“What God wishes, I wish”.
Why de
Montfort`s, someone might ask? Well, I have for a long time been interested
about Earl Simon de Montfort the younger. He is the man who fought against King
Henry II of England
to protect the rights of the lower nobility and people against the crown.
Thanks to Simon de Montfort England
has a parliament. He seems like a truly noble person in an era of betrayal and
Machiavellian politics. This page tells about him and his family, showing the
important connections he had to other noble families. De Montfort`s we related
to just about everyone and had important connections all the way from Scotland
to Jerusalem. It is like reading “who`s who in Medieval Europe”! He was related
to Kings of Jerusalem, Orsini`s of Rome, kings of France, kings of England,
kings of Scotland and to rulers of Wales, just to name a few. De Montfort`s
eagerly took the cross and joined crusades to the Holy Land. They were devoted
sons of the church and did not hesitate to die with their cause! Even their
motto was, “Quod Deus Vole Volo”, or
“What God wishes, I wish”.
AMAURY of
MONTFORT (c.935 – 1031)
He was the
founder of the family. Amaury was said to be an illegitime son of King Robert
II “the pious”, son of Hugo Capet. This was perhaps just a claim without any
justification, especially since Robert II was born in 972 and died 1031.
Obviously he at least was not Amaury`s father. In those times there were a lot
of illegitime children, but also lot`s of claims to be descendant of some
important person. Amaury`s had a son, Guillaume.
GUILLAUME
de MONTFORT (960 – 1003)
He had a
son, Amaury.
AMAURY de
MONTFORT (1000 – after 1031)
Amaury was
married to Bertrada de Gornetz. They had two children, Eve de Montfort (born
1023) and Simon I de Montfort.
SIMON I de
MONTFORT (1025 – 1087)
Simon
married Isabel de Broyes. They had two children, Amaury de Montfort and Isabel
de Montfort. Isabel was born in 1058. He married Ralph de Toeni of Flamsted
(1029 – 1101).
AMAURY de
MONTFORT (1056 – 1089)
From this
man begins the rise of de Montfort`s. He married Agnes d`Evreux, who was
daughter of Richard, Count of Evreux. Their childrens were Bertrade de
Montfort, Richard de Montfort, Simon de Montfort and Amaury de Montfort.
Bertrade de Montfort (1059 – 1117)
She did
well in her marriages. First Bertrade married Fulk IV, Count of Anjou (1043 –
1109). Fulk IV had been married before, to Hildegard de Baugency, who died in
1070. Fulk IV and Hildegard had one daughter, Ermengarde of Anjou (1068 –
1146), who married William IX, Duke of Aquitaine, and then Alain IV Fergent,
Duke of Brittany. After Hildegard died Fulk IV married Ermengarde de Bourbon.
They had a son, Geoffrey IV Martel (1073 – 1106). In 1089 Fulk IV then married
Bertrade de Montfort, only to divorce her three years later. Their son was Fulk
V the younger. After her divorce with Fulk IV, Bertrade de Montfort married
Philippe I, King of France (born 1053 and died 1108). They had several
children. Eldest was Philippe, count de Nantes
(1093 – 1123). Daughter Cecile de France married Tancred de Hauteville of Antioch, and then Pons de
Toulouse, Count of Tripoli (1098 – 1137).
Fulk V the younger (1092 – 1143 or 44)
He was son
of Fulk IV of Anjou
and Bertrade de Montfort. Fulk V had some considerable advantages in his life.
His mother was wife of the King of France. His father was Count of Anjou and he
had an influential elder brother, Geoffrey IV Martel (surely they didn`t call
him Martel for nothing?). He was also related to rulers of Aquitaine
and Brittany.
In his own time he became Fulk V, Count of Anjou. The crusading ideology took
him over, and in Holy Land Fulk V became King of Jerusalem. Fulk V was married
to Erernburge, Countess de Maine (1096 – 1126), daughter of Count of Maine.
