Yolanda of Lusignan

Yolanda of Lusignan
suo jure Countess of La Marche suo jure Dame of Lusignan, of Couhe, and de Peyrat suo jure Heiress of Fougères Dame de Pons Dame de Mathe
Born	24 March 1257 Angoulême, France
Died	30 September 1314
Noble family	Lusignan
Spouse(s)	Elie Rudel, Seigneur de Pons Robert, Seigneur de Mathe
Issue	Renaud IV de Pons Yolande de Pons
Father	Hugh XII of Lusignan, Count of La Marche, Count of Angoulême
Mother	Jeanne de Fougères, Dame de Fougères

Yolanda of Lusignan or Yolande I & I de Lusignan, Countess of La Marche (24 March 1257 – 30 September 1314) was a French noblewoman and peeress. In 1308, she succeeded her brother Guy I as suo jure Dame of Lusignan, of Couhe and of Peyrat, and suo jure Countess of La Marche, but not as Countess of Angoulême since after her brother's death the county was sold by her sisters, Joan and Isabelle, to King Philip IV and annexed to the French Crown. Yolanda was also the heiress of Fougères, which she succeeded to upon her mother's death sometime after 1273.

Lineage and family

Yolanda was born in Angoulême, France on 24 March 1257. She was the eldest child of Hugh XII of Lusignan, Seigneur de Lusignan, Couhe, et de Peyrat, Count of La Marche, Count of Angoulême, (died in 1270 on Crusade) and Jeanne de Fougères, Dame de Fougères. She had two brothers and three sisters.

Yolanda succeeded as the heiress of Fougères upon her mother's death which occurred sometime after 1273. In 1308, Yolanda inherited her brother Guy's titles, becoming suo jure Countess of La Marche, Dame of Lusignan, of Couhe, and of Peyrat. His county of Angoulême did not pass to her as it had been sold by her sisters after Guy's death to King Philip IV, and annexed to the French crown.

Marriages and issue

In 1270, at the age of thirteen, Yolanda's father was killed while on Crusade with King Louis IX of France. On an unknown date before 1281, she married her first husband, Elie Rudel, Seigneur de Pons, Lord of Montignac and by him she had two children:

• Renaud IV de Pons and de Bergerac (born before 1282–1308), married Isabeau de Levis by whom he had issue
• Yolande de Pons (born before 1290–?), married Foulques III, Baron de Matha by whom she had issue.

Yolanda married secondly Robert, Seigneur de Mathe.

Death

Following her death on 30 September 1314, the county of La Marche was annexed by King Philip IV of France and given as an appanage to Philip's son Charles IV of France.

Ancestry

Family of Yolanda of Lusignan

Hugh IX of Lusignan, Count of La Marche Hugh X of Lusignan, Count of La Marche, Count of Angoulême Mathilde Taillefer of Angoulême Hugh XI of Lusignan, Count of La Marche, Count of Angoulême Aymer Taillefer, Count of Angoulême Isabella of Angoulême Alice of Courtenay Hugh XII of Lusignan, Count of La Marche, Count of Angoulême Robert II of Dreux, Count of Dreux Peter I, Duke of Brittany Yolande de Coucy Yolande de Dreux, Countess of Penthièvre and of Porhoet Guy of Thouars Alix of Thouars, Duchess of Brittany Constance, Duchess of Brittany Yolanda of Lusignan Guillaume II de Fougères Geoffrey, Seigneur de Fougères Agathe Du Hommet Raoul III, Sire de Fougères Eudes III, Count of Porhoet Mathilde de Porhoet Marguerite N. Jeanne de Fougères Maurice II, Sire de Craon Amaury I, Sire de Craon Isabelle de Meulan Isabelle de Craon Guillaume des Roches, Seneschal of Anjou Jeanne des Roches Marguerite de Sablé

Sources

1. Les Sires de Pons et leurs Alliances (dont la maison de Rabaine).
2. Medieval Lands "Angoulême".