Castle of Olbreuse

The Castle of Olbreuse is situated in Usseau, in Deux-Sèvres, in Western France. It was built in the eleventh century.

The Castle of Olbreuse is known for its affiliation with Protestantism specifically Calvinism in the sixteenth century. At that time the castle belonged to a family branch Desmier, the Desmier of Olbreuse. In early eighteenth century the castle belonged to Éléonore Desmier d'Olbreuse, daughter of Alexandre Desmier of Olbreuse (1608–1660), it was then, in 1702 Louis XIV put the castle receivership to punish heiress aiding Protestants. Indeed, since the conversion of the Desmier family to Calvinism, they took part in the religious wars against Catholics. In 1685, Alexandre, the brother of Éléonore, lived at Olbreuse with his wife, who was the granddaughter of the poet Agrippa d'Aubigné, of Protestant background. Thanks to the protection of the House of Brunswick to which Eleanor belonged by her union with the German Prince George William of Lüneburg-Celle (1624–1705), he took the initiative to temporarily hide Protestants. One of them, the teacher of Mauzé-sur-le-Mignon told through his diary that period. He writes about Alexandre Desmier "this veritable feeder was not only supports diverse and retreat for me and for you, but for all the people who came to ask her help and retirement during the persecution." In 1707, the receivership of Louis XIV was lifted and the castle went to Éléonore. On the death of the latter in 1722, the castle’s new owner was her daughter Sophia Dorothea of Celle, wife of King George I of Great Britain but died four years later leaving the property to his children, George II of England and Queen Sophia of Prussia.

In 1727 Sophie's husband, Frederick William I did make inquiries and learns that the castle reports 2110 pounds per year. Both heirs decided to "outright gift" for 40,000 pounds the castle to their Olbreuse cousins of the family Prévot de Gagmont whom were Catholics. This transaction was authorized by Louis XV, 17 September 1729 in a judgment: "Our beloved trusty Alexandre Prevost, lord of Gagemont ... has exposed us humbly having the honor of belonging as a cousin to our beloved deceased and beloved cousin, Mrs. Eleanor, Duchess of Brunswick Lüneburg maternal grandmother of our beloved king, brother King of Great Britain, and our very dear sister the Queen of Prussia that as heirs of this princess, land and lordship of Olbreuse, located in our kingdom, the land of Aunis Today belongs: it is by this consideration and put Olbreuse said land in the family of the princess it has pleased our dear brother King of Great Britain and our very dear sister of the queen Prussia to donate to exhibitor (...) ". He remained in that family until 1871, the cause being the last owner Madame Nossay, had no heirs.

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