House of Harcourt - The First Lords of Harcourt

The First Lords of Harcourt

The first seigneurs of Harcourt from the early 11th to 13th centuries:

• Bernard the Dane, companion of Rollo, governor and regent of the duchy of Normandy until the death of William I, Duke of Normandy (942)
• Torf, baron of Tourville, son of Bernard le Danois and of Sprote, princess of Bourgogne.
• Turquetil (960 – 1020s), son of Torf and of Ertemberge of Briquebec. William the Conqueror's governor during his minority.
• Anquetil of Harcourt, son of Turquetil and of Anceline of Montfort, was the first seigneur of Harcourt known under this title. In 1066, he accompanied William the Conqueror on his conquest of England, obtaining lands in England. His possessions stretched along both sides of the English Channel. He married Ève of Boissey.
• Errand of Harcourt, seigneur of Harcourt, participated in the conquest of England on the side of William the Conqueror
• Robert Ier of Harcourt, called le Fort (the Strong), brother of Errand, whom he succeeded. He too took part in the conquest of England, but returned to Normandy. He built the first château d'Harcourt, and married Colette of Argouges.
• Guillaume of Harcourt, son of Robert I, he backed Henry I of England in his wars in Normandy. He married Hue of Amboise.
• Robert II of Harcourt, called le Vaillant (the Valiant) or le Fort, son of Guillaume. He accompanied his suzerain Richard I of England on the Third Crusade and was designated by John of England as his surety and hostage in 1200 in the peace concluded with Philip II Augustus. He also became seigneur of Elbeuf by his 1179 marriage to Jeanne of Meulan.
• Richard of Harcourt, baron of Harcourt, son of Robert II, in 1213 he married Jeanne de la Roche-Tesson, heiress of the vicomté of Saint-Sauveur
• Jean I (born c.1200), called le Pruof homme, baron of Harcourt, vicomte of Saint-Sauveur. Around 1240 he married Alix of Beaumont (died 1275)