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List of French dukedoms

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Heraldic depiction of a duke's coronet

This is a list of French dukedoms from the beginning of feudalism in the 9th century to the end of the French monarchy in the 19th century.

History

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The Duchies of France were founded in the 9th century by the Carolingian Kings and the princely members of their family who shared the Empire of Charlemagne which they had inherited by reorganizing all the Carolingian kingdoms of France into feudal duchies and counties vassals of the King of France.

Administrative districts

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In the continuity of the administration of the Roman Empire, the various Germanic kingdoms set up districts of command entrusted to representatives of the aristocracy, appointed and dismissed by the sovereign. These dukes often had authority over several counties. The commands of the border regions took the name of "march" (French: marche) or "marquisate" (French: marquisat). The precise geography of these districts is difficult to establish, especially since their contours were very fluctuating. Many of these commands, having become hereditary, evolved into territorial principalities of the feudal type.

Name List of Dukes Creation Date History of the title
Duchy of Bavaria List 555 Annexed by Charlemagne
Duchy of Dentelin 6th century Duchy of the Merovingian era which extended over Upper Normandy, Picardy and the south-western parts of Belgium (Flanders).
Duchy of Aquitaine then of Guyenne List 632 Feudal duchy in 632 (Duchy-peerage in 1200) for the Merovingian dynasty; passed to the House of Boggide in 670. Extinguished in 768; reestablished in 845 for the House of Poitiers, passed in 893 to the House of Wilhelmide, in 918 to the House of Bellonide of Carcassonne, returned in 928 to the House of Poitou, passed in 932 to the House of Raymondine of Toulouse, returned in 950 to the House of Poitiers, passed in 1168 to the House of Plantagenet, in 1196 to the House of Guelph, returned in 1199 to the House of Plantagenets. Title extinct in 1204. Restored in 1259 for the House of Plantagenet, passed in 1399 to the House of Lancaster, in 1400 to the House of Valois, returned in 1415 to the House of Lancaster then in 1469 to the House of Valois. Title extinct in 1472. This title was reestablished in 1753 for a son of France but died out with his death in 1754. Raised as a courtesy title since 1972 by the elder branch of the Bourbons, held by Emmanuelle de Bourbon (b. 1960) since 1995.
Duchy of Alsace List 662 Feudal duchy in 662 for the House of Etichonids, passed in 867 to the House of Carolingian, returned in 870 to the Etichonids, passed in 917 to the House of Wettin, in 926 to the House of Wetterau, in 948 to the House of Liudolfings, returned in 954 to the Wettins then in 973 to the Liudolfings and in 982 to Wetterau, passed in 1038 to the House of Salian, in 1048 to the House of Schweinfurt, in 1057 to the House of Rheinfelden then in 1080 to the House of Hohenstaufen. Title extinguished in 1268. The Duchy of Alsace was a German and not a French fief.
Duchy of Gascony List 768 Feudal duchy in 768 for the House of Boggide, passed in 864 to the House of Wilhelmide, in 872 to the House of Pérez de Mittara, in 1032 to the House of Taillefer, in 1036 to the House of Poitiers, then in 1040 to the House of Armagnac. Title extinguished in 1042.
Duchy then County of Toulouse List 778 Feudal duchy in 788 for the House of Wilhelmine. Title extinguished in 850, after which Toulouse became a County.
Duchy then County of Ponthieu List 793 Feudal duchy in 793 for the House of Ponthieu. Title extinguished in 844, after which Ponthieu became a County.
Duchy of Septimania 817 Feudal duchy in 817 for the House of Wilhelmine. Title extinguished in 844.
