GASTON I (1302-1315)

The first feudal lords de Rabat were dispossessed of their fief, the domain fell into the hands of Loup de Foix which of this fact took the title of baron de Rabat.

It is in 1317, that king of France, Philippe V the length, gave the baronnie to Loup, son of Gaston I de Foix and Ferdinande, girl of Ferdinand prince de Morée and Nègrepont.

But what did it occur at that time? We wrote a lot about the birth of Loup and the origin of this second dynasty, a book is to the archives of Foix " History of the House de Foix-Rabat ". In fact, the more we try to clear up this affair, the more we have the impression to sink into the nothingness, dates varying texts also.

Gaston I, eleventh count de Foix was married to Ferdinande de Négrepont, the union was happy but no heirs. The court of Foix scolded, the nobility represented ceaselessly to the count the obligation to continue the illustrious lineage. An assembly to Mazères in sovereign council instructed Gaston to reject Ferdinande and to marry it the other one, Jeanne d'Artois, niece of Philippe IV le Bel was chosen.

Boniface VII pronounced a brief of excommunication against every priest who would bless this union of the alive of Ferdinande. This one withdrew, in the castle of Montesquieu near Bastide-de-Sérou, some people think that she left to the convent of Las Salenques, while it was founded only in 1353. King of France wishing this second marriage for certain political reasons forced his chaplain to bless this alliance where from were born three children.

Always living in the regret of his first wife, Gaston resolved to console her in his retirement, he had a son Loup. As for this first name some people think that we so named him because of the dukes of Aquitaine, his maternal ancestors, who had carried this name. We called it the Loup so much he was of a rough and authoritarian austere nature and he was held offended for a long time by his father of the fact that he was not equal to his brothers.

After the birth of the second child, Blanche de Foix, Gaston returned to his first feelings, separated completely from Jeanne d'Artois and at the end of his life indicates to succeed him Loup, by giving him big possessions and right notables in the country. Jeanne d'Artois avid to keep intact the inheritance for her children made cancel the will by her uncle (in spite of its scandalous life her credit was very big in the court of France).

Loup de Foix and his brother Roger de Foix, Lords of Fornex, damoiseaux, appear among the Lords who in 1316 asked Roger-Isarn, their father, to go in France and to ask it for the will of count Gaston the 1st. Too weak prince Loup to resist to Philippe IV le Bel's power was forced to accept the decision. Nevertheless he was very well apanagé; his main houses were in the high mountain and the most ancient are the tower of Loubats. He had four baronnies big of the county: Rabat, Saint Paul, Arniac, Durfort; the seigneuries of Montbrun, Montfa and other, as well as the third part of the sizes. We still saw by 1840 near Bastide-de-Sérou the ruins of a vast called surrounding wall " The tower of the Loup " which this prince made build to accommodate the officers of his domain and the conductors of his rights and returned.

Loup was the leader and the first founder of the branch of Foix-Rabat, stemming from the house of Foix.

This Lord occupied the first loads in the French armies, where he acquired himself a very honorable reputation. We live him with several barons of the South to help the Order Teutonique said de Prusse, then in danger. He married Cécile d'Ausbourg and de Teck, illustrates family of Germany. His sister Blanche was married to the Lord Jean de Grailly, Capdau de Buch and de Puch Paulli in 1337, Gaston II de Foix, his half brother endowed her:

Of this union with Cécile d'Ausbourg and deTeck were born:

1 °) ROGER de Foix.
2 °) CATHERINE, woman of Aimond of Grailly, Lord de Villelagand.
3 °) BLANCHE.
4 °) MIRACLE, both nuns of the order of St Bernard to the convent de Salenques.

 

Roger, been born by 1286, son of Loup signed, as Lord of Rabat, to the prenuptial agreement of Jeanne de Foix, sister of Gaston II, and the Infante Pierre d'Aragon in 1331, also signed Pierre-Raimond de Rabat (Seneschal of the county de Foix in 1332) one of the descendants of the first dynasty;

The members of this former family since they were dispossessed of their domain of Rabat, had left the country. Jourdain had become to viguier d' Urgel, in 1325, in Roger - Bernard's states viscount of Castelbon, he had also been a butler for five years of the same Roger-Bernard. Then he was a Lord of Miglos, an incident set him in 1343 to the inhabitants of this village, who refused to pay him the voluntary collections. This last one made seize their herds, a judgment took place, royalties legally dûes were paid and the returned herds. Jourdain was named in 1352 by the viscount of Castelbon, one of his executors.

