De la Rochejacquelein

De La Rochejacquelein or De La Rochejaquelein is the name of an ancient French family of the Vendée, celebrated for its devotion to the House of Bourbon during and after the French Revolution. Its original name was Duverger, derived from a fief near Bressuire in Poitou, and its pedigree is traceable back to the 13th century.

History

In 1505 Gui Duverger married Renée, heiress of Jacques Lemartin, seigneur de La Rochejacquelein, whose name he assumed. His grandson, Louis Duverger, seigneur de La Rochejacquelein, was a devoted adherent of Henry II of France, and was badly wounded at the Battle of Arques; other members of the family were also distinguished soldiers, and the seigniory was raised to a countship and marquisate in reward for their services.

At the outbreak of the Revolution the chief of the family was Henri Louis Auguste, marquis de La Rochejacquelein, maréchal de camp in the royal army, who had three sons named after himself: Henri, Louis, and Auguste. The marquis fled abroad with his second son Louis at the beginning of the French Revolution. He entered the service of Great Britain, and died in San Domingo in 1802.

Family

References