Duke of Brittany List 824 / 1547 Feudal county created in 824 for Nominoé, who titled himself King of Brittany in 840. Reestablished in 939 by the House of Poher, passed in 987 to the House of Rennes, in 1066 to the House of Cornouaille, in 1148 to the House of Perhoët, returned in 1156 to the Rennes, passed in 1196 to the House of Plantagenet, in 1203 to the House of Thouars, in 1221 to the House of Dreux, with Guy Mauclerc who officially took the title of Duke, disputed from 1341 to 1365, passed into the House of Montfort in 1365. Duchy-peerage in 1297, passed in 1514 to the House of Valois. Title extinguished in 1547 with the reunion to the crown of France. Never given as an appanage. Reestablished in 1707 for a son of France, extinguished with his accession to the Louis, Dauphin of France, in 1712. Raised as a courtesy title by the elder branch of the Bourbons from 1950 to 1975.
Duchy of Burgundy List 877 Feudal duchy created in 877 (duchy-peerage in 1200) for the House of Nivelonne, passed in 943 to the House of Robertians, which later became Capetian, and in 1364 to the House of Valois. Title extinguished in 1477. Reestablished in 1682 for the House of Bourbon and two sons of France. Title extinguished in 1761. There was also a County of Burgundy, which became Franche-Comté. Raised as a courtesy title by the elder branch of the Bourbons since 2010.
Duchy of the Franks List 687 The title of "Duke of the Franks" is more of an appellation, at least for the first holders. Feudal duchy in 886 for the House of Robertians. Title extinguished in 987.
Duchy of Normandy List 911 Feudal duchy in 911 (duchy-peerage in 1200) for the House of Normandy, passed in 1135 to the House of Blois then in 1144 to the House of Plantagenet. Title extinguished in France in 1204 (the King of England retains the Channel Islands of which he is still the Duke in the 21st century). Re-established in 1331 for the House of Valois, passed in 1418 to the House of Lancaster then returned in 1465 to the House of Valois. Title extinguished in 1469. Re-established in 1785 for a son of France, but which became extinct when the holder, Louis Charles, acceded to the Dauphin of France in 1789.
Duchy of Lorraine Liust 911 Feudal duchy in 911 for the House of Ydulfing, passed in 940 to the House of Liudolfinger, returned in 941 to Ydulfing, passed in 944 to the House of Speyer, returned in 953 to Liudolfinger, passed in 959 to the House of Wigéricide, in 1046 to the House of Lorraine then in 1431 to the House of Valois, returned in 1473 to Lorraine then passed in 1738 to Stanisław Leszczyński, former King of Poland. Title extinguished in 1766 and the duchy then became a province of France. Nevertheless, the title was raised by the dynastic head of the House of Lorraine, which became the Austro-Hungarian Imperial and Royal House of Habsburg-Lorraine, a direct and legitimate descendant of the reigning duke in 1737 and is sometimes still borne today. The Duchy of Lorraine was a fiefdom outside France.
County then Duchy of Bar (or Barrois) Liust 951 Feudal duchy in 951 for the Duke of Upper Lorraine. Title extinguished in 1034. Reestablished in 1355 for the House of Mousson, passed in 1419 to the House of Valois, in 1480 to the House of Lorraine then in 1738 to Stanisław Leszczyński, former King of Poland. Title extinguished in 1766, Barrois followed the fate of Lorraine from then on. This title, however, has since followed the same destiny as that of Lorraine, to which it remains traditionally attached and is sometimes borne by the dynastic head of the Imperial and Royal House of Habsburg-Lorraine.
Duchy of Narbonne List 12th Century Feudal duchy from the beginning of the 12th century for the Counts of Toulouse. Title extinguished in 1249.
Duchy of Langres List 1200 Episcopal duchy-peerage in 1200 for the Bishops of Langres. Title extinguished in 1801 with the 40th duke-bishop César-Guillaume de La Luzerne (1738-1821).
Duchy of Laon List 1200 Episcopal duchy-peerage in 1200 for the Bishops of Laon. Title extinguished in 1801 with the 40th duke-bishop Louis-Maxime de Sabran (1739-1811).
Duchy of Reims List 1200 Archiepiscopal duchy-peerage in 1200 for the Archbishops of Reims. Title extinguished in 1801 with the 45th duke-archbishop Alexandre-Angélique de Talleyrand-Périgord (1736-1821).