Their children were Geoffrey V Plantagenet, Count of Anjou and Duke of Normandy
(1113 – 1151), who married Matilda, Queen of England and daughter of Henry I,
King of England. Second son of Fulk V was Helie, Count of Maine. After his
first wife died Fulk married again, to Melisende de Rethel, Queen of Jerusalem
(1101 – 1161). Through this marriage Fulk V became King of Jerusalem. He and
Melisende had two sons, Baldwin III, King of Jerusalem (1131 – 1163) and Amaury
I, King of Jerusalem (1136 – 1174). Amaury`s daughter Sibylle married Guy de
Lusignan, who became King of Jerusalem. But this takes us already too far away
from de Montfort`s. It is just interesting to know, that when de Montfort`s
went to crusades they already had this link to the Holy Land through Bertrade
de MOntfort`s son, Fulk V. King`s of Jerusalem were their relatives!
AMAURY de
MONTFORT (1070 – 1137)
This Amaury
was fortunate to have influential family, through his sister Bertrade. Amaury
became Count of Evreux after his mother`s father died. He married Agnes de
Garlende (1095 – 1181). Amaury had one son, Simon de Montfort “le chauve”.
SIMON de
MONTFORT “le chauve” (1117 – 1181)
He was
Count of Evreux. Simon`s wife was Maud. Their children were Amaury de Montfort,
Bertrade de Montfort and Simon de Montfort.
Amaury de Montfort (1151 – 1182)
Eldest son of “le chauve”. He was Count of Evreux. In
1170 Amaury married Maud of Gloucester (died 1188), daughter of William
FitzRobert, 2nd Earl of Gloucester. Their son was Amoury de
Montfort, Earl of Gloucester. This was
apparently the first English connection for the family.
Bertrade de Montfort. (1152 – 1189)
She married
in 1169 Hugh “Keveliok” de Meschines, 3rd Earl of Chester (died
1181), further connecting the family to England. They had following
children: Ranulph “de Blundeville” de Meschines, 4th Earl of
Chester, Duke of Brittany and Earl of Richmond. Maud de
Meschines, who married David “Etherington”, Earl of Huntingdon. Mabel de Meschines, who married William de Albini, Earl of Arundel
and Sussex.
Agnes de Meschines (died 1246) who married in 1192 William de
Ferrers, 4th Earl of Derby (died 1246). Hawise de Meschines,
who married Robert de Quincy.
Ranulph de Meschines (1172 – 1232)
Son of Bertrade de Montfort. He married Constance, Dutchess of Brittany, daughter of Conon IV, Duke of Brittany, and then Clementia,
daughter of William de Fougeres.
David Etherington (1144 – 1219)
Etherington
gave de Montfort family a connection to Scotland. His father was Henry,
Earl of Huntingdon, and his brothers were Malcolm IV, King of Scots, and
William “the lion”, King of Scots (1143 – 1214). William the lion was married
to Ermengarde de Beaumont. Etherington married Maud de Meschines (1171 – 1232),
daughter of Bertrade de Montfort. Their son was John le Scot, Earl of Chester
and Huntingdon. Daughter, Margaret of Huntingdon, married in 1209 Alan, Lord of
Galloway (died 1234). Another daughter, Isobel of Huntingdon, married Sir
Robert de Bruce, 4th Lord of Annadale (died 1245). Their descendant
was Robert de Bruce, King of Scotland. Third daughter, Ada le Scot of Huntington, married Sir
Henry de Hastings (1193 – 1250). Their son was Sir Henry de Hastings, who was
born in 1225 and died March 5th 1269 in England.
William de Albini
He married
Mabel de Meschines, daughter of Bertrade de Montfort. Their children were
William de Albini, Earl of Sussex and 4th Earl of Arundel, Hugh de
Albini, 5th Earl of Arundel, Mabel, who married Robert de Tatteshall
(died 1249), Isabel de Albini, who marries John FitzAlan, Lord of Oswestry and
Sheriff of Shropshire, and Nicola de Albini, who married Roger de Somerie, lord
of Dudley (died 1273). Isabel de Albini and John FitzAlan had one son, John
FitzAlan, who died November 10th 1267.
William de Ferrers
He married
Agnes de Meschines, daughter of Bertrade de Montfort. Their son was William de
Ferrers, 5th Earl of Derby. William married Sybil Marshal, daughter
of William Mareschal, 1st Earl of Pembroke. William also married
Margaret de Quincy, daughter of Robert de Quincy, 2nd Earl of
Winchester. William de Ferrers died March 24th 1254 at Evington,
Leicestershire, and had a son, Robert de Ferrers, 8th Earl of Derby (1239 – 1279).
