List of rulers of Provence

Map showing the march and county Provence and thecounty of Forcalquieras parts of theKingdom of Burgundy-Arlesin the 12th and 13th centuries.

The land ofProvencehas a history quite separate from that of any of the larger nations of Europe. Its independent existence has its origins in the frontier nature of the dukedom inMerovingianGaul.In this position, influenced and affected by several different cultures on different sides, the Provençals maintained a unity which was reinforced when the region was made a separate kingdom during theCarolingiandecline of the later ninth century. WhenBoso of Provenceacquired the region in 879, it was known asLower Burgundyuntil it was merged withUpper Burgundyin 933 to form theKingdom of Arles.The counts of Arles began calling themselves "count of Provence"; although in name vassals, they werede factoautonomous princes.After 1032, the county was part of theHoly Roman Empire.

In the eleventh century, Provence became disputed between the traditional line and thecounts of Toulouse,who claimed the title of "Margrave of Provence". In theHigh Middle Ages,the title ofCount of Provencebelonged to local families ofFrankishorigin, from 1112 to 1245to theHouse of Barcelona(acadet branchof theHouse of Aragón), from 1245 to 1382 to theHouse of Anjou,and from 1382 to 1481 to a cadet branch of theHouse of Valois.It was inherited by KingLouis XI of Francein 1481,and definitively incorporated into theFrench royal domainby his sonCharles VIIIin 1487.

Merovingian dukes

During the period of theMerovingian dynastyin Gaul, Provence was a province ruled byduces(dukes), military leaders and district commanders who served as defenders of the frontiers of the kingdom and ruled over vast territories as opposed to thecomites(counts), who ruled the cities and their environs. Provence was usually a part of the division of theFrankish realmknown as theKingdom of Burgundy,which was treated as its own kingdom. Their title sometimes appears asrector Provinciae.

This is an incomplete list of the known Merovingian-appointed dukes of Provence.

• Liberius(until 534),Ostrogothicappointee
• Namatius(bef. 552), Frankish appointee
• Bodegisel(fl. c. 566)
• Adovarius (561–569)
• Lupus (569–570)
• Jovin(570–573)
• Albin(573–575)
• Dinamius(from 575)
• Gondulf(fl. c. 581)
• Leudegisel (fl. c. 585), of Burgundian Provence
• Nicetas(from 587)
• Babo (fl. c. 600)
• Aegyla (fl. c. 602)
• Bado (634–641)
• Willibad(641–643), of Burgundian Provence
• Hector(fl. c. 679)
• Nemfidius(fl. c. 700)
• Antenor(fl. c. 697)
• Metrannus(fl. c. 700)
• Maurontus(c. 720 – 739)
• Abbo(fl. c. 739)

Carolingian dukes

Provence was ruled by a poorly known series of dukes during the period of generalCarolingian unityuntil theTreaty of Verdun(843).

• Leibulf(until c. 829)
• Guerin(c. 829 – 845)
• Fulcrad(845 – c. 860)

Carolingian kings

After the division of theCarolingian Empireby theTreaty of Verdun(843), the first of the fraternal rulers of the three kingdoms to die wasLothair I,who divided hismiddle kingdomin accordance with the custom of the Franks among his three sons. Out of this division came theKingdom of Provence,given to Lothair's youngest son,Charles.A heritage of royal rule was thus inaugurated in Provence which, though it was often subsumed into one of its larger neighbouring kingdoms, was just as often proclaiming its own sovereigns.

The kingdom of Provence was also known asLower Burgundy(or Cisjurane Burgundy). Its capital was firstViennethenArles.