Feudal titles

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France in 1477

In the late Middle Ages and the modern era, the duchy and peerage were attributed to smaller feudal groups, mainly former counties. The holders were most often princes of the royal family, under the rule of appanage which required that the extinction of the male descendants of the first holder led to the attachment to the royal domain of the duchy.

Name List of Dukes Creation Date History of the title
Duchy of Auvergne List 1226–1271
1360–1521
1528–1532
1569–1574
1773–1778
1st creation: for Alphonse of France, Count of Poitiers.
2nd creation: for John of France, passed in 1434 to the Dukes of Bourbon, confiscated in 1521 by the king.
3rd creation: for Louise of Savoy, but returned to the crown on her death.
4th creation: for Duke of Anjou in 1569. When he became King in 1574, the duchy was reunited with the crown.
5th creation: for Count of Artois, as 13th Duke, which he exchanged with the Crown in 1778.
Duchy of Bourbon List 1327 Duchy-peerage created in 1327 for Louis I of Bourbon; passed to Louise of Savoy in 1527; then to the House of Valois in 1544. Reestablished in 1661 for the House of Bourbon-Condé. Title extinguished in 1830 with Louis-Henri-Joseph of Bourbon-Condé, 18th Duke. Raised as a courtesy title from 1950 to 1989 by the senior branch of the Bourbons.
Duchy of Orléans List 1344 Duchy-peerage created in 1344 for Philip of France. Title extinguished with him and reestablished in 1392, passed in 1626 to the House of Bourbon, then in 1661 to the House of Orléans. Title extinguished in 1842 with Ferdinand-Philippe d'Orléans. Raised as a courtesy title by some of his descendants, including Jacques d'Orléans (b. 1941) since 1969.
Duchy of Anjou List 1356 Created in 1356 for Louis of France, the duchy returned to the Crown in 1481. It was awarded in 1515 to Louise of Savoy, then returned to the crown upon her death in 1532. It was awarded as an appanage to the Duke of Anjou in 1566. When he became King Henry III in 1574, the duchy was once again reunited with the crown. In 1576 it became the new appanage of Francis, the King's brother, but when the latter died in 1584, it returned to the Crown. It was no longer awarded as an appanage until 1771, when it returned to the Count of Provence, who held the title as 16th Duke at the time of the abolition of feudal districts. Taken up as a courtesy title by Jacques de Bourbon; since 1946 held by the new senior branch of the Bourbons, borne by Louis Alphonse de Bourbon (b. 1974) since 1989.
Duchy of Berry List 1360 Duchy-peerage created in 1360 for John of France. Title extinguished in 1584; reestablished in 1686 for the House of Bourbon. Title extinguished in 1820 with the Charles Ferdinand d'Artois, 14th Duke. Raised as a courtesy title by the elder branch of the Bourbons since 2010.
Duchy of Touraine List 1360 Duchy-peerage created in 1360 for Philip of France, passed in 1423 to the House of Douglas, returned in 1424 to the House of Valois. Title extinguished in 1480; reestablished in 1527 for Louise of Savoy then returned in 1576 to the House of Valois. Title extinguished in 1584 with the Francis, 10th Duke. Raised as a courtesy title from 1981 to 1984 by the senior branch of the Bourbons.
Duchy of Château-Thierry List 1400–1407
1556–1802
1st creation: Duchy-peerage created in 1400 for Louis of France
2nd creation: for the House of Bourbon. The title passed to the House of Valois in 1566; then to the House of Orléans-Dunois in 1627, and then to the House of La Tour d'Auvergne de Bouillon in 1651. Title extinguished in 1802 with Jacques Léopold de La Tour d'Auvergne, 11th Duke.
Duchy of Nemours List 1404 Duchy-peerage created in 1404 for King Charles III of Navarre (1361-1425), passed to: the House of Bourbon in 1425, then to the House of Armagnac in 1462, then to the House of Grailly-Foix in 1507, then to the House of Medici in 1514, then to the House of Savoy in 1524, then to the House of Orléans in 1672. Currently held by Jean d'Orléans, 31st Duke (b. 1965) since 2019.
Duchy of Valois List 1406 Duchy-peerage created in 1406 for Louis of France, passed to the House of Bourbon in 1630; then to the House of Orléans in 1661. Traditionally held by the eldest son of the Duke of Chartres, but current holder is Jean d'Orléans, 18th Duke (1965) since 2019.
Duchy of Alençon List 1415–1970 Duchy-peerage created in 1415 for Jean I of Alençon; passed to the House of Bourbon in 1584; then to the House of Orléans in 1844. Title extinguished in 1910 with Ferdinand of Orléans. Taken up as a courtesy title by his son, Prince Emmanuel, from 1910 to 1931. Extinguished in 1970 with the death of his son, Prince Charles Philippe.

Modern Duchies

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The duchies of the Ancien régime were more complex than those of the medieval period. Essentially, the new duchies were not independent principalities and the ducal status was not definitively attached to the fiefs erected into duchies. The letters patent of creation contain clauses of succession which regulate the future of the duchies. In most cases, the rule chosen is that of succession by males: upon the extinction of the male descendants of the beneficiary of the erection into a duchy, the duchy reverts to its "previous state" lordship, county or other. Further distinction was made between dukes and peers, who sat in parliament; hereditary dukes, and patent dukes, whose title was not transmissible. In 1566, Charles IX issued an order that set forth that hereditary duchies would be reversible to the Crown in the absence of males heirs.

Some duchies have changed their name during their history: the Duchy of Thouars, for example, is often called the Duchy of Trémoïlle. Furthermore, it was not uncommon for certain fiefs to be erected into duchies under another name. Thus, the Duchy of Montmorency was re-created in 1633 under the name of Enghien, which remained attached to a lake in the Montmorency region, a lake which gave its name to the town of Enghien-les-Bains.

The title of duke, abolished during the French Revolution, was reestablished in 1806. Several dukes were created under the Empire and under the governments that followed. Under the Ancien régime, from the 16th century onwards, the title of Monsieur le Duc was used to designate the eldest son of the Prince of Condé. Duke Henri de Bourbon, who was a minister in 1723, is particularly well known in history under this name.

Duchies created by French sovereigns

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Of the 218 titles created (141 under the Ancien régime, 33 under the First Empire, 33 under the Restoration, 7 under the July Monarchy, 4 under the Second Empire), only about forty remain today, the others becoming extinct.