During the conflict between Henry III and Simon de Montfort, Robert de Ferrers
rebelled against the king, a year after Earl Simon had been defeated. Robert
was also defeated and lost his earldom. Robert de Ferrers was married to
Alianore de Bohun (died 1313), daughter of Sir Humphrey de Bohun of Hereford, who was an
important figure during the time of Simon de Montfort. Agnes de Meschines and
William de Ferrers also had a daughter, Sybil de Ferrers (born 1216). She was
married to John de Vipont (Vieuxpont), Sheriff of Westmoreland. Their son was
Robert de Vipount, who was born 1222 and died 1264 or 1265.
Robert de
Quincy (1186 – 1257)
He married
Hawise de Meschines, daughter of Bertrade de Montfort. Their children were
Margaret de Quincy (1208 – 1265/66), Hawise de Quincy, Roger de Quincy (1210 –
April 25th 1264) and Mabel de Quincy.
SIMON de
MONTFORT (1153 – 1188)
With this
Simon we are getting close to the times of the elder and younger Simon de
Montfort, Earls of Leicester. This Simon was Count of Rochefort. His sister had
married an important English nobleman, and Simon too strengthened this
connection to England.
He married Amicia de Beaumont (died 3.9.1215), daughter of Robert de Beaumont,
3rd Earl of Leicester. This Robert de Beaumont was an important
figure during the Civil War in England,
being for a while the viceroy of England. He died in 1168. Amice
also had two brothers, Robert de Beaumont, 4th Earl of Leicester and
Steward of England (died 1204) and Roger de Breteuil, Chancellor of Scotland
and Bishop of St.Andrews. After Simon de Montfort died Amicia de Beaumont married
Guillaume III des Barres (died 1234). Simon and Amicia had two sons, Simon de
Montfort “the crusader” and Guy de Montfort.
GUY de
MONTFORT (died 31.1.1228)
He was the
younger son of Simon de Montfort and Amicia de Beaumont. Guy married Helvis
Ibelin, of the famous crusader family. It is hard to say what caused the sudden
crusading spirit of de Montfort brothers, Simon and Guy, but it is worth
remembering that they were related to kings of Jerusalem. From here on crusades were an
important part of the lives of de Montfort`s. Guy took part at least to the
Albigens crusade in southern France against Kathars, but his marriage to Helvis
Ibelin tells us that he must have had a lot to do with the Holy Land as well.
At least Guy participated to 4th Crusade with his brother Simon.
They both left the crusaders at Zara, after the main force decided to go to
conquer Constantinople. Guy died in 1228 in
Vareilles. Guy and Helvis had one son, Philippe I de Montfort.
Helvis Ibelin
She married
Guy de Montfort. Her brother was Philippe d`Ibelin, Regent of Cyprus, who died
1227. This Philippe was married first to Maria, daughter of Cahran of Korokos,
Marshal of Armenia, and then to Alix von Mömpelgard. Philippe`s eldest son was
Jean d`Ibelin, Comte of Jaffa and Askalon, Lord of Rama and Bailiff of
Jerusalem. He died at Nicosia
in 1266. Other sons were Jaqcues, Lord of Jaffa (died 1276), Philippe (died
1263) and Guy, Comte of Jaffa
(died 1304).
Helvis
Ibelin had also another brother, Jean d`Ibelin “the old”, Lord of Beirut and
Arsur, Constable and Bailiff of Jerusalem and Bailiff of Cyprus. Jean d`Ibelin
had four sons, Balian III, Lord of Beirut, Constable of Cyprus and Bailiff of
Jerusalem, Jean, Lord of Arsur, Constable and Bailiff of Cyprus and Jerusalem,
Baudoin, Seneschal of Cyprus (died 1266) and Guy, Marshal and Constable of
Cyprus. This means two d`Ibelin uncles and eight cousins to help and look after
Philippe I de Montfort at the Holy Land.
Without a doubt also Simon the crusader and his sons Amaury and Simon got their
share of this support. It seems that d´Ibelins in 13th century,
after Jerusalem was lost, were at Cyprus.