• Charles of Provence(855–863)
  On his death, Provence was divided between his surviving brothers,Lothair IIand theEmperor Louis II.The bulk went to Louis.
• Louis II(863–875), alsoHoly Roman Emperorfrom 855
  On his death, as with hisKingdom of Italy,Louis's Provence went to his uncleCharles the Bald.
• Charles the Bald(875–877), alsoHoly Roman Emperorfrom 875
• Louis the Stammerer(877–879)
  With the death of Louis the Stammerer, Provence refused to elect his two sons and instead elected one of their own as king. Boso marriedErmengard,daughter of Louis II, to strengthen his and his son's claim.
• Boso(879–887)
• Louis the Blind(887–928), alsoHoly Roman Emperorfrom 901 to 905
  Louis's kingdom did not pass to his heirs, but instead to his brother-in-law, the husband of his sister, Hugh, who had acted as his regent since 905. Hugh never used the royal title in Provence.
• Hugh(911–933)
  In 933, Provence ceased to be a separate kingdom as Hugh exchanged it withRudolph II of Upper Burgundyfor theIron Crown of Lombardy,that is, rule of Italy.

Counts and margraves, within the Empire

In the aftermath of the death ofLouis the Blind,Provence began to be ruled by local counts placed under the authority of a margrave. Firstly,Hugh of Arlesserved as duke and regent during Louis' long blindness. Secondly, Hugh gave the march ofVienneand duchy of Provence toRudolf II of Burgundyin a treaty of 933. Rudolf was never recognised by the nobles of the country and appointedHugh, Duke of Burgundy,as its first margrave.

At the time, the premier counts in the region were thecounts of Arlesandthose of Avignon.Those who would first bear the titlecomes Provinciaeor "count of Provence" descended from one Rotbold of Arles.William IandRotbold Idid not divide their father's domains and this indivisibility was maintained by their respective descendants. It is thus impossible to ascertain who succeeded whom in the county as various reigns overlap.

By his marriage to Emma of Provence, daughter of Rotbold II,William III, Count of Toulouseinherited lands and castles in Provence. Emma inherited the title Margrave of Provence upon her elder brother's death in 1037. Her sonPonsby William III did not survive her, but her grandson did and claimed her title in opposition to the younger line of counts of Provence.

Bosonid dynasty

See also:Bosonids

Name	Born	Reign	Consort	Death	Notes
William I the Liberator	c.950 Son ofBoson II of Arlesand Constance of Vienne	961–975	Arsenda of Comminges no children Adelaide-Blanche of Anjou c.984 four children	After 29 August 993	First counts of Provence and brothers, ruled together until 975, when William took the margravial title. and Rotbold took the same title in 993, after William abdication.
		975–993
Rotbold I	Son ofBoson II of Arlesand Constance of Vienne	961–993	Emilde two children	1008
		993–1008
Regency ofAdelaide-Blanche of Anjou:993–999
William II the Pious	c.980 Son ofWilliam IandAdelaide-Blanche of Anjou	999–1019	Gerberga of Burgundy c.984 four children	4 March 1019	Fell under control of his uncle Rotbold until his death in 1008.
Rotbold II	c.980 Son ofRotbold Iand Emilde	1008–1014	Ermengarde of Burgundy before 1002 three children	1014
William III	Son ofRotbold IIandErmengarde of Burgundy	1014–1037	Lucie before 1002 three children	1037
William IV	c.980 Son ofWilliam IIand Gerberga of Burgundy	1019–1030	Unmarried	1030
Fulk Bertrand	c.1000 Son ofWilliam IIand Gerberga of Burgundy	1030–1051	Hildegard two children	27 April 1051	Brothers, ruled jointly after their elder brother's death.
Geoffrey I	c.1000 Son ofWilliam IIand Gerberga of Burgundy	1030–1062	Etienette four children	February 1062
After William III's death with no descendants, the line of counts became the sovereign line in Provence, but not uncontested. In fact, throughEmma,who inherited her brother William III's margravial title, her descendants, the counts of Toulouse, claimed Provence for themselves as margraves, in spite of never having ruled there. 1062–1094William IV of Toulouse 1094–1105Raymond IV of Toulouse 1105–1112Bertrand of Toulouse 1119–1125Alfonso Jordan of Toulouse
William Bertrand I	c.1040 Son ofFulk Bertrandand Hildegard	1062–1094	Theresa of Aragon no children Adelaide of Cavenez one child	28 July 1094	Co-ruled as brothers and cousins.
Geoffrey II	c.1040 Son ofFulk Bertrandand Hildegard	1062–1067	Ermengard no children	28 July 1094
William Bertrand II	c.1050 Son ofGeoffrey Iand Etienette	1063–1093	Matilda one child	28 July 1094
Gerberga	1045/65 Daughter ofGeoffrey Iand Etienette	1094–1112	Gilbert I of Gévaudan 1073 two children	28 July 1094	Considered a wise ruler.She abdicated in 1112 to her eldest daughter, soon after her marriage to the count of Barcelona.

