he dies in 1070. He had married Adelaide, who seems to be of the family of the counts de Turin, and had had a son, Guigues II (1025 - 1079), who succeeded him.