PHILIPPE I
de MONTFORT (1204 – 1265)
He was son
of Guy de Montfort and Helvis Ibelin. He linked his fortunes closely to those
of d`Ibelin family in the Holy Land. Philippe
married Eleanore de Courtenay. He was Lord of Tyrus and Toron, Lord of Castries
and Pretender to the throne of Armenia.
Philippe I was murdered in Tyrus in 17.3.1270. Philippe I and Eleanore had
three sons, Philippe II de Montfort L`Amaury, Jean and Honfroy.
PHILIPPE II
de MONTFORT (1225 – 1270)
He
continued his father`s and grandfather`s crusading tradition and made his
fortune at the Holy Land. Philippe II married Jeanne de Levis. They had a
daughter Jeanne de Montfort (died 1300). Jeanne de Montfort was married to
Giugues VI de Forez, and then to Louis I of Savoy. Philippe also had a son, Jean II,
Comte di Squillace (died 1300), and daughters Laure, who married Bernard VII de
Comminges, and Eleanore (died 1338) who married Jean V, Comte de Vendome.
Philippe II died in 1270 at Tunis,
during the French crusade to conquer that land. Half of the French army died to
diseases, so this probably was also the fate of Philippe.
Jean I (died 27.11.1289)
He was the
brother of Philippe II de Montfort. Jean was Comte di Squillace, Lord of Toron
and Tyrus. He was married to Marquerite de Lusignan,
Lady of Tyrus (died 30.1.1308). Jean apparently died when Tyrus fell to the
Sarasens, taking the crusading dreams of de Montfort`s to grave with him. It
was fitting for de Montfort`s, both sons and their father dying during a
crusade or while protecting the Holy Land.
Marquerite
de Lusignan (died 1308)
She married
Jean I, son of Philippe I de Montfort. De Lusignans were the most influential
family in the Holy Land. With d´Ibelins and de
Montfort`s they formed a powerful trio. Marquerite`s father was Henri de
Poitiers, who was married to Isabelle de Lusignan and assumed the surname de
Lusignan. Henri de Poitiers drowned at sea in 1276. His son, and brother of
Marquerite, was Hughues III “le grand” de Lusignan, Regent of Cyprus (1261),
Regent of Jerusalem (1264), King of Cyprus (1267 – 1284), and in 24.12.1267
King of Jerusalem. Hughues “le grand” died at Tyros in 24.3.1284. He was
married to Isabelle d`Ibelin. Their sons were King Jean I of Jerusalem
and Cyprus, Bohemund de
Lusignan (died at Tyrus, 3.11.1281), King Henri II of Cyprus and Jerusalem
(died 1324) and Amaury II, Constable of Jerusalem and Regent of Cyprus (1306 –
1310), who was murdered at Nicosia
in 5.6.1310.
HONFROY de
MONTFORT (died 1284)
He was the
youngest son of Philippe II de Montfort. Honfroy was Lord of Tyrus. He married
Echive d`Ibelin, Lady of Lapithos (died 1312). Their
children were Amaury (died 28.12.1304), Rupen, Alix and Helvis.
RUPEN de
MONTFORT
Lord of
Toron and Sur.
He married Maria d`Ibelin in 1299, further strengthening the links between
these two families. Their children were Honfroy (born 1305) and Jeannette.
Jeannette married Balian d`Ibelin. Honfroy was Constable of Cyprus and died
1326. His daughter Echive married Peter I de Lusignan, king of Cyprus
(1328 – 1369).
Peter de Lusignan
He was King
of Cyprus (1359 – 1369), titular king of Jerusalem,
King of Armenia (1368 – 1369), titular Comte de Tripoli, and founder of the
chivalric order of the Sword in 1347. Peter was born at Nicosia in 9.10.1328. He was murdered in his
bed at Nicosia,
17.1.1369. His wife was Echive de Montfort. Their son was Peter II, King of Cyprus (1369 –
1382) and titular King of Jerusalem. Peter II died at 13.10.1382. Peter de
Lusignan also had a brother, Jean de Lusignan, titular Prince of Antiochia, and
Regent of Cyprus, 1329 – 1330. Jean de Lusignan was murdered in 1375. He was
married to Constanze of Aragon and in 1350 to Alice d`Ibelin.