House of Gévaudan

	Name	Born	Reign	Consort	Death	Notes
	Douce I	c.1090 Daughter ofGilbert I of GévaudanandGerberga	1112–1127	Ramon Berenguer III of Barcelona 3 February 1112 Arles five children	1127	Ruled together with her husband, the CatalanRamon Berenguer III of Barcelona.

Houses ofBarcelona(comital) and Toulouse (margravial)

See also:House of Rouergue

Division of Provence obtained by Alfonso Jordan in 1125.

With a lack of interest in theReconquistaon their southern frontier, theCatalansturned towards their origins, the Mediterraneanlittoraland northwards. They coveted the region between theCévennesand theRhône,then under the control of Toulouse. In 1112, the count of Barcelona,Ramon Berenguer III,married the heiress of Provence,Douce,who was the daughter of theCountess Gerbergaof Provence,Gévaudan,Carladais,and part ofRodez.The marriage was probably taken at the urging of the church, which was then in conflict with the House of Toulouse. In 1076, CountRaymond IVwas excommunicated, but he still lent his support toAicard,the deposedarchbishop of Arles(since 1080). With the count away on theFirst Crusade,the church took the opportunity to seize the balance of power in the region. This marriage effectively put Provence under Catalan control.

To accommodate the longstanding claims of the count of Toulouse, in 1125, Raymond's heir,Alfonso Jordan,signed a treaty whereby his family's traditional claim to the title of "Margrave of Provence" was recognised and the march of Provence was defined as the region north of the lowerDuranceand on the right of the Rhône, including the castles ofBeaucaire,Vallabrègues,andArgence.The region between the Durance, the Rhône, theAlps,and the sea was that of the county and belonged to the house of Barcelona.Avignon,Pont de Sorgues,CaumontandLe Thorremained undivided.

Internally, Provence was racked by uncertainties over rights of succession. Douce and Ramon Berenguer signed all charters jointly until her death in 1127, after which he alone appears as count in all charters until his death in 1131. At that time, Douce's younger sister,Stephaniewas married toRaymond of Baux,who promptly laid claim to the inheritance of her mother, even though Provence had peacefully passed into the hands of her nephew,Berenguer Ramon I.