Title Date of Creation Sovereign Family Current Status Notes
Duke of Valentinois 1498 Louis XII Borgia 1507
Duke of Longueville 1505 Louis XII Orléans-Longueville 1672
Duke of Vendôme 1514 Louis XII Bourbon-Vendôme 1712
Duke of Angoulême 1515 Francis I Valois-Angoulême 1696
Duke of Roannais 1519 Francis I Gouffier 1725
Duke of Dunois 1525 Francis I Orléans-Longueville 1536
Duke of Chartres 1528 Francis I Valois-Orléans 1910
Duke of Guise 1528 Francis I Lorraine-Guise 1830
Duke of Estouteville 1534 Francis I Orléans-Longueville 1707
Duke of Étampes 1537 Francis I Pisseleu/Brosse 1715
Duke of Montpensier 1539 Francis I Bourbon 1890
Duke of Nevers 1539 Francis I Albret 1798 Sold 1659
Duke of Beaumont 1543 Francis I Alençon, Bourbon-Vendôme 1589 Merged in the Crown
Duke of Chevreuse 1546 Francis I Lorraine Extant
Duke of Aumale 1547 Francis I Lorraine-Guise 1897
Duke of Valentinois 1548 Henry II Poitiers 1566
Duke of Albret 1550 Henry II Albret, Bourbon-Vendôme 1802 Merged in the Crown
Duke of Beaupréau 1562 Charles IX Scépeaux 1620
Duke of Thouars 1563 Charles IX La Trémoïlle 1933
Duke of Uzès 1565 Charles IX Crussol Extant
Duke of Mayenne 1573 Charles IX Lorraine-Guise, Gonzaga 1738 Sold 1654
Duke of Épernon 1581 Henry III Nogaret de La Valette 1661
Duke of Joyeuse 1581 Henry III Joyeuse, Lorraine-Guise 1724
Duke of Rethel 1581 Henry III Gonzaga 1826 Sold 1658
Duke of Hallwin 1588 Henry III Hallwin 1656
Duke of Montbazon 1588 Henry III Rohan Extant
Duke of Beaufort 1597 Henry IV Estrées, Bourbon-Vendôme 1689
Duke of Aiguillon 1599 Henry IV Lorraine-Mayenne 1632
Duke of Rohan 1603 Henry IV Rohan Extant
Duke of Sully 1606 Henry IV Béthune 1807
Duke of Fronsac 1608 Henry IV Orléans-Longueville 1631
Duke of Brissac 1611 Louis XIII Cossé Extant
Duke of Grancey 1611 Louis XIII Bonne 1613
Duke of Lesdiguières 1611 Louis XIII Bonne, Créquy 1711
Duke of Bellegarde 1619 Louis XIII Saint-Lary 1687
Duke of Luynes 1619 Louis XIII Albert Extant
Duke of Chaulnes 1621 Louis XIII Albert d'Ailly Extant
Duc de La Rochefoucauld 1622 Louis XIII La Rochefoucauld Extant
Duke of La Valette 1622 Louis XIII Nogaret de La Valette 1661
Duke of Richelieu 1629 Louis XIII Plessis, Vignerot, La Chapelle-Jumilhac 1952
Duke of Fronsac 1634 Louis XIII Plessis, Maillé-Brézé, Bourbon-Condé, Vignerot 1822
Duke of Puylaurens 1634 Louis XIII L'Age 1635
Duke of Saint-Simon 1635 Louis XIII Rouvroy 1755
Duke of La Force 1637 Louis XIII Caumont Extant
Duke of Aiguillon 1638 Louis XIII Vignerot du Plessis 1800
Duke of Valentinois 1642 Louis XIII Grimaldi 1949
Duke of Coligny 1643 Louis XIII Coligny 1646
Duke of Gramont 1643 Louis XIV Gramont Extant
Duke of Vitry 1643 Louis XIV L'Hospital 1679
Duke of Châtillon 1646 Louis XIV Coligny 1861
Duke of Coligny 1648 Louis XIV Coligny 1657
Duke of Estrées 1648 Louis XIV Estrée 1771
Duke of Tresmes 1648 Louis XIV Potier 1670 Title changed to Duke of Gesvres
Duke of Arpajon 1650 Louis XIV Arpajon 1679
Duke of Lavedan 1650 Louis XIV Montaut 1660
Duke of Mortemart 1650 Louis XIV Rochechouart de Mortemart Extant
Duke of Noirmoutier 1650 Louis XIV La Trémoïlle 1733
Duke of Villemor 1650 Louis XIV L'Hospital 1663
Duke of La Vieuville 1651 Louis XIV La Vieuville 1689
Duke of Rosnay 1651 Louis XIV L'Hospital 1660
Duke of Villeroy 1651 Louis XIV Neufville 1794
Duke of Créquy 1652 Louis XIV Blanchefort-Créquy 1687 Also known as the Duke of Poix
Duke of Orval 1652 Louis XIV Béthune 1678
Duke of Roquelaure 1652 Louis XIV Roquelaure 1738
Duke of Verneuil 1652 Louis XIV Bourbon-Verneuil 1682
Duke of Fayel 1652 Louis XIV La Mothe-Houdancourt 1657
Duke of La Guiche 1652 Louis XIV Valois-Angoulême 1654
Duke of Coulommiers 1663 Louis XIV Orléans-Longueville 1663
Duke of Montaut 1660 Louis XIV Montaut 1684
Duke of Randan 1661 Louis XIV La Rochefoucauld 1773
Duke of Carignan 1662 Louis XIV Savoy 1734
Duke of Coislin 1663 Louis XIV Cambout 1732
Duke of La Meilleraye 1663 Louis XIV La Porte-Mazarin 1738
Duke of Noailles 1663 Louis XIV Noailles Extant
Duke of Saint-Aignan 1663 Louis XIV Beauvilliers 1828
Duke of Montausier 1664 Louis XIV Sainte Maure 1690
Duke of Aumont 1665 Louis XIV Aumont 1888