As for Roger de Foix, he was a baron of Rabat and Lord of several other lands of the country pareage with the counts of Foix. He would have married Jeanne of Rabat whose son he had only.

1 °) CORBEYRAN 1st.

Corbeyran de Foix-RABAT, been born by 1321-1322, nicknamed the Nice, governor of Gaston Fébus ( Phoébus ), accompanied the young Count in Prussia during an expedition in 1357. Corbeyran was a major figure of the time, it is him who steered, educated and even protected the young Count. He taught the profession by weapons to the one who will become the famous Gaston Fébus. In the country, a big rivalry set house of Armagnac and Foix; the war was declared but Fébus was left to fight buckwheat, it is then that Corbeyran known by his courage and his boldness, was elected lieutenant of the army or he showed himself big captain. No act would better know how to prove the narrow collaboration which united the houses of Rabat and Foix the absolute dedication which the sons of Loup always had towards their suzerain? In 1370, Corbeyran had married Mengarde de Villars, and had several children:

I °) JEAN de Foix (Knight, Lord of Rabat, Fornex, Antusan, Saverdun, the Tower of Loup, Bastide de Sérou).
2 °) CONDOR, woman of Raymond-Arnaud de Coeraze, baron d'Aspet.
3 °) MARGUERITE which married Isalguier, Lord de Castelnau.
4 °) BRUNICEN united with Bernard, Lord d'Arnave.
5 °) SEGUINE, woman of Raymond de Fontaines, Lord de Valfour.

In 1391, Gaston Fébus dies to Orthez, the succession fell to his nephew Mathieu de Castelbon, this last one received the tribute of the old man Corbeyran, he died in 1402 in the castle of Rabat, and some barons of the court of Foix.

Jean 1st de Foix, been born before 1400, was a governor of Languedoc. He married Bergue de Rabastens, of this union no children. United in second wedding with Jeanne de Marmande, he made in 1450, a will which cancelled the previous fact in 1424 and had of this last marriage:

I °) CORBEYRAN II ( Knight, Lord of Rabat, Fornex, Antuzan, Saverdun, Bastide de Sérou ), husband of Cécile de Comminges ( prenuptial agreement on October 15th, 1432 ) and father of Marguerite de Foix, died without offspring; he dies before his father by 1450...
2 °) JEAN II de Foix.
3 °) MARGUERITE, her married Guillaume-Arnaud ( or François ) of Béon, Lord of Miglos.
4 °) CONDOR, woman of Pons de Villemur, baron of Saint Paul de Jarrat and Pailhès.
5 °) ELÉONORE who became abbess of Salenques.
6 °) MENGETTE who married Antoine de Tournier, Lord of Laumaguet

Jean II de Foix ( Knight, Lord of Rabat, Fornets, Antuzan, Saverdun, Bastide de Sérou) succeeded Corbeyran II, his brother, in 1454. He entered in the service of the Count de Foix in 1445 and went to war with him in Bearn and in Gascony. He had married Eléonore de Comminges, girl of Raymond-Roger de Comminges, viscount of Couseran; a prenuptial agreement was signed on June 27th, 1441. He made his will for the castle of Rabat, November 15th, 1480 and asked to be buried in the church saint-Marie of Rabat. He had 9 children:

I °) ROGER II de Foix ( Knight, viscount of Couseran, Lord of Rabat, Massat, Fornets, Antuzan, Saverdun, Bastide de Sérou ), who married in first wedding in 1467, Bertrande de Lescuns, girl of Mathieu Lord of Lescuns and Diane de Béarn, and in second wedding Catherine de Garanet of whom he had a girl Marthe-Françoise de Foix, this one died without offspring. He died on January 01st, 1508.
2 °) CORBEYRAN III de Foix.
3 °) GERMAN de Foix, Viscount of Couseran, married in 1477 to Jeanne de Tinières, baroness of Mardogne.
4 °) CATHERINE de Foix, woman of Mathieu de Spain, Lord of Montespan.
5 °) AGNÈS de Foix united, in 1465, with Jacques Isalguier, baron of Clermont.
6 °) MARGUERITE de Foix, united with Jean, viscount of Lavedan.
7 °) DOMINIQUE de Foix, woman of Bertrand de Luc.
8 °) ISABEAU de Foix, married to Jacques de Nichères.
9 °) GABRIELLE de Foix, wife of Jacques, baron of Alègre.