Ruler		Born	Reign	Death	Ruling part	Consort	Notes
Ramon Berenguer Ithe Great El Gran		11 November 1082 Rodez Son ofRamon Berenguer II and Mafalda of Apulia-Calabria	1112 –19 July 1131	19 July 1131 Barcelona aged 48	County of Provence	María Rodríguez de Vivarbr/>1103 two children Almodis de Mortain 1106 no children Douce I, Countess of Provence 3 February 1112 Arles seven children	His last marriage with the heiress of Provence brought it under Barcelona domain. His reign saw a proliferation of Provençal culture in Catalonia.
Alfonso Jordan		1103 Tripoli Son of CountRaymond IV of ToulouseandElvira of Castile	1125 - 16 August 1148	16 August 1148 Caesarea aged 44–45	Margraviate of Provence	Faydite d'Uzès c.1125 four children	AlsoCount of Toulouse.Obtained half of Provence by the division agreement of 1125.
William III		c.1080 Son ofErmengol IV, Count of UrgellandAdelaide, Countess of Forcalquier	1129 –7 October 1129	7 October 1129 Avignon aged 48–49	County of Forcalquier	Gersende of Albon c.1080 two children	Came from the Urgell branch of the House of Barcelona. Inherited the neighbouring County of Forcalquier.
Guigues		c.1090? First son ofWilliam III of ForcalquierandGersende of Albon	7 October 1129 –1149	1149 aged 58–59	County of Forcalquier	Unknown one child	His child probably predeceased him, as he was succeeded by his brother.
Regency ofRamon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona(1144–1157)							In August 1161, he travelled toTurinwith his uncle to obtain confirmation of his countship in Provence from theEmperor Frederick I,for Provence was legally a fief of theHoly Roman Empire.
Ramon Berenguer II		c.1135 Son ofBerenguer Ramon IandBeatrice of Melgueil	March 1144 – March 1166	March 1166 Nice aged 30–31	County of Provence	Richeza of Poland 17 November 1161 one child
Raymond I		1134 Tripoli Son ofAlfonso Jordanand Faydite d'Uzès	16 August 1148 - December 1194	December 1194 Nîmes aged 59–60	Margraviate of Provence	Constance of France c.1154 (annulled 1166) five children	Also Count of Toulouse asRaymond V.
Bertrand I		1104 Second son ofWilliam III of ForcalquierandGersende of Albon	1149 –1151	1151 aged 46–47	County of Forcalquier	Josserande de la Flotte 1130 three children
Bertrand II		c.1130? First son ofBertrand IandJosserande de la Flotte	1151 –13 May 1207	13 May 1207 aged 76–77	County of Forcalquier	Cecilia of Béziers two children	Left no male heirs, and was succeeded by his brother.
Regency ofRicheza of Poland(1166-1167)							She ruled a few months, as her half brother-in-law,Alfonso II of Aragon,claimed Provence for himself on the basis of the imperial enfeoffment of 1162.
Douce II		c.1162 Daughter ofRamon Berenguer IIandRicheza of Poland	March 1166 – 1167	1172 Nice aged 9–10	County of Provence	Unmarried
Alphonse Ithe Troubadour El Trobador		1-25 March 1157 Huesca Son ofRamon Berenguer IVandPetronilla	1167 – 1173	25 April 1196 Perpignan aged 44	County of Provence	marriage agreement with Mafalda of Portugal1159-1162, not fulfilled Sancha of Castile 18 January 1174 Zaragoza seven children	Formal union of theKingdom of Aragonand Barcelona. Alfonso also reunited various feudal dependencies. In August 1161, he travelled toTurinwith his uncle obtain the confirmation of his countship in Provence from theEmperor Frederick I,for Provence was legally a fief of theHoly Roman Empire.In 1173, he gave the county to his younger brother Ramon Berenguer. However, he kept the title until his death in 1196.
Peter Ramon Berenguer III		c.1158 Son of CountRamon Berenguer IV of BarcelonaandPetronilla of Aragon	1173–5 April 1181	5 April 1181 Montpellier aged 22–23	County of Provence	Unmarried	Abdicated of Cerdanya to his brother Sancho. In 1173, assuming the county of Provence, changed his name toRamon Berenguer.In 1176, he joined Sancho in conqueringNicefromGenoa.He was assassinated.