SIMON de
MONTFORT “the crusader” (died 1218)
He was
elder brother of Guy de Montfort who married Helvis Ibelin and whose family
then moved to the Holy Land to link their
destiny with d´Ibelins and de Lusignans. Simon the crusader was married to Alice
de Montmorency, of the highest French nobility. She was daughter of Bouchard de
Montmorency. Simon and Alice had several children. Eldest was Amaury de
Montfort. Others were Guy de Montfort, Simon de Montfort younger, Robert de
Montfort, Pernel de Montfort and Amice de Montfort. Simon the crusader was the
leader of the crusaders against Albigensians from 1208 to 1218. He died at that
year while besieging Toulouse.
Fourth Crusade:
Simon had participated to a
crusade into Holy Land. This was the fourth
crusade, which was called by Innocent III in 1198. A year later Thibaut III de
Champagne announced he would lead a crusade into Egypt. Thibaut however died in 1201
and the leadership of the crusade went to Boniface, Marquis of Montferrat. With
him went Count Louis of Blois.
Simon de Montfort went too, accompanied by his brother-in-law Matthieu de
Montmorency. About him the coeval chronicler, Villehardoun, said: “With these two counts there took the cross
two very high and puissant barons of France, Simon of Montfort*, and Renaud of
Montmirail. Great was the fame thereof throughout the land when these two high
and puissant men took the cross”.
The crusade did not go as
planned. The Venetians diverted the crusaders into Zara and from there into Constantinople. Zara was a town owned by Hungarians, and
Venetians wanted it conquered as a payment for transporting the crusaders. Both
Matthieu de Montmorency and Stephen of Perche had remained at Venice, sick. They soon recovered and
Matthieu joined the crusaders at Zara. Stephen of Perche however abandoned his
comrades and went to Apulia. After a short
siege Zara surrendered. This all happened against Popes will. The army then
went to Constantinople, which was captured and Byzantium replaced by new Latin empire. Baldwin
IX, count of Flanders, was crowned the emperor
in 1204. Some of the knights however had not agreed with the main force. After
capture of Zara several refused to go to Constantinople and went instead by
themselves to the Holy Land. Simon de Montfort
was one of them, so he never plundered Constantinople or destroyed Byzantium. With Simon
went his brother Guy de Montfort, Simon of Nauphle, Robert Mauvoisin, Dreux of
Cressonsacq and many others. A few days later also Enguerrand of Boves joined
Earl Simon. Matthieu de Montmorency however went with the main host.
Alice de Montmorency (died 1221)
She married
Simon the crusader in 1190. Her father was Bouchard IV, Baron de Montmorency,
who died in 1189 and was married to Laurence of Flanders. This Laurence was
daughter of Baldwin IV “de bouwer” of Hainault (1120 – 1171) and Alice de
Namur, heiress of Namur.
Bouchard IV himself was son of Matthieu, Baron de Montmorency and Connetable of
France (died 1160). Alice de Montmorency had a brother, Matthieu II, Baron de
Montmorency and Constable of France, who died 21.11.1230. This Matthieu II was
called “le grand”. He was Constable of France from 1218 onwards. Matthieu
fought well at Bouvines in 1214, when the French defeated King John of England.
Tradition said that Matthieu de Montmorency seized 12 standards during the
battle. Anonymous of Bethune wrote the following about de Montmorency in the
battle: “Mathew of Montmorency held a billhook in his hands and was astride a
great horse. All those who saw him charge through the melee and saw how he went
about, hitting and throwing knights to the ground and wounding many people,
deny ever having seen a better knight”. Before Bouvines, Matthieu took part to the
Fourth Crusade with his brother-in-law Simon de Montfort. He was among those
who conquered Constantinople.
Albigensian Crusade:
The aim of
the crusade was to crush the Cathars, a Christian sect who were numerous in
southern France, especially
in Languedoc.
They were also called Albigensians, because one of their main centres was the
town of Albi.
Pope Innocent III called for a crusade against the Albigensians. He asked for
Philippe II of France
to act against the sect. The king however did nothing and the local nobles of
southern France
refused to act. Count Raymond of Toulouse
was even excommunicated by the Pope. Count Raymond then met with papal
representative, Pierre de Castelnau, in January 1208. A heated meeting soon
ended and the next day de Castelnau was killed. Pope then answered by declaring
a crusade against Languedoc.