In François Phoebus's death, Count de Foix, a new war of succession of the States of Foix, Bearn and Navarre was going to open between Catherine, sister heir of Francois and Jean de Grally, father of the famous Gaston IV de Foix. The influence which Jean de Grally exercised in his party pulled a lot of partisans in particular the Sire of Rabat in 1484.

Corbeyran III ( Knight, viscount of Couseran, Baron of Rabat, Massat, Fornets, Antuzan, Saverdun, Bastide de Sérou ) succeeded her brother Roger II; he married Jeanne, lady de la Roque in Nébouzan, and he made his will on January 19th, 1496. They had twelve children:

I °) JEAN III de Foix ( Knight, viscount of Couseran, Baron of Rabat, Massat, Fornets, Antuzan, Saverdun, Bastide de Sérou ).
2 °) JACQUES de Foix, was an abbot of Saint Volusien de Foix, governor of Bearn and Basse Navarre, bishop of Oloron in 1521 then Lescar of 1534 in his death ( near Pau ).
3 °) ARNAUD de Foix, Lord of Canté ( near Saverdun ).
4 °) ANTOINE de Foix, baron of Saubiac.
5 °) JEAN de Foix, author of the branch of Foix-Fabas.
6 °) MATHIEU de Foix.
7 °) GABRIEL de Foix, all three will serve in Italy under Odet de Foix, viscount of Lautrec who was their relative.
8 °) CATHERINE de Foix, woman of Jean, baron of Duras.
9 °) MAGDELEINE de Foix who married Raymond de Comminges.
10 °) BERTRANDE de Foix, woman of François de Château-Verdun.
11 °) PAULE de Foix.
12 °) GABRIELLE de Foix.

Jean III de Foix was in the head of the baronnie of Rabat in the death of his father. He married November 14th, 1509, Catherine de Villemur, girl of Gaspard de Villemur, Lord of Saint-Paul-de-Jarrat and Pailhés and Marguerite de Faudoas-Barbazan of whom he had:

1 °) PAUL de Foix, viscount of Rabat, married on November 23rd, 1554 to Magdeleine de Rochechouart, girl of Antoine baron of Saint-Amand and Catherine heir of Fadoas-Barbazan. He occupied the functions of lieutenant of Jeanne d'Albret ( on 1556 ) and died without offspring in 1580, agé of 80 years.
2 °) GEORGES de Foix.
3 °) ROSE de Foix, woman of François de Comminges, viscount of Bruniquel.
4 °) GABRIELLE de Foix, united with Gaston VII de Lévis, baron of Léran. Widow in 1559, she was props up it in the harassments of her mother-in-law and her brother-in-law, so that discouraged she looked for refuge at her father. There were endless procedures but in interest of her children she returns to Léran.

His elder son, Philippe had a tragic fate duke of Lévis-Mirepoix of which sir's narrative stayed:

" Companion of Henri IV, there was in the Louvre at night the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre, he escaped the massacre in an extraordinary circumstance the narrative of which queen Margot left herself:

- Rocked between the anxiety of this night or us everywhere felt roaming the drama, and the fatigue, the exhaustion of its nerves tended to break the queen of Navarre had given in to the sleep. Does she still sleep? Does she appear from a nightmare? Punch, kicks shake the door and shouts Navarre! Navarre! Accompany them. Doubtless it is about king, her husband. The nursemaid is going to open. " It was a gentleman of the name of bloody Mister de Léran of several wounds and pursued by four bows. Eperdu, he throws itself on the bed of the queen and pulls him in the alley. Very fortunately appears Mister de Nancey, captain of the guards. Which there this night of horror had a smile of condolence, hunted bows and gave to the queen the life of this poor man whom she made sleep and bandage in her office until time that he was cured ". Brought in the south, the unfortunate Philippe who had taken back weapons fell in an ambush and was killed in cold blood. "

Georges de Foix, count of Rabat was a knight of the order of King, he succeeded his brother Paul in 1581. In a dismemberment of the county of Foix in 1609, Pierre Olhagaray historian of king spreads in eulogies flattering on "Rabat" and their domains.

