House of Rochechouart

The House of Rochechouart (French: [ʁɔʃ(ə)ʃwaʁ]) is an ancient noble family in France. This powerful dynasty of the Carolingian era dates back to Foucher, supporter of Charles the Bald, who became viscount (vicomte) of Limoges in 876. His descendents—Limoges, Rochechouart, Mortemart and de Brosse—ruled over the area for several centuries, providing many different French regimes with politicians, soldiers, functionaries and other figures. It is named after the town of Rochechouart.

Foucher de Limoges, the founder of the House of Limoges-Rochechouart, was the second son of Raymond I, Count of Toulouse, and of Berteys, daughter of Rémi. The viscounts of Limoges and of Rochechouart were thus descended from the Counts of Rouergue and probably from the Counts of Autun and from Théodoric, who founded the Autun dynasty c. 730.

Foucher, supporter of Charles the Bald, was rewarded for his services in the king's wars by being granted the Viscountcy of Limoges, which extended into Limousin and Berry. Foucher was crowned as viscount in 876 in Limoges and started minting his own coinage. The promulgation of the Capitulary of Quierzy the following year simultaneously freed the lords up from royal authority and made their titles and charges hereditary, thus giving birth to the French feudal system. Like other lords, the viscount of Limoges became an autonomous territory, administered by viscount Foucher. On his death, in 886, his son Hildebert became lord of Limoges, and then Hildebert's son Hildegaire, then Hildebert's grandson Géraud, establishing in a lasting way the dynasty of viscounts in their fiefdom of Limoges.

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