Duke of Choiseul 1665 Louis XIV Choiseul 1705
Duke of La Ferté Senneterre 1665 Louis XIV Senneterre 1703
Duke of La Vallière 1667 Louis XIV La Baume Le Blanc 1780
Duke of Duras 1668 Louis XIV Durfort, Chastellux 1838 title changed to Duke of Rauzan
Duke of Vivonne 1668 Louis XIV Rochechouart 1688
Duke of Gesvres 1670 Louis XIV Potier 1794
Duke of Charost 1672 Louis XIV Béthune 1800
Duke of Maine 1673 Louis XIV Bourbon 1736
Duke of Saint-Cloud 1674 Louis XIV - 1801 held by the Archbishop of Paris
Duke of Lude 1675 Louis XIV Daillon 1685
Duke of Fontanges 1680 Louis XIV Scoraille 1681
Duke of Aubigny 1684 Louis XIV Gordon-Lennox Extant
Duke of Humières 1690 Louis XIV Crevant 1751
Duke of Quintin 1691 Louis XIV Durfort 1706 title changed to Duke of Lorges
Duke of Lauzun 1692 Louis XIV Caumont 1723
Duke of Boufflers 1695 Louis XIV Boufflers 1751
Duke of Harcourt 1700 Louis XIV Harcourt Extant
Duke of Châteauvillain 1703 Louis XIV Bourbon-Penthièvre 1821
Duke of Villars 1705 Louis XIV Villars 1770
Duke of Lorges 1706 Louis XIV Durfort Extant
Duke of Fitz-James 1710 Louis XIV Fitz-James 1967
Duke of Antin 1711 Louis XIV Pardaillan 1757
Duke of Rambouillet 1711 Louis XIV Bourbon-Penthièvre 1783
Duke of Hostun 1712 Louis XIV Hostun 1755
Duke of Rohan-Rohan 1714 Louis XIV Rohan 1787
Duke of Lévis 1723 Louis XV Lévis 1734
Duke of Alincourt 1729 Louis XV Neufville 1732
Duke of Lauragais 1731 Louis XV Brancas 1852
Duke of Enville 1732 Louis XV La Rochefoucauld 1746
Duke of Boutteville 1736 Louis XIV Montmorency 1785
Duke of Châtillon 1736 Louis XV Châtillon 1762
Duke of Fleury 1736 Louis XV Rosset 1815
Duke of Ayen 1737 Louis XV Noailles Extant
Duke of Lesparre 1739 Louis XV Gramont Extant
Duke of Broglie 1742 Louis XV Broglie Extant
Duke of Gisors 1742 Louis XV Fouquet 1821
Duke of Coigny 1747 Louis XV Coigny 1865
Duke of Taillebourg 1749 Louis XV La Trémoïlle 1749
Duke of Mirepoix 1751 Louis XV Lévis 1757
Duke of Rochechouart 1753 Louis XV Rochechouart de Mortemart 1771
Duke of Choiseul-Stainville 1758 Louis XV Choiseul 1785
Duke of Gontaut 1758 Louis XV Gontaut-Biron 1798
Duke of Laval 1758 Louis XV Montmorency-Laval 1851
Duke of La Vauguyon 1758 Louis XV Quélen 1837
Duke of Villequier 1759 Louis XV Aumont 1888
Duke of Choiseul-Praslin 1762 Louis XV Choiseul Extant
Duke of Picquigny 1762 Louis XV Albert 1792
Duke of Amboise 1764 Louis XV Choiseul 1785
Duke of Beaumont 1765 Louis XV Montmorency-Luxembourg 1878
Duke of Liancourt 1765 Louis XV La Rochefoucauld Extant
Duke of Lauzun 1766 Louis XV Gontaut 1793
Duke of Saint Maigrin 1767 Louis XV Quélen 1828
Duke of La Vrillière 1770 Louis XV Phélypeaux 1777
Duke of La Tour d'Auvergne 1772 Louis XV La Tour d'Auvergne 1849
Duke of Croÿ-Wailly 1773 Louis XV Croÿ d'Havré 1839
Duke of Civrac 1774 Louis XVI Durfort de Civrac 1787
Duke of Chabot 1775 Louis XVI Rohan-Chabot 1807
Duke of Clermont-Tonnerre 1775 Louis XVI Clermont-Tonnerre Extant
Duke of Guînes 1776 Louis XVI Bonnières 1806
Duke of Brunoy 1777 Louis XVI Bourbon 1810
Duke of Louvois 1777 Louis XVI Bourbon 1800
Duke of Guiche 1780 Louis XVI Gramont 1836
Duke of Narbonne Lara 1780 Louis XVI Narbonne Lara 1834
Duke of Polignac 1780 Louis XVI Polignac Extant
Duke of Piennes 1781 Louis XVI Aumont 1799
Duke of Beuvron 1784 Louis XVI Harcourt 1797
Duke of Castries 1784 Louis XVI La Croix de Castries 1886
Duke of Cossé 1784 Louis XVI Cossé-Brissac 1813
Duke of Lévis 1784 Louis XVI Lévis 1863
Duke of Maillé 1784 Louis XVI Maillé de La Tour Landry Extant
Duke of Choiseul-Stainville 1786 Louis XVI Choiseul 1789
Duke of Tavannes 1786 Louis XVI Saulx-Tavannes 1845
Duke of Amboise 1787 Louis XVI Bourbon-Penthièvre 1821
Duke of Bauffremont 1787 Louis XVI Bauffremont Extant
Duke of Choiseul 1787 Louis XVI Choiseul 1838
Duke of Esclignac 1787 Louis XVI Preissac 1873
Duke of Avaray 1799 Louis XVI Bésiade 1811
Duke of Guastalla 1805 Napoleon Borghèse 1832
Duke of Dantzig 1807 Napoleon Lefebvre 1820
Duke of Rivoli 1807 Napoleon Masséna Extant
Duke of Abrantès 1808 Napoleon Junot 1982 extended 1869
Duke of Auerstaedt 1808 Napoleon Davout Extant extended 1864
Duke of Bellune 1808 Napoleon Perrin 1917
