House of Harcourt

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Shield of the House of Harcourt - Gules, with two fesses or.
Shield of the House of Harcourt - Gules, with two fesses or.

Named after its seigneurie of Harcourt, Eure, France, the House of Harcourt was a powerful Norman family, descended from the Viking Bernard the Dane. With the Capetians and the Rochechouarts, it was one of the most ancient French noble families and one of the oldest dynasties in Europe. Its mottos were "Gesta verbis praeveniant" (Olonde branch), "Gesta verbis praevenient" (Beuvron branch), and "Le bon temps viendra ... de France" (English branch).

In 1280 they established the Collège d'Harcourt in Paris, now the Lycée Saint-Louis at 44 boulevard Saint-Michel.

Contents

[edit] Origins

When in 911 the Viking chief Rollo obtained the territories that would make up Normandy through the Treaty of Saint Clair-sur-Epte, he distributed domains to his main supporters among those who had accompanied him on his expeditions against the English and the Neustrians. After the conquest of Normandy, considerable lands (notably the seigneurie of Harcourt, near Brionne, were granted to Bernard the Dane as a reward for his exploits, and from him they descended upon the lords (seigneurs) of Harcourt.

[edit] French and English branches

The Harcourt family has been perpetuated up until the present day in a French branch and an English branch. The château d'Harcourt, built around 1100, survives.

In the 11th century, Errand of Harcourt and his three brothers followed William the Conqueror, duke of Normandy, on the Norman invasion of England, and the brothers were installed with English lands. The English Harcourt branch entered the English peerage, as barons then viscounts then earls. The earls Harcourt of Stanton-Harcourt branch was extinguished with the death of marshal William Harcourt, 3rd Earl Harcourt, in 1830. His cousin Edward Vernon, archbishop of York, thus inherited the majority of that branch's lands and titles and took the name and heraldic shield of the English Harcourt family by royal authorisation on 15 January 1831. This created the Vernon-Harcourt branch, descended from a Harcourt woman. As well as this branch, the English Harcourt family also descends from the older line of the Harcourts of Ankerwycke.

In France, Errand of Harcourt's brother, Robert I of Harcourt, sire of Harcourt, continued the Harcourt line in France. His descendents are sub-divided into several branches, with the two principal ones being the Olonde and Beuvron branches, which both descend to this day.

The Beuvron branch includes several marshals of France and lieutenant generals of the ancien regime royal armies. These include

  • François III of Harcourt (died 1705), marquis of Ectot and of Beuvron, lieutenant général of the "armées du roi" and the king's lieutenant général in Normandy
  • Henri, first duke of Harcourt, marshal of France, ambassador to Madrid in 1697 (died 1718)
  • Anne-Pierre, 4th duke of Harcourt, marshal of France, governor of Normandy (died 1783)
  • Anne-Pierre's son François-Henri, 5th duke of Harcourt, governor of Normandy, representative of the comte de Provence to the British government during the French Revolution.
  • George of Harcourt-Olonde (1808-1883), ambassador to London and Vienna.

In 1966, 126 English and French Harcourts celebrated the 1000-year anniversary of the House of Harcourt at the château du Champ-de-Bataille, headed by the head of the family, Lord Harcourt, Marquess of Harcourt, and by the duke of Harcourt, head of the Beuvron branch.

[edit] The first lords of Harcourt

The first seigneurs of Harcourt from the early 11th to 13th centuries:

  • Bernard the Dane, compagnon of Rollo, gouvernor and regent of the duchy of Normandy until the death of William I of Normandy (942)
  • Torf, baron of Tourville, son of Bernard le Danois and of Sprote, princess of Bourgogne.
  • Turquetil (960 - 1020s), son of Torf and of Ertemberge of Briquebec. William the Conqueror's governor during his minority.
  • Anquetil of Harcourt, son of Turquetil and of Anceline of Montfort, was the first seigneur of Harcourt known under this title. In 1066, he accompanied William the Conqueror on his conquest of England, obtaining lands in England. His possessions stretched along both sides of the English Channel. He married Ève of Boissey.
  • Errand of Harcourt, seigneur of Harcourt, participated in the conquest of England on the side of William the Conqueror
  • Robert Ier of Harcourt, called le Fort (the Strong), brother of Errand, whom he succeeded. He too took part in the conquest of England, but returned to Normandy. He built the first château of Harcourt, and married Colette of Argouges.
  • Guillaume of Harcourt, son of Robert I, he backed Henry I of England in his wars in Normandy. He married Hue of Amboise.
  • Robert II of Harcourt, called le Vaillant (the Valiant) or le Fort, son of Guillaume. He accompanied his suzerain Richard I of England on the Third Crusade and was designated by John of England as his surety and hostage in 1200 in the peace concluded with Philippe Auguste. He also became seigneur of Elbeuf by his 1179 marriage to Jeanne of Meulan.
  • Richard of Harcourt, baron of Harcourt, son of Robert II, in 1213 he married Jeanne de la Roche-Tesson, heiress of the vicomté of Saint-Sauveur
  • Jean I (born c.1200), called le Pruof homme, baron of Harcourt, vicomte of Saint-Sauveur. Around 1240 he married Alix of Beaumont (died 1275)

