County of Fézensac


The County of Fézensac was an 8th-century creation on the north-eastern fringes of the Duchy of Gascony following Charlemagne's policy of feudalisation and Frankish colonisation. The move was aimed at offsetting and undermining the authority of the duke of Gascony Lupo II after the setback suffered by the Franks at the Battle of Roncevaux in 778 and failure to restrain the Basques. That advance clearly displeased the Basques, with these policies sparking a stir on the banks of the Garonne.
The county was appointed to a count called Burgund, who judging by his name was not a Basque. Burgund died in about 801 and was replaced by a certain Liutard, who was alien to the territory. The new appointment and his fresh military arrangements were met with the hostility of important local officials, who staged a rebellion, burning alive supporters of the new count. Ultimately, the rebellion was quelled and the instigators punished.
However, in 864 we hear of Arnold, Sancho Sanchez's nephew and a native from the area, holding the title of count of Fezensac.
Later in 926, after the death of García II, the Fézensac was given as an appanage to García's second-eldest son William. It included the cities of Vic and Auch, its capital, as well as the territory of Armagnac.

Carolingian count

926-960 : William Garcés.
960-985 : Odo Falta, son of the previous.
985-1020: Bernard Manciat Tinéa, son of the previous.
1020-1032 : Aymeric I, son of the previous.
1032-1064 : William Astanove I,, son of the previous.
1064-1103 : Aymeric II,, son of the previous.
1103-1140 : Astanove II, his sons died before him. His daughter Anicelle inherited the county of Fezensac that passed to the house of Armagnac.

House of Armagnac

1140-1160 : Géraud III of Armagnac, count of Armagnac and of Fézensac, husband of Anicelle of Fézensac, countess of Fézensac, daughter of Astanove II, count of Fezensac.
1160-1193 : Bernard IV of Armagnac, count of Armagnac and of Fézensac, son of the previous,
1193-1215 : Géraud IV d'Armagnac, count of Armagnac and of Fézensac, son of the previous.

House of Lomagne

1215-1219 : Géraud V d'Armagnac, count of Armagnac and of Fézensac, son of Bernard of Lomagne, viscount of Fésenzaguet.
1219-1241 : Peter Gérard of Armagnac, son of the previous.
1241-1243 : Bernard V of Armagnac, brother of the previous,
1243-1255 : Arnaud Odon of Armagnac, viscount of Lomagne, nephew of Odon of Lomagne,
1255-1256 : Eschivat IV of Chabanais, count of Armagnac and Fézensac and count of Bigorre,
1256-1285 : Géraud VI of Armagnac, comte of Armagnac,, nephew of Géraud V, son of Roger of Lomagne, viscount of Fésenzaguet,
1285-1319 : Bernard of Armagnac, count of Armagnac,, son of the previous.
1313-1373 : Jean I of Armagnac, comte of Armagnac and Rodez, son of the previous.
1373-1384 : Jean II of Armagnac, comte of Armagnac and Rodez, son of the previous.
1384-1391 : Jean III of Armagnac, comte of Armagnac and Rodez, son of the previous.
1391-1418 : Bernard VII of Armagnac, comte of Armagnac and Rodez, constable of France, brother of the previous.
1418-1450 : Jean IV of Armagnac, count of Armagnac and Rodez, son of the previous.
1450-1473 : Jean V of Armagnac, count of Armagnac and Rodez, viscount of Lomagne, son of the previous and Isabelle of Evreux.
1473-1497 : Charles I of Armagnac, count of Armagnac and Rodez, brother of the previous.

House of Alençon

1497-1525 : Charles IV of Alençon, great-nephew of the previous, his grand-father Jean II duke of Alençon married Marie of Armagnac, daughter of Jean IV.

House of Albret

1527-1555 : Henry II of Navarre, king of Navarre, count of Foix, count of Bigorre, count of Périgord, count of Armagnac and Rodez,
1555-1572 : Jeanne of Albret, daughter of the previous, queen of Navarre,...
1572-1589 : Henry IV of France, king of France and Navarre, son of the previous.

House of Guise

In 1645, the county of Fezensac is given with the county of Armagnac to Henri of Lorraine-Guise, count of Harcourt