A force of
about 10 000 crusaders gathered in Lyon and soon invaded Languedoc. They were commanded by Simon de
Montfort “the crusader”, but it is said he only reluctantly led a crusade
against fellow Christians. Simon was already a famous knight, but the thanks
for his command probably went to Philippe II of France, who was Simon`s
relative through his grandfather`s sister, Bertrade de Montfort. Raymond of
Toulouse at first joined Simon de Montfort and the excommunication was lifted.
The main protector of the Albigensians was then Raymond-Roger de Trencavel.
In July 21st
1209 crusaders surrounded town of Bezieres.
The town fell after a one day siege. There was confusion about what to do to
the defenders, many of whom were not Albigensians. To this the papal
representative, Abbot Amaud-Amaury said, “Slay them all! God will know his own”. A massacre followed, with over 10 000 people
killed. Only 500 of them were Albigensians. This massacre and the fierce nature
of the warfare soon gave Simon the crusader a dark reputation. He was however
effective. In August 1209 town of Carcassonne
surrendered to him. This was the main stronghold of Raymond-Roger, who was
captured. His lands were taken by Simon the crusader.
After Carcassonne towns of Albi, Castelnaudry, Fanjeaux, Limoux,
Lombers and Montreal
surrendered in quick succession. In December 1209 crusaders attacked castle of Cabaret, but Pierre-Roger de Cabaret
repulsed them. This was only a temporary setback. De Montfort`s military
machine continued to roll over Languedoc. On March 1210 Bram was captured and
in July heavily fortified town of Minerve
surrendered after a month long siege. Here 140 Albigensians were burned after
they refused to convert.
Simon the
crusader met his first real setback in 1211 when Raymond of Toulouse turned
against the crusaders. However de Montfort`s successes continued. In March 1211
town of Lastours
surrendered and Pierre-Roger de Cabaret was captured. The main problem for the
crusaders now was that areas already conquered often rebelled. In 1211 Aimery
de Montreal rose against de Montfort. In May he was crushed. De Montreal and
his senior knights were hung and several hundred Albigensians burned. It was
now a good moment to defeat Raymond of Toulouse. The crusaders marched to his
lands.
In June
1211 Toulouse
was besieged, but it held. In the end de Montfort was forced to retreat.
Raymond then followed de Montfort to Castelnaudary and in turn besieged it.
Finally de Montfort broke through the siege lines but the town fell. The
fighting now became more even. In 1213 king Peter II of Aragon came to
help Raymond. Together they besieged town of Muret, but in September 1213 de Montfort made
a successful sortie. King Peter II was killed during it and his army fled. The
tide now turned and Simon the crusader took town after another. Count Raymond
finally had to flee to England
and in 1215 Toulouse
surrendered to Simon de Montfort.
It all
seemed finally to be over, but in April 1216 Raymond of Toulouse returned. He
raised an army and fighting began anew. There was even an uprising in Toulouse, but it was
crushed. In December 1216 de Montfort was repulsed at Lourdes. This gave Raymond the chance and in
1217 he retook Toulouse.
De Montfort then led his whole force against the city. A long siege followed,
but in June 1218 Simon de Montfort “the crusader” was killed by a missile from
the city wall. The command of the crusade then fell to Simon`s eldest son
Amaury de Montfort. He failed to retake Toulouse
and in 1220 lost a lot of ground. Castelnaudary was lost and Amaury`s brother
Guy died there. Amaury tried to take the town back, but after an 8 month long
siege he had to retreat. In 1221 Raymond`s successes continued. The next year
he died but was succeeded by his son Raymond, who continued the struggle.
Amaury de Montfort continued to loose ground and in 1224 he had to abandon his
lands in Carcassonne
and flee. Amaury offered his claims to King Louis VIII of France, who
accepted. In 1226 King invaded the area and in 1229 Count Raymond surrendered.
The crusade was finally over.
