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The History of the Duchy of Châtellerault - Summary
The Duchy of
Châtellerault, located in the department of Vienne, France, has a rich
and complex history marked by numerous transfers of power among
prominent European houses.
Establishment and Early Transfers
The duchy was first established in 1515 for Prince François de
Bourbon. This initial creation marked the beginning of a series of
transfers among various noble families. In 1527, the title passed to
Louise of Savoy, the mother of King Francis I of France. Just three
years later, in 1530, it returned to the House of Bourbon.
Mid-16th Century Shifts
The mid-16th century saw further changes
in the duchy's ownership. In 1540, it was transferred to the House of
Valois. Eight years later, in 1548, the title moved to the House of
Hamilton. This period of Hamilton control was relatively short-lived, as
the duchy returned to the House of Valois in 1563.
Late 16th
Century to 18th Century
In 1582, the House of Bourbon once again
took control of the Duchy of Châtellerault. This Bourbon tenure lasted
until 1730, when the title passed to the House of La Trémoïlle. In
1713, Charles Douglas, 2nd Earl
of Selkirk went to France on his mother's behalf to pursue her
claims to the Dukedom of Châtellerault, and in July 1714 it was agreed
to compound these claims for a lump sum of 500,000 livres, which was
never paid.
Reestablishment and Modern Era
The title saw a
significant revival in 1864 when it was reestablished for the House of
Hamilton. Since 1979, the title has been held by James Hamilton, the
18th Duke of Châtellerault and the 5th Duke of Abercorn, born in 1934.
The History of the Duchy of Châtellerault - in more detail
Duke of Châtellerault (French: duc de Châtellerault) is a French noble
title that has been created several times, originally in the Peerage of
France in 1515. It takes its name from Châtellerault, in the Vienne
region.
The first title was created for François de Bourbon-Montpensier,
a younger son of Gilbert, Comte de Montpensier, who was created Viscount
of Châtellerault (Vicomte de Châtellerault) in February 1514. He
received the duchy-peerage of Châtellerault in 1515, but was killed the
same year, being succeeded by his brother Charles, jure uxoris Duke of
Bourbon and Auvergne. This title was confiscated in 1527 after the Duke,
who was Constable of France, betrayed the King by allying himself with
the Emperor Charles V.
The duchies of Châtellerault and Bourbon
were then conferred on Louise of Savoy, the mother of King Francis I,
but the latter title became extinct in 1530 when she ceded the territory
of the duchy to Louis de Bourbon, Prince de la Roche-sur-Yon and later
also Duc de Montpensier. However, the dukedom was again conferred on
Louise of Savoy that year, and she retained it until her death in 1532.
The dukedom was next created for Louise's grandson Charles, son of
King Francis I, who was created Duke of Orléans, Duke of Châtellerault
and Duke of Angoulême in 1544. He died unmarried in 1545, when these
titles became extinct.
The next creation of the dukedom was in
1548, for James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran, and Regent of Scotland, who
arranged the marriage of Mary, Queen of Scots, to the Dauphin Francis,
son of King Henry II, and who had been promised a duchy by the Treaty of
Châtillon, 1548. However, he turned against the Queen in 1559, and his
French estates and title were confiscated.
The next recipient of
the dukedom was Diane de France, legitimated daughter of Henry II and
Filippa Duci, in 1563. However, she exchanged Châtellerault for the
duchy of Angoulême in 1582.
The next year, the dukedom was given
to François, Duke of Montpensier, son of Louis above-mentioned, in 1584.
His granddaughter Marie, Duchesse de Montpensier, in 1626 married
Gaston, Duke of Orléans, son of King Henry IV, and their daughter
Anne-Marie-Louise, "La Grande Mademoiselle", inherited the dukedoms of
Montpensier and Châtellerault. She died in 1693, when the titles became
extinct, and left the territory of the dukedom to her paternal first
cousin Philip I, Duke of Orléans, son of King Louis XIII.
In
1713, Charles Douglas, 2nd Earl
of Selkirk went to France on his mother's behalf to pursue her
claims to the Dukedom of Châtellerault, and in July 1714 it was agreed
to compound these claims for a lump sum of 500,000 livres, which was
never paid.
In the 1720s, Philip I, Duke of Orléans, sold
the lands to Frédéric Guillaume de la Trémoille, Prince de Talmont,
whose son Anne-Charles-Frédéric was created Duke of Châtellerault in
1730. He succeeded his father as Prince de Talmont in 1738 and died
without issue in 1759, when the dukedom became extinct, and the lands
passed to another branch of the La Trémoille family.
That was the
last legally defined creation of the dukedom, but in 1864, the Hamilton
creation of 1548 was revived by the Emperor Napoleon III. However, this
revival was neither in favour of the heir under the original letters
patent, the 14th Earl of Derby, nor in favour of the heir-male, the 2nd
Marquess of Abercorn, but rather in favour of the
12th Duke of Hamilton,
who was a third cousin once removed of the Emperor through his mother
the former Princess Marie Elisabeth of Baden. He died without male issue
in 1895, and was succeeded as Duke of Hamilton by his fourth cousin
Alfred, Duke of Hamilton.
The Dukes of Hamilton and the Dukes of
Abercorn have since then used the title in France, though without any
legal justification.
See also:
•
Chatelherault: France and
Scotland
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