" Main Baronnie of Rabat of the country and which always has the honor to be to the rank of the most illustrious houses of " Guyenne " or still: " the house is today rich and rich, it is rented for having been faithful to his prince ".

Between 1612 and 1615, it emerges from an enumeration supplied by Larnat that the Lord of Rabat was a Lord of the express of Larnat, a bailly was administered in his name.

Georges de Foix married Jeanne de Durfort, six children arose from this union:

1 °) HENRY-GASTON de Foix, Count of Rabat and Massat, Lord of Fornex.
2 °) PHOEBUS de Foix, killed in 1625.
3 °) SCIPION de Foix, Baron de la Gardiole.
4 °) JEAN-ROGER de Foix, Viscount of Rabat, Baron de la Gardiole, Lord of Canté who will form the branch of Marquis of Foix.
5 °) JEAN-GEORGES de Foix, Baron of Rabat united with Hippolyte d'Ornolac, died without Offspring.
6 °) HENRIETTE de Foix united in 1613 with Pierre-Béraud de Rochechouart-Barbazan, Baron of Faudoas and Montégut.

Georges left an inheritance important for his children, after its death it was made that an inventory of all its possessions which consisted of eleven castles among which seven for the only country of Foix, more domains and properties. All these houses were uninhabited, and possessed nobody furnish except the castle of Fornex ( near Montesquieu-Volvestre ). This last one seems to be the main castle, the usual residence of Foix-Rabat since they had abandoned Rabat.

The experts considered in 1601:

The castle of Rabat estimated at 6 000 Livres ( Pounds ),
The castle of Fornex estimated at 40 000 Livres ( Pounds ),
The Tower of the Loup (near Bastide-de-Sérou) estimated at 600 Livres ( Pounds )

These three castles fell to the elder son: Henri-Gaston.

The Castle of Canté ( near Saverdun ) estimated at 1 500 Livres ( pounds ),
Gardiolle ( in the diocese of Lavaur )

Returned to Jean-Roger, viscount of Canté.

The castle of La Roque,
The castle of Lespugue ( in Nébouzan )

Became Jean-Georges's property.

The castle of Moncla ( in Lauraguais ),
The castle of Loubens ( near Varilhes ) estimated at 800 Livres ( Pounds )

Returned to Henriette.

As for the castles of Montfa ( near the Mas d'Azil ) and Mauvezin estimated at 700 Livres ( Pounds )
We ignore to whom they passed.

Henry-Gaston de Foix remains one of the big personalities of the house of Rabat. It attended the coronation of Louis XIII in Reims on October 17th, 1610 and was one of four barons asked to escort the Sainte-Ampoule.

« Mené et couché en son cabinet dans son lict de parade où MM les Pairs le sont venus treuver pour le mener à Nostre Dame pour le sacrer. Entre en l’église à neuf heures et demie, receu par l’illustrissime François, Cardinal de Joyeuse, MM les princes de Condé, de Comty et comte de Soissons representoient les ducs de Bourgoigne, de Normandie et d’Aquitaine, MM les ducs de Nevers, d’Elboeuf et d’Espernon, les comtes de Flandres, de Champaigne et de Tholose.
Sur les unze heures, fust conduicte la Sainte Ampoule par MM les marquis de Sablé, baron de Biron, baron de Nangis et baron de Rabat. Sur midy, reçoit l’onction ; est conduict sur le pulpitre; les Pairs le baisent par deux diverses fois. Donne ung petit soufflet à M. d’Elboeuf, guaiement et essuie sa joue. Fust remarqué qu’aux deux fois qu’il fust baisé par M. d’Espernon, il porta ses deux mains à sa corone pour l’asseurer en sa teste. Va à l’offrande, communie. En marchant, taschoit d’attraper de son pied la queue du manteau de M. de la Chastre qui marchoit devant luy, faisant la charge de Connestable. Il supporta fort vertueusement toute la fatigue de ceste cérémonie qui termina à deux heures et ung quart ».