[edit] The Harcourts and the Hundred Years' War

As with several Norman lords, several Harcourt possessions in England and France were placed in a difficult position during the wars between the Capetians and Plantagenets. In this context, the Harcourt family played a game all of its own, simultaneously independent of both the king of France and king of England. Also, after Philip II's conquest of Normandy in 1204, the Harcourts habitually became the head of feudal movements against the king of France.

[edit] Notable members of the House of Harcourt

The Harcourts have a great reputation in England and France as:

[edit] Statesmen and governors

  • Bernard the Dane, founder of the house of Harcourt, governor and regent of the duchy of Normandy up to the death of duke Guillaume (942)
  • Philippe d'Harcourt († 1163), chancellor of England (1139-40)
  • Louis d'Harcourt († 1388), vicomte de Châtellerault, governor and lieutenant général of Normandy (1356-1360)
  • Jacques Ier d'Harcourt (1350-1405), baron of Montgommery, counsellor and chamberlain of king Charles VI
  • Jacques II of Harcourt († 1428), comte de Tancarville, governor and lieutenant général of Picardie
  • Christophe of Harcourt († 1438), seigneur d'Havré, conseiller and chambellan of king Charles VII, grand-master of the waters and the forests
  • Guillaume d'Harcourt († 1487), comte de Tancarville, counsellor and chamberlain of king Charles VII, constable and chamberlain of Normandy, grand-master of the waters and the forests (1431)
  • Henry d'Harcourt (1654-1718), 1st duke of Harcourt, member of the regency council (1715)
  • Simon Harcourt (1661-1727), 1st viscount Harcourt, garde des Sceaux (1710-1713) and Lord Chancellor of England (1713-14)
  • François of Harcourt (1689-1750), 2nd duke of Harcourt, governor of Sedan (1735-50)
  • Anne Pierre d'Harcourt (1701-1783), 4th duke of Harcourt, governor of Sedan (1750), gouvernor of Normandy (1764-75)
  • Simon Harcourt (1714-1777), 1st earl Harcourt, viceroy of Ireland (1772-77)
  • François-Henri d'Harcourt (1726-1802), 5th duke of Harcourt, governor of Normandie (1775-89)
  • Sir William Vernon Harcourt (1827-1904), secretary of state (home secretary, 1880-1885) then chancellor of the exchequer (1892-1895)
  • Emmanuel of Harcourt (1844-1928), vicomte d'Harcourt, secrétaire général de la présidence de la République (1873-1877), vice-president of the French Red Cross
  • Lewis Harcourt (1863-1922), viscount Harcourt, minister for the colonies (1910-15) who gave his name to Port Harcourt (Nigeria)
  • Mike Harcourt (1943-), premier of British Columbia (Canada) from 1991 to 1996

[edit] French and English marshals

  • Jean II of Harcourt, called le Preux († 1302), vicomte of Châtellerault, sire of Harcourt, maréchal de France in 1283 and amiral de France in 1295, husband of Jeanne de Châtellerault, vicomtesse of Châtellerault (1235-1315), daughter of Aimeri, vicomte de Châtellerault, and of Agathe de Dammartin
  • Henry of Harcourt (1654-1718), 1st duke of Harcourt, maréchal de France in 1703
  • François of Harcourt (1689-1750), 2nd duke of Harcourt, maréchal de France in 1746
  • Anne Pierre of Harcourt (1701-1783), 4th duke of Harcourt, maréchal de France in 1775
  • Geoffroy of Harcourt, called Godefroy le boiteux († 1356), made marshal by Edward III in 1346
  • William Harcourt, 3rd Earl Harcourt (1743-1830), promoted to field-marshal by king George IV in 1821

