List of viscounts of Thouars
The first viscounts of Thouars appeared at the end of the 9th century, somewhat earlier than those of Châtellerault, Lusignan, etc.
The family of the viscounts of Thouars doubtless originated in the surroundings of Poitiers where they held lands in the 10th century.
In the 11th century, following Geoffrey II of Thouars's marriage to Agnes of Blois, they added to this list the abbeys of Bourgueil and Marmoutier.
Brother of Savary I, he owned property near Poitiers and was admitted to the Abbey of Saint Maixent (which was very rich).
He was a faithful ally of his suzerain Geoffroy Grisegonnelle, Count of Anjou, who awarded him the goods Chavagne near the monastery of Saint Maixent to Faye near the Abbess and Bressuire Miss south of Thouars.
In 955 he donated land, the Abbess Faye always to the benefit of the Abbey Saint Bonneval lès Thouars.
Geoffroy Grisegonnelle, Count of Anjou, appears as suzerain and protector of Viscount Herbert (it will be the same, however, vis-à-vis his son Aimery III).
About 973, Geoffroy was in possession of the strengths of Loudun and Mirebeau and then encircled the area of the Vicomte of Thouars.
Herbert married in 956 Aldéarde (or Hildegarde), daughter Cadelon I, Viscount of Aunay (Aulnay, Charente-Maritime) and Sénégonde.
Emma took refuge in the castle of Chinon, where she waited for her husband to forgive this action.
Viscount Thouars assisted in 992 Fulk against the Britons for the possession of the County of Nantes and especially during the Battle of Conquereuil.
Fulk awarded custody of Nantes Aimery during the minority of small Comte Judicaël.
In 994, however, Aimery away lasting alliance Angevine and Fulk built a fortress at Passavant to control it.
The Duke of Aquitaine and Count of Poitiers William the Great practiced a policy of balance (with a lot of duplicity) between Raoul and the Sire de Lusignan to neutralize them.
William wrecked a marriage between the daughter of Raoul and Hugh de Lusignan by offering the latter the widow of Parthenay Josselin I (who had left an infant son).
The Vicomte Raoul died at the end of 1014 while ravaging the lands of Hugh de Lusignan.
On December 7, 1099, his family surrounding Arbert at the dedication of the Church of St. Nicolas de la Chaise, started by his father and has been completed; then found him with his brother Geoffrey, told Tiffauges, its Sister Hildegard is wife of Hugues de Lusignan, Raoul and his uncle, said Maule.
These are Bressuire, Gifted, Passavant, the Argenton Chateau, Airvault, La Foret sur Sevre, Montaigu, La Roche sur yon, Till, Châteaumur, Pouzauges, Les Essarts, Lezay, Commequiers, and more.
He left with his brother Geoffrey in 1102 as part of the crusade led by the Duke William IX of Aquitaine.
His banner was golden strewn with fleur de lys Azure, Gules franc area.
Geoffroy's granddaughter by Guy and Constance, Alix would become Duchess of Brittany in her own right.
He was married to Beatrix Machecoul Lady of La Roche sur Yon (widow of William de Mauleon Lord Talmond).
He was married to Marguerite de Lusignan, widow of Raymond VII Count of Toulouse.
Then he married his second wife, Isabella of Avaugour widow of Geoffroy de Chateaubriand VIII.
In 1469 king Louis XI of France awarded the viscountcy of Thouars to his daughter Anne when she was betrothed to Nicolas d'Anjou.
However, Nicholas handed the title back to the king on becoming Duke of Lorraine in 1472 (dying a year later, aged 25).