Duke of Cambacérès 1808 Napoleon Cambacérès 1881
Duke of Castiglione 1808 Napoleon Augereau 1816
Duke of Conegliano 1808 Napoleon Moncey 1901
Duke of Dalmatie 1808 Napoleon Soult 1857
Duke of Elchingen 1808 Napoleon Ney 1969
Duchess of Frioul 1813 Napoleon Duroc 1829
Duke of Montebello 1808 Napoleon Lannes Extant
Duke of Padoue 1808 Napoleon Arrighi de Casanova 1889
Duke of Parme 1808 Napoleon Cambacérès 1808
Duke of Plaisance 1808 Napoleon Lebrun 1926
Duke of Raguse 1808 Napoleon Marmont 1852
Duke of Rovigo 1808 Napoleon Savary 1872
Duke of Trévise 1808 Napoleon Mortier 1946
Duke of Valmy 1808 Napoleon Kellermann 1868
Duke of Vicence 1808 Napoleon Caulaincourt 1896
Duke of Bassano 1809 Napoleon Maret 1906
Duke of Cadore 1809 Napoleon Nompère de Champagny 1893
Duke of Feltre 1809 Napoleon Clarke 1852
Duke of Gaete 1809 Napoleon Gaudin 1841
Duke of Istrie 1809 Napoleon Bessières 1856
Duke of Massa 1809 Napoleon Régnier 1962
Duke of Otrante 1809 Napoleon Fouché Extant
Duke of Reggio 1810 Napoleon Oudinot 1956
Duke of Tarente 1809 Napoleon MacDonald 1912
Duke of Dalberg 1810 Napoleon Dalberg 1833
Duke of Navarre 1810 Napoleon Tascher 1858
Duke of Albufera 1813 Napoleon Suchet Extant
Duke of Decrès 1813 Napoleon Decrès 1820
Duchess of Saint-Leu 1814 Louis XVIII Beauharnais 1837
Duke of Civrac 1815 Louis XVIII Durfort 1837
Duke of La Châtre 1815 Louis XVIII La Châtre 1824
Duke of Ligny 1815 Napoleon Girard 1815
Duke of Cars 1816 Louis XVIII Pérusse Extant
Duke of Damas Crux 1816 Louis XVIII Damas Crux 1846
Duke of Narbonne Pelet 1816 Louis XVIII Narbonne Pelet 1901
Duke of Périgord 1816 Louis XVIII Talleyrand-Périgord 1883
Duke of Tourzel 1816 Louis XVIII Croÿ d'Havré 1844
Duke of Avaray 1817 Louis XVIII Bésiade 1941
Duke of Bausset 1817 Louis XVIII Bausset-Roquefort 1824
Duke of Bayane 1817 Louis XVIII Latier 1818
Duke of Crillon 1817 Louis XVIII Berton des Balbes 1870
Duke of Doudeauville 1817 Louis XVIII La Rochefoucauld Extant
Duke of La Luzerne 1817 Louis XVIII La Luzerne 1821
Duke of Mouchy 1817 Louis XVIII Noailles Extant
Duke of Poix 1817 Louis XVIII Noailles Extant
Duke of Sabran 1817 Louis XVIII Sabran Extant
Duke of Sérent 1817 Louis XVIII Sérent Extant
Duke of Talleyrand 1817 Louis XVIII Talleyrand-Périgord 1968
Duke of Wagram 1817 Louis XVIII Berthier 1918
Duke of Béthune-Hesdigneul 1817 Louis XVIII Béthune 1823
Duke of Fimarcon 1819 Louis XVIII Preissac 1853
Duke of Rauzan Duras 1819 Louis XVIII Chastellux Extant
Duke of Bordeaux 1820 Louis XVIII Artois 1883
Duke of Decazes 1820 Louis XVIII Decazes Extant
Duke of Blacas 1821 Louis XVIII Blacas d'Aulps Extant
Duke of Fezensac 1821 Louis XVIII Montesquiou 1913
Duke of La Farre 1822 Louis XVIII La Farre 1829
Duke of La Roche-Guyon 1822 Louis XVIII La Rochefoucauld Extant
Duke of Montmorency-Laval 1822 Louis XVIII Montmorency 1826
Duke of Rivière 1825 Charles X Rivière 1890
Duke of Gontaut 1826 Charles X Montaut 1862
Duke of Latil 1826 Charles X Latil 1839
Duke of Arenberg 1824 Charles X Arenberg Extant
Duke of Caderousse 1827 Charles X Ancezune 1865
Duke of Damas d'Antigny 1827 Charles X Damas d’Antigny 1829
Duke of Caraman 1828 Charles X Riquet Extant
Duke of Berghes 1829 Charles X Berghes Saint Winock 1907
Duke of Isoard 1829 Charles X Isoard 1839
Duke of Céreste 1830 Charles X Brancas Extant
Duke of Crussol 1830 Louis Philippe I Crussol 1837
Duke of Tascher de La Pagerie 1833 Louis Philippe I Tascher 1901
Duke of La Mothe-Houdancourt 1838 Louis Philippe I Walsh-Serrant 1842
Duke of Marmier 1839 Louis Philippe I Marmier 1947
Duke of Estissac 1840 Louis Philippe I La Rochefoucauld Extant
Duke of Isly 1844 Louis Philippe I Bugeaud 1868
Duke of Pasquier 1844 Louis Philippe I Pasquier 1862
Duke of Montmorot 1847 Louis Philippe I Muñoz 1863
Duke of Malakoff 1856 Napoleon III Pélissier 1864
Duke of Magenta 1859 Napoleon III MacMahon Extant
Duke of Gadagne 1861 Napoleon III Galléan 1925
Duke of Audiffret-Pasquier 1862 Napoleon III Audiffret-Pasquier Extant
Duke of Morny 1862 Napoleon III Morny 1943
Duke of Persigny 1863 Napoleon III Persigny 1885
Duke of Feltre 1864 Napoleon III Goyon 2021