[edit] French and British ambassadors

  • Henry d'Harcourt (1654-1718), 1st duke of Harcourt, extraordinary ambassador to Madrid (1697-1699 and 1700-1701), contributed to the installation of the Bourbons on the throne of Spain
  • Simon Harcourt, 1st Earl Harcourt (1714-1777), British ambassador to Paris (1768-72)
  • François-Henri d'Harcourt (1726-1802), 5th Duke of Harcourt, represented Louis XVIII to the British government (1792-1800)
  • Eugène d'Harcourt (1786-1865), 8th Duke of Harcourt, ambassador to Madrid (1830) and to Rome (1848-49)
  • George d'Harcourt (1808-1883), marquis d'Harcourt, pair de France, ambassador to Vienna (1873) and London (1875-79)
  • Bernard d'Harcourt (1842-1914), ambassador to Rome (1871), to London (1872-73) and to Berne (1874-76)
  • Emmanuel d'Harcourt (1914-1985), Compagnon de la Libération, ambassador to Dublin (1969) and to Prague (1975-79)

[edit] Governors of French and British heirs to the throne

  • Henry of Harcourt (1654-1718), 1st duke of Harcourt, member of the regency council, named by Louis XIV in his will as governor of the Dauphin (the future Louis XV) following the maréchal de Villeroy
  • Simon Harcourt, 1st Earl Harcourt (1714-1777), governor of the Prince of Wales, the future George III (1751-52)
  • François-Henri d'Harcourt (1726-1802), 5th duke of Harcourt, governor of the dauphin of France (1786-89)

[edit] Generals

[edit] Resistance-workers

[edit] Churchmen

  • Philip de Harcourt († 1163), bishop of Salisbury (1140), bishop of Bayeux (1142), and chancellor of England (1139-1140)
  • Raoul d'Harcourt († 1307), canon of Paris (1305), counsellor of Philippe IV le Bel, almoner of Charles de Valois, founder of the collège d'Harcourt (Paris, now Lycée Saint-Louis)
  • Robert d'Harcourt († 1315), bishop of Coutances (1291), counsellor of Philippe III le Hardi and Philippe IV le Bel
  • Guy d'Harcourt († 1336), bishop of Lisieux (1303), founder of the collège de Lisieux (Paris)
  • Jean d'Harcourt († 1452), bishop of Amiens (1418), of Tournai (1433), archbishop of Narbonne (1436), patriarch of Antioch (1447), bishop of Alexandria and of Orleans (1451)
  • Louis I d'Harcourt (1382-1422), vicomte de Châtellerault, archbishop of Rouen (1407)
  • Louis II d'Harcourt (1424-1479), bishop of Béziers (1451), archbishop of Narbonne (1451), bishop of Bayeux (1460), patriarch of Jerusalem (1460-79)
  • Louis-Abraham d'Harcourt (1694-1750), 3rd duke of Harcourt, chanoine de Notre-Dame de Paris, doyen de l'Eglise de Paris (1733), commander of the ordre du Saint-Esprit (1747)
  • Edward Harcourt (1757-1847), bishop of Carlisle, then archbishop of York

[edit] Members of the Académie française

  • François-Henri of Harcourt (1726-1802), 5th duke of Harcourt, elected 1788
  • Robert d'Harcourt (1881-1965), elected 1946

[edit] Scientists

[edit] Authors

  • Liceline d'Harcourt (c. 971-1035?), author of the "Saga des Brionne"
  • Agnes d'Harcourt (c. 1245-1291?)
  • Anne-Pierre d'Harcourt (1913-1981), author of "The Real Enemy"
  • Claire d'Harcourt, author of several books, such as "Bébés du monde" and "L'art à la loupe"
  • François-Henri of Harcourt (1726-1802)
  • Robert d'Harcourt (1881-1965), author of several works on German literature and culture, such as "L'évangile de la force" (1936), one of the first books to denounce the dangers of Nazism, as well as a book of war memoirs, "Souvenirs de captivité et d'évasion".

[edit] Titles of the House of Harcourt

in France :

  • baron d'Harcourt
  • baron d'Elbeuf (1265)
  • comte d'Harcourt (1328)
  • comte d'Aumale
  • baron de Olonde
  • marquis de Beuvron (1528)
  • marquis de Thury
  • comte de Sézanne
  • comte de Lillebonne
  • duc d'Harcourt (1700) and peer of France (1709)
  • duc de Beuvron (1784)
  • marquis d'Olonde-Harcourt
  • marquis d'Harcourt (confirmed in 1814) and peer of France (1814), etc.

in England :

[edit] References

  • (French) Gilles-André de La Roque, Histoire généalogique de la maison de Harcourt, 1662
  • (French) Dom Lenoir, Preuves généalogiques et historiques de la Maison d'Harcourt, 1907
  • (French) Revue Art de Basse-Normandie n°78, La Famille d'Harcourt, 1979
  • (French) Georges Martin, Histoire et Généalogie de la Maison d'Harcourt, 1994
  • (French) Romain Auguste Laurent Pezet Les barons de Creully, Bayeux, St.-Ange Duvant, 1854
  • (French) Dictionnaire de biographie française, 1989

[edit] External links

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