Family history Comte de Foix

Count of Foix – The History of the House of Foix

The House of Foix originated at the foot of the Pyrenees from the family of the Counts of Carcassonne. Bernard Roger, a son of Roger I., received territories around Foix, Couserans and Bigorre at the beginning of the 11th century. His son Roger I. first assumed the title of Count of Foix. Over the county, the castle of Foix was erected, whose towers guarded trade routes and the way to Andorra.

The counts retained their own margin of maneuver between France, Aragon, and England. Roger Bernard II participated in the conflicts of the Languedoc in the 13th century. His successor Roger IV consolidated the rule, while Roger Bernard III united the lands in 1290 through his marriage to Marguerite de Béarn Foix and Béarn. These lands were henceforth to remain together despite differing ties of allegiance.

To the radiant figure of the house, Gaston III, called Fébus or „the Sun“ was added. As a twelve-year-old boy, he took over his inheritance in 1343. With skillful neutrality, he often kept his lands out of the Hundred Years„ War, built castles like Montaner and led a brilliant court in Orthez. His “Livre de chasse” created between 1387 and 1389 combines nature observation with magnificent book art and remained famous for centuries.

After Fébus, Foix-Grailly continued the legacy. Gaston IV supported the crown and married Eleanor of Navarre. Her grandson François Fébus became King of Navarre in 1479; thereafter, Queen Catherine de Foix united the House's claims with the Albret dynasty. Through her descendants, Foix, Béarn and Navarre eventually came under the rule of Henry of Navarre.

When Henry IV ascended the French throne in 1589, the last Count of Foix became King of France at the same time. In 1607, he permanently linked the county to the Crown domain. The castle of Foix, the manuscripts of the Fébus and the co-government of Andorra that still exist today, preserve the confident legacy of the house.

Sources: Bibliothèque nationale de France, Château de Foix, Archives départementales de l’Ariège, Encyclopaedia Britannica

Family coat of arms Comte de Foix

This Coat of arms corresponds to the historical coat of arms of the Counts of Foix. Blazon: Three red poles in gold.

The golden shield bears three evenly spaced vertical red poles. Above the shield stands a dark tournament helmet with red-gold trim and alternating red-gold feather crests. The representative versions also bear a French count’s crown.

The simple coat of arms Coat of arms of the medieval county of Foix has been handed down since the Middle Ages. It is classified as a variation of the closely related Catalan-Aragonese palisade arms and remained the distinctive mark of the county.

Sources: Armorial of the Kingdom of France