When the Viking chieftain
Rollo obtained the territories via the
Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte which would later make up
Normandy, he distributed them as estates among his main supporters. Among these lands were the seigneurie of
Harcourt, near
Brionne, and the county of
Pont-Audemer, both of which Rollo granted to
Bernard the Dane, ancestor of the lords (seigneurs) of Harcourt. he first to use Harcourt as a name, however, was
Anquetil d'Harcourt at the start of the 11th century.
His only son, John VIII, was killed in battle in 1424. Upon the death of John VII in 1452, his inheritance was to be divided between his elder daughter,
Marie, wife of
Antoine, Count of Vaudémont, and his second daughter,
Jeanne, wife of
Jean III de Rieux. However, Marie and her son
John of Vaudémont were able to control the entire inheritance until 1454, when the de Rieux gained control of the County of
Aumale. However, litigation continued between the de Rieux and the Vaudémont-Lorraine through the late 15th century.
The de Rieux continued to maintain their claims on Harcourt. Jeanne (1399–1456), the daughter of John VII, had married
Jean III de Rieux (1377–1431) in 1414. She was succeeded by her son
François de Rieux (1418–1458), who married Jeanne de Rohan in 1442 and was succeeded by his son
Jean IV de Rieux. He reached a settlement with the Duke of Lorraine in 1495, trading Aumale for Harcourt, and resumed the title.
married Suzanne de Bourbon-Montpensier (died 1570), daughter of Louis de Bourbon, Prince de La Roche-sur-Yon and
Louise de Montpensier
1532–1557 :
Henri de Rieux (died 1557), son of Claude, died without issue
Upon the death of Henri, the county of Harcourt passed to his sister Louise, who had married
René, Marquis of Elbeuf, head of a cadet branch of the House of Lorraine.
"Harcourt" has been given as a title to descendants of cadet branches of the family of Harcourt, without a territorial connection to the medieval county. Both branches descend from
Philippe d'Harcourt (1353–1403), Lord of
Bonnétable, son of
John V of Harcourt.
Dukes of Harcourt
The title of duc d'Harcourt was granted in 1700 by
Louis XIV to
Henry d'Harcourt (1654–1718),
marshal of France, of the branch of Beuvron, upon the erection of the marquisate de La Mothe and de
Thury to a duchy, with the name of Harcourt. The title was made a peerage in 1709, by
letters patent.
1700–1718 :
Henry d'Harcourt (1654–1718), duc d'Harcourt, marshal of France
married Marie Anne Claude de Brulart de Genlis (1669–1750) in 1687
1700–1750 :
François (1689–1750), duc d'Harcourt, marshal of France, son of Henry
married Marguerite Sophie Louise de Neufville (1699–1716) in 1716, then in 1717 Marie Madeleine Le Tellier (1697–1735)
1750–1783 :
Anne Pierre d'Harcourt (1701–1783), duc d'Harcourt, marshal of France, brother of François
married Eulalie de Beaupoil de Sainte-Aulaire (1715–1738) in 1725