Duchies created by French sovereigns on foreign territories

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Title Date of Creation Sovereign Place Family Current Status Notes
Duke of Candale 1621 Louis XIII England Nogaret de La Valette 1658 Created for Henri de Nogaret
Duke of Cardona 1642 Louis XIII Spain La Mothe Houdancourt 1652 Created for Marshal Philippe de La Mothe-Houdancourt

Duchies created by foreign sovereigns on territories annexed by France

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Title Date Sovereign State Family Current Status Notes
Duke of Aosta 1845 Charles Albert Savoy Savoy Extant Created for Amadeo I of Spain
Duke of Caderousse 1663 Pope Alexander VII Holy See Ancezune 1865
Duke of Caumont 1789 Pope Pius VI Holy See Seytres 1870
Duke of Chablais 1763 Charles Emmanuel III Savoy Savoy 1854 Created for Benoît-Maurice of Savoy
Duke of Crillon 1725 Pope Benedict XIII Holy See Crillon 1870 Created for François-Félix de Berton des Balbes
Duke of Doudeauville 1782 Charles III Spain Tellier Extant Created for François-César Le Tellier de Courtanvaux
Duke of Fortia 1775 Pope Pius VI Holy See Fortia 1826
Duke of Gadagne 1669 Pope Clement IX Holy See Galléan Extant Except for title of Napoleon III which is extinct.
Duke of Geneva 1564 Emmanuel Philibert Savoy Savoy 1724 Created for Jacques de Savoie, Duke of Nemours
Duke of Isnards 1737 Pope Clement XII Holy See Isnards 1776 Created for Esprit-Toussaint des Isnards
Duke of Montpezat 1758 Pope Benedict XIV Holy See Trémolet Extant

Duchies created by foreign sovereigns on French territories

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Title Date of Creation Sovereign Place Family Current Status Notes
Duke of Valentinois 1920 Albert I Monaco Grimaldi Extant Title granted in 1642 by Louis XIII to Honoré II