Newspaper of Heroard, doctor of Louis XIII, quoted by Joël Cornette, Column(Chronicle) of modern France, t. 2, p. 133.

 

The County of Foix, since 1607, was definitively combined in the crown of France, it continued not less to enjoy its franchisings and its old liberties. The interests of the country were defended by "States", assemblies consisted of the delegates of three orders, the clergy, the nobility, the Tiers-Etat. Every year, in autumn, in the low room of the former city hall of Foix, these states held their session which lasted three days, we voted for the provincial expenses, we decided on the works to be executed, the province enjoyed certain privileges: tax exemption of the salt tax, and the accommodation of war people.

Baron of Foix-Rabat, sword in the side sat in the head of the nobility as first baron of the country.

Although the work of unification of Richelieu and Louis XIII was felt, to a large extent the local traditions were respected. The particular justices were maintained, Baron of Foix-Rabat was only Lord upholder of the law "haut et bas" for the city of Rabat. In 1634, he was delegated to the Court of France by the states of Foix.

Louis XIII, besides, allowed the count to establish in Rabat two annual fairs on August 16th and November 25th, as well as a market a week on Thursdays.

The baronnie of Rabat was set up as county in 1650, by Louis XIV, still minor, in favour of Henri-Gaston and of his successors, " considering that had come the big and fame lined by the princes counts of Foix ", said the letters about obvious.

Henry-Gaston married Jeanne de Pardaillan de Gondrin, girl of Arnaud de Pardaillan, marquess of Montespan and Antin, and Marie du Maine. Of this union, were born six children:

1 °) JEAN-PIERRE-GASTON de Foix, marquess of Rabat, Fornex, Castelnau.
2 °) FRANCOIS-GASTON de Foix.
3 °) JACQUES de Foix, Baron of Rabat, husband of Isabeau Lévis-Léran and father of a girl married to the Baron de Pailhès, the House of Villemur.
4 °) JEANNE de Foix, woman of Jean-François de Rochechouart, count of Clermont.
5 °) MARTHE de Foix, united with Bernard de Béon, viscount of Lamezan.
6 °) ANNE de Foix, nun.

A branch developed in the family of Rabat, that of the marquesses of Foix. She pursued a big fortune between the XVIth and XVIIth centuries.

Jean-Roger Ist de Foix, Viscount of Rabat, Lord of Canté, Baron of la Gardiole, son of Georges de Foix married Thérèse de Bertrand. Of this union were born:

1 °) JEAN-ROGER II de Foix, Marquis of Foix, Baron of la Gardiole and of Canté.

He was a governor of Foix then captain of Hundred Swiss of the Duke of Orléans, brother of Louis XIV. Difficulties appeared about his administration. It is because the country of Foix lived at the beginning of the administration of completely wild and rough Louis XIV. In Couseran disorders about taxes. The inhabitants of Massat, dissatisfied with Jean-Roger their Lord shaved his lordly house from top to bottom, and during ten years, enjoyed all its good, without that ever anybody in his part, appeared to worry some recipe, which was murdered or forces to run away having been beaten well. The repression of the inhabitants was rough ( the most annoying and taken by the country were pursued by the troops and withdrew in inaccessible places, we took some that we sent to galleys ).

The situation hardly had to improve because Jean-Roger's act of February 12th, 1667, " made defence for the people who live in the country to carry weapons under punishment in case of first malpractice to pay a fine and, for the second to be sent to galleys ".

In 1674, a violent conflict set him to the bishop of Pamiers, the famous monseigneur de Caulet. This discord had frame the Assembly of States. The Prelate president refused to make deliberate on the sum of one thousand Livres demanded in the name of King by Roger for the repairs of the castle of Foix, the session was stormy. The bishop fulminated threats. As we see him, the administration of the viscount of Rabat was not made without excitement, this last one moreover incurred the anger of Louis XIV. He got married three times:

In first wedding with Catherine de Bertier, girl of the Lord of Montrave, first president to the Parliament of Toulouse, two girls of which he had.

In second wedding, he married Anne de Murviel where from were born two sons.

In the third wedding, he married young lady Anne d'Hinderson, maid of honour of the duchess of Orléans.