Sancho		c.1161 Son of CountRamon Berenguer IV of BarcelonaandPetronilla of Aragon	5 April 1181 – 1185	1223 Montpellier aged 61–62	County of Provence	Ermesinde of Rocabertí 1184 one child Sancha Núñez de Lara 1185 one child	Received from his brother the counties of Cerdanya and Roussillon, and in 1181, received also the County of Roussillon, in the sequence of the same brother's death. In 1184, Sancho signed a treaty of alliance with the count of Forcalquier, the count of Toulouse and theRepublic of Genoaagreeing to oppose the king of Aragon's efforts to dominate Genoa and to take the city ofMarseillefrom him. Abdicated from Provence in 1185, but ruled in Cerdanya-Roussillon until his death.
Alphonse II		1180 Barcelona Son ofAlfonso IandSancha of Castile	1185 –2 February 1209	2 February 1209 Palermo aged 28–29	County of Provence	Garsenda, Countess of Forcalquier July 1193 Aix-en-Provence one child	His reign was marked by his conflicts with the count of Forcalquier, to whose granddaughter he was married.
Raymond II		27 October 1156 Saint-Gilles, Gard Son ofRaymond IandConstance of France	December 1194 - 1 August 1222	1 August 1222 Toulouse aged 65	Margraviate of Provence	Ermessende of Pelet 1172 no children Beatrice of Béziers after 1176 (annulled 1189) one child Joan of England October 1196 Rouen two children A daughter ofIsaac Komnenos of Cyprus c.1200 (annulled 1202) no children Eleanor of Aragon January 1204 Perpignan no children	AlsoCount of ToulouseasRaymond VI.Allied with theCathars,like many of the neighbouringLanguedocstates, his domains in Toulouse were challenged by theAlbigensian Crusadebetween 1215 and 1218.
William IV		c.1130 Second son ofBertrand IandJosserande de la Flotte	13 May 1207 –7 October 1209	7 October 1209 aged 78–79	County of Forcalquier	Adelaide of Béziers one child	Left a daughter, Garsenda, who predeceased him; he was succeeded by his granddaughter, also named Garsenda.
Garsenda		c.1180 Daughter ofRainou of SabranandGarsenda of Forcalquier	7 October 1209 –1222	1242 aged 60–61	County of Forcalquier (House of Sabran)	Alfonso II, Count of Provence July 1193 Aix-en-Provence one child	In 1222, she abdicated for her son, and Forcalquier was absorbed by Provence.
Forcalquier annexed to Provence
Regency ofGarsenda, Countess of Forcalquier(1209–1220)							Supporter of the Provençal lyric and culture and theAlbigensian Crusade.He also helped his father-in-law in his conflict withTurinandGuigues VI of Viennois.His surviving four daughters all married kings, causing a dispute about his succession.
Ramon Berenguer IV		1198 Son ofAlfonso IIandGarsenda, Countess of Forcalquier	February 1209 –19 August 1245	19 August 1245 Aix-en-Provence aged 46–47	County of Provence	Beatrice of Savoy 5 June 1219 Aix-en-Provence six children
Raymond VII		July 1197 Beaucaire, Gard Son ofRaymond IIandJoan of England	1 August 1222 - 27 September 1249	27 September 1249 Toulouse aged 52	Margraviate of Provence	Sancha of Aragon March 1211 (annulled 1241) one child Margaret of Lusignan 1243 (annulled 1245) no children	Also Count of Toulouse asRaymond VII.TookCarcassonnewith CountRoger-Bernard III of Foix,in theAlbigensian Crusade.
Beatrice		1229 Daughter ofRamon Berenguer IVandBeatrice of Savoy	19 August 1245 –23 September 1267	23 September 1267 Nocera Inferiore aged 37–38	County of Provence	Charles I, King of Sicily 31 January 1246 Aix-en-Provence seven children	Her inheritance caused tense relations with her sisters; Her husband installed his French court in Provence and, after her death, inherited the county.
Joanna		c.1220 Toulouse Daughter ofRaymond VIIandSancha of Aragon	27 September 1249 - 25 August 1271	25 August 1271 Siena aged 50–51	Margraviate of Provence	Alphonse of France c.1237 Toulouse no children	The war betweenLouis VIII of FranceandLanguedocregion ended with theTreaty of Meaux(1229), determining the wedding of Joan, the heiress of Toulouse, with Alphonse, prince of France. The lack of descendance of the couple determined the annexation of the County of Toulouse, the Duchy of Narbonne, and the Margraviate of Provence to the Crown of France after their deaths.