Other French dukedoms

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Title Date of Creation Family Current Status Notes
Duke of Châtellerault 1515 Bourbon-Montpensier Extant Duchy-peerage created erected in 1515 on Châtellerault (department of Vienne) for Prince François de Bourbon, passed in 1527 to Louise of Savoy, returned in 1530 to the House of Bourbon, passed in 1540 to the House of Valois then in 1548 to the House of Hamilton, returned in 1563 to the House of Valois then in 1582 to the House of Bourbon and passed in 1730 to the House of La Trémoïlle. Reestablished in 1864 for the House of Hamilton. Since 1979, the title has been held by the 18th Duke, James Hamilton, 5th Duke of Abercorn (b. 1934), in Great Britain
Duke of Montmorency 1551 Montmorency 1951 Duchy-peerage created in 1551 on Montmorency (department of Val-d'Oise) for the constable Anne de Montmorency, passed in 1633 to the House of Bourbon-Condé, returned in 1689 and re-created on Montmorency-Beaufort (department of Aube) in the House of Montmorency then passed in 1864 to the House of Talleyrand-Périgord. Title extinguished in 1951 with the 17th Duke, Louis de Talleyrand-Périgord.
Duke of Graville 1563 Bourbon-Vendôme 1590 Duchy-peerage created in 1563 on Graville (department of Seine-Maritime) for Cardinal Charles de Bourbon. Title extinguished in 1590 with the 1st Duke
Duke of Enghien 1566 Bourbon-Condé 1569 Duchy-peerage created in 1566 on Nogent-le-Rotrou (department of Eure-et-Loir) then transferred in 1689 to Montmorency (department of Val-d'Oise) for Louis I, Prince of Condé. Title extinguished in 1804 with the 7th Duke, Louis-Antoine-Henri of Bourbon-Condé.
Duke of Mercœur 1569 Lorraine 1712 Duchy-peerage created in 1569 on Mercœur (department of Puy-de-Dôme) for Nicolas de Lorraine, passed in 1649 to the House of Bourbon. Title extinguished in 1778 with the 9th Duke, Charles-Philippe of France, future King Charles X.
Duke of Penthièvre 1569 Luxembourg, Lorraine, Bourbon-Vendôme 1919 Duchy-peerage created in 1569 on Penthièvre (department of Côtes-d'Armor) for Sébastien de Luxembourg, passed in 1608 to the House of Lorraine, in 1669 to the House of Bourbon then, in 1814, to the House of Orléans. Title extinguished in 1919 with the 12th Duke, Pierre d'Orléans.
Duke of Évreux 1569 Royal family 1584 Duchy-peerage created in 1569 on Évreux (department of Eure) for Prince François de Valois, heir to the Throne of France. Title extinguished in 1584 with the 1st Duke.
Duchess of Montargis 1570 Royal Family, Este, Lorraine 1574 Duchy created in 1570 in the town of Montargis (department of Loiret) for Renée of France. Title extinguished in 1575 with the 1st Duchess.
Duke of Saint-Fargeau 1574 Bourbon-Montpensier 1693 Duchy-peerage created in 1575 on Saint-Fargeau (department of Yonne) for Renée d'Anjou-Mézières and her husband François de Bourbon. Title extinguished in 1681 with the 6th Duchess, Anne Marie Louise d'Orléans, known as the "La Grande Mademoiselle".
Duke of Piney-Luxembourg 1576 Luxembourg, Albert, Clermont, Montmorency-Luxembourg 1878 Duchy created in 1576 (duchy-peerage created in 1581) on Piney (department of Aube) for François de Luxembourg, passed in 1620 to the House of Albert, in 1661 to the House of Clermont-Tonnerre then, in 1661, to the House of Montmorency. Title extinguished in 1878 with the 12th Duke, Anne Edouard Louis Joseph de Montmorency-Luxembourg, also Duke of Beaumont, Prince of Luxembourg and Tingry.
Duke of Ventadour 1578 Lévis 1717 Duchy created in 1578 (duchy-peerage created in 1589 on Moustier-Ventadour (department of Corrèze) for Gilbert de Lévis. Title extinguished in 1717 with the 5th, Duke Louis Charles de Lévis.
Duke of Elbeuf 1581 Lorraine 1825 Duchy-peerage created in 1581 on Elbeuf (department of Seine-Maritime) for Charles de Lorraine-Guise. Title extinguished in 1825 with the 6th Duke Charles-Eugène de Lorraine-Guise, also Prince of Lambesc.
Duke of Retz 1581 Gondi 1634 Duchy-peerage created in 1581 on Retz (canton of Machecoul) for Marshal Albert de Gondi. Title extinguished in 1679 with the 4th, Duke Pierre de Gondi. From 1722 to 1734, the future 4th Duke of Villeroy sat as a Peer of France with the title of Duke of Retz.
Duke of Biron 1598 Gontaut 1602 Duchy-peerage created in 1598 on Biron (department of Dordogne) for Marshal Charles de Gontaut. Title extinguished in 1793 with the 8th Duke, Armand Louis de Gontaut, also Duke of Lauzun.
Duke of Damville 1610 Montmorency 1719 Duchy-peerage created in 1610 on Damville (department of Eure) for Charles de Montmorency, passed in 1648 to the House of Lévis then, in 1694, to the House of Bourbon. Title extinguished in 1719 with the 4th Duke, Louis Alexandre, Count of Toulouse.
Duke of Châteauroux 1616 Bourbon-Condé 1830
Duke of La Roche-Guyon 1621 Silly Extant Duchy-peerage created in 1621 on La Roche-Guyon (department of Val-d'Oise) for François de Silly, passed in 1643 to the House of Plessis-Liancourt then, in 1679, to the House of La Rochefoucauld. Since 2013, title held by Guy-Antoine de La Rochefoucauld, 6th Duke of La Roche-Guyon (b. 1958).
Duke of Villars-Brancas 1627 Brancas 1858 Duchy created in 1627 (duchy-peerage created in 1652) on Villars (department of Vaucluse) for Georges de Brancas.
Duke of Châtelet 1777 Châtelet 1793 Duchy created in 1777 for Louis Marie Florent du Châtelet. Title extinguished in 1793 with the 1st Duke.

See also

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References

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