It is hard
to say why Simon de Montfort agreed to take command of the crusade. He was
receiving only half-hearted support from King of France, and apparently did not
believe in the cause itself. Most important reason was probably the lands of
the rebellious nobles. These were promised to the crusaders and during his
successes Simon managed to acquire large lands. We can also assume that it was
hard for him not to do what Pope wished him to do, so he agreed to go. In the
end to future of de Montfort family was not in the southern France. Simon
died too early and his son Amaury de Montfort lost all the lands acquired by
his father. Amaury`s younger brother Guy de Montfort even lost his life there
in the southern lands.
AMAURY VII
de MONTFORT
He was the
eldest son of Simon the crusader and Alice de Montmorency. Amaury joined his
father in the Albigensian crusade. After his father died he inherited the
leadership of the crusade, and all his father`s lands in the southern France.
He became Duke of Narbonne, Comte de Toulouse, vicecomte de Carcassonne and de Beziers. How ever when the
tide of war turned against him he lost all this land, but remained Comte de
Montfort. Amaury then became Constable of France in 1231, as his uncle Matthieu
de Montmorency had been. He inherited his father`s crusading spirit and went on
a crusade to the Holy Land in 1230s. Amaury de Montfort died at Otranto while
returning from this crusade in 1241. He was buried to St.Peters Cathedral in Rome. Amaury was married
to Beatrix de Viennois. Their children were Jean I, Marguerite who married Jean
III Come de Soissons, Laure (died 1270) who married 1256 Fernando of Castile,
Comte d`Aumale, Adele who married Simon II de Clermont, and Peronnelle.
JEAN I de
MONTFORT (Died 1249)
He was the
eldest child of Constable Amaury de Montfort and Beatrix de Viennois. Jean I
was Comte de Montfort. He married in 1248 Jeanne de Cheateaudun. They had only
one child, Beatrix, Comtesse de Montfort L´Amaury, Dame de Rochefort, who died
1311 and in 1260 married Robert IV de Dreux (who died 1282). Jean I died at Cyprus while
participating to the crusade of Louis IX.
GUY de
MONTFORT (died 1220)
He was the
second son of Simon the crusader. He joined his father in the Albigensian
crusade and died during it at Castelnaudry in 1220. Four years earlier Guy had
married Petronille de Comminges. They had one daughter, Alix, who died in 1255
and was married to Jourdain de Chabanais, and then to Raoul de Courtenay (died
1271).
SIMON de MONTFORT
He was the
son of Simon the crusader and younger brother of Constable Amaury de Montfort.
In 1237 Simon married Eleanor Plantagenet (1215 – 1275), daughter of King John
of England.
Their children were Henry de Montfort, who was born in 1238 and died with his
father at battle of Evesham, Pierre, who also died at Evesham, Simon de
Montfort (1240 – 1271), Guy de Montfort, Richard de Montfort (died 1266), sir
Aymer de Montfort (died 1301) and Eleanor de Montfort. There will be a lot more
said about Simon de Montfort in here.
GUY de
MONTFORT (died 1288)
Guy was one
of the sons of Earl Simon de Montfort. Survived his father`s downfall and
escaped to southern Italy to serve under French. He married Margaret, daughter
of Rodolph, Count of Languillara. In Italy Guy became Count of Nola. With his
brother Guy murdered their cousin Henry of Almain in 1271, to avenge their
father. Guy de Montfort was excommunicated for it. In 1287 he died after being
captured by the Aragonian fleet at battle of the Gulf of Naples.
Guy de Montfort had one daughter, Anastasia de Montfort.
Anastasia de Montfort
He was the daughter of Guy de Montfort and
Margaret. Anastasia married Raymond des Ursins, who was also called Romano Orsini,
a senator of Rome.
Their son was Robert des Ursins (Roberto Orsini), Count of Nola. The famous
Orsini family are descendants of Anastasia de Montfort.
ELEANOR de
MONTFORT (1252 – 1282)
He was the
only daughter of Earl Simon de Montfort. Eleanor was the unfortunate victim of
the politics of her time. Earl Simon married her to Llywlyn “the last”, Prince
of Wales (died 1282), trying to form an alliance with the Welsh. Earl Simon how
ever died soon after. When Eleanor was travelling to Wales to join her husband she was
captured by Prince Edward and put to prison for years. Finally she was allowed
to join Prince Llywlyn. They had two daughters, Gwenllian, a nun (died 1337)
and Catherine, Princess of Wales,
who married Philip ap Ivor, Lord of Cardigan.