House of Baux

Original coat of arms of the House of Baux (Lords of Baux). Some authors, and local tradition, with a hagiographic aim, fancifully claimed that the family was descended from Balthazar, one of the three Magi (the 16-rayed star symbolizing the star of Bethlehem). Some, that they descended from the first kings of Armenia, the star signifying that they directly knew Jesus. The motto of the family was ‘Au Hasard Baltasar', as well as 'Jamais Vassal’ and ‘Semper Ardentius’

The House of Baux is a French noble family from the south of France. It was one of the richest and most powerful families of Medieval Provence, known as the 'Race d’Aiglon'. They were independent Lords as castellan of Les Baux and Arles and wielded very considerable authority at local level. They held important fiefs and vast lands (Vienne, vicomte de Marseilles, Berry, Bruges, Montpellier, the principality of Orange).

In Provençal, the word “Baux” ( "li Baou" in provencal) means escarpment/cliff, and refers to the natural fortress on which the family built their castle, the Château des Baux and the village that surrounded it. The word is also seen in Bau-maniere, Bau-baisse, Bau-mirane, Bau-Cous-temple. In provencal to be from les Baux, des Baux, was "de Baucio". The natural defense provided by the escarpment, the raised and protected mountain valley that allowed them to have a protected food supply, and the natural ridge of the Alpilles that allowed them to control all the approaches to the citadel of Les Baux and the surrounding countryside, including the passage up and down the Rhone, and the approaches from the Mediterranean, made that the fortress impervious to the military technology of the time.

Les Baux-de-Provence seen from the side, showing the natural fortress created by the escarpment. Without gunpowder, it was impregnable.

The family of des Baux exists today in Naples in the person of several noble families ("del Balzo") descended from younger sons who followed Charles of Anjou south. After the death of Alix des Baux, the last sovereign of Baux, the chateaux and town were seized by King Rene, who gave it to his 2nd wife, Queen Jeanne of Laval. When Provence was united with the crown, almost 150 yrs of royal governors followed, including the lords, later counts and princes de Manville. Les Baux became a centre for Protestantism. Its unsuccessful revolt against the crown led Cardinal Richelieu in 1632 to order that the castle and its walls should be demolished. This was accomplished with the aid of cannon.

Lords of Baux

The earliest definite ancestor was one Pons (Poncius) (name could designate a trader from Greece) "Iuvenis" (the younger, meaning there was an older?). Pons The Younger was mentioned in 3 legal acts:

• 1st in the act of donation of 14 May 971 donating Montmajour to Boson & his wife Folcoare,
• 2nd in 975 in the act of donation of land to St Etienne d'Arles, now called St. Trophime (Arch. du chap. d'Arles, liv. autent. f. 22)
• 3rd with his wife Profecte in an act of donation in 981

The family descent then is:

• Pons (971-?), father of
• Hugh I (?-1059), father of
• William I Hugh (1050–1110), father of
• Raymond I (1110–1150), father of
• Hugh II (1150–1167)
• Bertrand I (1167–1181), brother of Hugh II, first prince of Orange
• Hugh III, lord of Baux, viscount of Marseille (1181–1240), eldest son of Bertrand I
• Barral I of Baux (1240–1268), father of
• Bertrand III (1268–1305), father of
• Raymond II (1305–1322), father of
• Hugh IV (1322–1351), father of
• Robert (1351–1353)
• Raymond III (1353–1372), brother of
• John I (1372–1375)
• Alice I (1372–1426), sister of

This branch of the House of Baux was declared extinct in 1426. The domains were inherited by Counts of Provence.

See also: Rulers of Baux

Lords of Berre, Meyragues, Puyricard and Marignane

• Bertrand II des Baux, second oldest son of Bertrand I des Baux, lord of Berre, Meyragues and Puyricard, and Marignanane (1181–1201)
• ...

From this branch originated the family branches of the Seigneurs de Berre, Lords of Meyrargues and Puyricard, who went extinct in 1349, and lords of Marignane, acquired by House of Valois-Anjou, as well as the Dukes of Andria.

Princes of Orange

File:Blason Baux-Orange.svg

When a branch of the lords of Baux married the heiress of the princes of Orange, they quartered their arms with those of the princes of Orange.

• Bertrand des Baux (1171–1181)
• Raymond II of Baux, (1218–1282)
• William I, youngest son of Bertrand des Baux (1181–1218)
• William II, co-Prince (with brothers),1218-1239
• Bertrand II, (1281–1314)
• Raymond III (1314–1340)
• Raymond V (1340–1393)
• Mary of Baux-Orange (1393–1417), daughter, married John III of Châlon-Arlay

In 1417 the House of Ivrea or House of Châlon-Arlay succeeded as princes of Orange.

A brother of William I started the branch of the Lords of Courbezon (House of Baux-Courbezon), which went extinct in 1393. Another brother started the line of Lords of Suze, Solerieux and Barri (House of Baux-Suze-Solerieux-Barri), which went extinct and reverted afterwards to the counts of Orange.

See also: Princes of Orange

Family Genealogy

The ancestors of the Lords of Baux

The ancestors of the Lords of Baux:

Leibulf de Provence (vers 750-835)
  x Odda ?
  |
  | → Leibulf des Baux (middle of the 9th century).
        x ??
        |
        | →  Pons d’Arles (end of the 9th century)
              x Blismodis de Mâcon
              |
              | → Humbert, Bishop of Vaison-la-Romaine (890-933)
                   |
              | → Ison d’Arles (890-942),
                    x Princess ? of Benevento
                    |
                    | →  Lambert Ursus seigneurs de Reillanne
                    |     x Galburge de Bénévent
                    |     |
                    |     | →  Seigneurs de Reillanne
                    |
                    | →  Pons de Marseille (910-979), 
                         x   Judith de Bretagne, daughter d'Alain II de Bretagne
                         |
                         | → Honoratus de Marseille(930-978), Bishop of Marseille
                         |
                         | →  William of Marseille (935-1004)
                         |    x Bellilde, daughter d’Arlulf de Marseille
                         |    |
                         |    | →  Vicomtes de Marseille
                         |                                 
                         x  Belletrude
                         |
                         | →  (hyp) Pons de Fos (vers 945-1025)
                               x Profecta de Marignane
                               |
                               | →  Seigneurs de Fos
                               |
                               | →  (hyp) Hugues des Baux (981-1060) 
                                   x Inauris de Cavaillon (?)
                                   |
                                   | → Guillaume Hugues de Baux (1060–1095)
                                        x Vierne
                                        |
                                        | → Raymond-Raimbaud des Baux (1095–1150)
                                             x Étiennette de Gévaudan 
                                             |
                                             | → Bertrand des Baux 30px
                                                  x Thiburge II d'Orange 

Simplified Family Tree of the Lords of Baux

The family tree of the lords of Baux (per the references cited in the adjacent footnote, rather than footnote each person, as they are from all these sources):

See also

• Les Baux de Provence
• Les Baux de Provence AOC
• Baussenque Wars (1144–1162)
• Il signore di Baux

External links

• GENEALOGY Maison del Balzo/des Baux by Gioacchino del Balzo with extensive bibliography
• Grand Armorial du Comtat Venaissin by Jean Gallian
• History of Les Baux en Provenceca:Senyoria dels Baus