Capetian Angevin dynasty

• 1246–1285Charles I,Count ofAnjou,Maine,Provence and Forcalquier (1246), King ofNaples,Sicily(1266) andJerusalem(1277).
• 1285–1309Charles II of Naplesthe Lame,King ofNaplesand (nominal) Jerusalem and Sicily, son of Charles I
• 1309–1343Robert of Naplesthe Wise,Duke ofCalabria(1296–1309), King of Naples and (nominal) Jerusalem and Sicily (1309), son of Charles II
• 1343–1382Joan I of Naples,Queen of Naples and (nominal) Jerusalem and Sicily (1343–1381)
• 1349–1362Louis I of Naples,King of Naples and (nominal) Jerusalem and Sicily, as husband ofJoan I of Naples

Queen Joan died heirless, leaving the county toLouis I of Anjou,son of KingJohn II of Francethe Good,of the House ofValois,and great-great-grandson of Charles II of Naples.

Valois-Anjou dynasty

• 1382–1384Louis I of Anjou,Count and then Duke of Anjou (1351), Duke of Calabria and Count of Maine (1356), Duke ofTouraine(1370), nominal King of Sicily (1382)
• 1384–1417Louis II of Anjou,Duke of Anjou,Calabriaand Touraine, Count of Maine, nominal King of Sicily (1384),Count of Guise(1404), son of Louis I
• 1417–1434Louis III of Anjou,Duke of Anjou and Touraine, nominal King of Sicily (1417), Duke of Calabria (1424), son of Louis II
• 1434–1480René I of Naplesthe Good,Count of Guise (1417–1422), Duke ofLorraineandBar(1431),King of Naplesand (nominal) Sicily and Jerusalem (1434–1442), Duke of Anjou and Touraine (1434), King ofAragonand Count of Barcelona (in dispute, 1466–1472), son of Louis II
• 1480–1481Charles III(V of Maine), also known as Charles of Maine, Count of Maine and Guise (1472), nephew of René I

Upon his death, the heirless Charles du Maine bequeathed the counties of Provence-Forcalquier to KingLouis XI of France.From that point forward, the title of Count of Provence simply became one of the many hereditary titles of the French monarchs. The only time the title was used independently afterwards was by the futureLouis XVIII of France,who was known as theComte de Provenceuntil the death of his nephewLouis XVIIin 1795, after which he claimed the throne of France.

Governors and grand seneschals, within France

Governors

• 1481–1483Palamède de Forbin
• 1491–1493 François de Luxembourg

Grand seneschals

• 1480–1481 Pierre de La Jaille (seeChâteau de Ranton)
• 1482–1483 Raymond de Glandevès-Faucon
• 1483 Palamède de Forbin
• 1485–1493 Aymar de Poitiers, Count ofValentinois

Governors – grand seneschals

• 1493–1503Philip of Hachberg-Sausenberg,margrave de Hochberg
• 1504–1513 Louis d'Orléans,Count of Longueville
• 1514Jean de Poitiers,lord ofSaint-Vallier
• 1515–1525René of Savoy,Count ofTende
• 1525–1566Claude de Savoie,Count of Tende
• 1566–1572Honorat I de Savoie,Count of Tende

Grand seneschals

• 1572–1582Jean V de Pontevès,Count of Carcès
• 1582–1610Gaspard de Pontevès,Count of Carcès
• 1610–1655 Jean de Pontevès, Count of Carcès
• 1655–1662François de Simiane-Gordes

Governors

• 1572–1573Gaspard de Saulx-Tavannes
• 1573–1578Albert de Gondi, comte de Retz
• 1578–1579François de La Baume,comte de Suze
• 1579–1586Henri d'Angoulême,called, Henri, bâtard de Valois
• 1586–1590Jean-Louis de Nogaret, duc d'Épernon
• 1590-1592Bernard de Nogaret,seigneur de La Valette.
• 1592-1594 Jean-Louis de Nogaret, duc d'Épernon
• 1592–1594Gaspard de Pontevès, comte de Carcès(theCatholic Leaguecounter appointment to the office).
• 1594–1631Charles de Lorraine, duc de Guise
• 1631–1637Nicolas de L'Hôpital, marquis de Vitry
• 1637–1653Louis-Emmanuel de Valois, comte d'Alais
• 1653–1669Louis de Bourbon-Vendôme, duc de Mercœur
• 1669–1712Louis-Joseph de Bourbon, duc de Vendôme
• 1712–1734Claude-Louis-Hector, duc de Villars
• 1734–1770Honoré-Armand, duc de Villars
• 1770–1780Camille-Louis de Lorraine
• 1780–1790Charles-Just de Beauvau

In 1790, the French Revolution definitively ended the governorship.

See also

• List of consorts of Provence

Sources

• Harding, Robert (1978).Anatomy of a Power Elite: the Provincial Governors in Early Modern France.Yale University Press.
• Jouanna, Arlette (1998).Histoire et Dictionnaire des Guerres de Religion.Bouquins.

External links

• GENEALOGY.EU: RULERS OF PROVENCE
• Titles of counts of Provence