Of Jean-Roger and Anne de Murviel arise:

1 °) ROGER de Foix, marquess of Foix, captain of the Cent Suisses of the Duke of Orléans, brother of Louis XIV in 1691, without offspring.
2 °) JOSEPH de Foix, said The Knight de Foix, without offspring.

 

 

Let us return to the old origin of the counts of Rabat.

Jean-Pierre-Gaston, been born in 1622, marquess of Rabat, Fornex, Castelnau, son of Henri-Gaston, was a marechal de camps. In 1642, he was condemned, with his father, for the banishment and for the seizure of his possessions for the violence exercised by them in the region of Massat. A loud lawsuit engaged him against the municipality of Tarascon about the rights and the tolls of a bridge. The marquess claimed, him and his vassals of Aynat, Bédeilhac and Rabat, to cross franchised on said bridge, claims which stopped only in front of a ruling of the Parliament of Toulouse on July 24th I658 and, who condemns him to pay as well as these people the right of bypass to the consuls of Tarascon. He had married in 1652 Guionne de la Mothe, marchioness of Castelnau. He died without offspring, on November 28th, 1671.

François-Gaston de Foix, count of Rabat, Lord of Massat and the other places succeeded his brother. He obtained in 1689 the title of canon of Saint Volusien de Foix, what allowed him to attend services in the choir of the chapter.

In 1690 it was named seneschal of Nébouzan. He married successively:
In 1654, Marie-Jacqueline d'Antist, lady of Mauzan and Saint-Plancard, then in 1672, Claude Dufaut de Saint-Jory. Finally Dorothée-Théodore of Poudenas de Villepinte in 1692.

Of this triple union were born:

Of the first bed, ROGER-CHRISTIN de Foix ( 1664-1699 ), JEANNE ROSE de Foix ( 1666-1733 ) who married Jean-François de Castelnau, Sire of La Loubère.

Of the second bed, ANGELIQUE-CAESARINE de Foix, been born in 1674 died in 1741, united with Francois de Carbonnière, marquess of the Capelle-Biron and who enjoys fortunately the county of Rabat.

Of the third bed: LOUISE-CHARLOTTE de Foix, more known under the name of Countess de Sabran. She was born by 1695 and was married on July 15th, 1714 to Jean-Honoré de Sabran, chamberlain of the duke of Orléans under the Regency. Famous by her grace, her spirit and her beauty, the Regent notices her and in fact his mistress. In the suppers of the Royal Palace, where met the "sly", we nicknamed her "l'Aloyau". She was a part of this society of the Ladies which had begun to amuse the duke of Orléans.

Of the union of Louise Charlotte and ... Jean Honoré were born:

ELEAZAR-GASTON LOUIS de Sabran ( 1719-1743 ), who was a colonel of the regiment of the same name, married to Agathe de Goëtlogon in 1741. They had a son, AUGUST LOUIS ELZÉAR de SABRAN, marquess of Fornex, been born in 1742, the education of which was confided in his grand mother further to the death of his relatives in little year of interval. This one will be known later under the name of "Count Sabran de Foix", who married in February, 1762, Marie-Antoinette Coste de Champeron, He parted from her next year.

We count 13 degrees in the family of the counts of Rabat, a marquesses of Foix. She supplied with great men and makes alliances with the most distinguished families.

Foix-Rabat concerned their blazon: of gold in three pales of mouths which is of Foix, and added to it rhombuses ( three ) of Castelbon, with for crest a golden wolf, langué, toothed and onglé by silver in memory of Loup, founder of the lineage.

The castle did not survive the extinction of the race, under Louis XIII; It possessed no more furniture and remained uninhabited. It was doubtless definitively abandoned when went out the male descent at the end of the XVIIth century.

( Municipal Archives of Rabat )

A letter of 1741, of Angélique-Caesarine, countess of Rabat, says that she has no house to receive her in the village, the castle did not exist any more ( doubtless it collapsed ).

The domain passed under the Revolution in the hands of a member of the family Valencen liking doubtless closely this natural branch of the lineage of the counts of Foix.

The branch of Foix-Fabas claims to arise from the house of Foix-Rabat, its last descendant was in 1910: sir viscount Henry de Foix-Fabas, living in Cazères ( the Haute-Garonne ).