Humbert III, seigneur de Thoire et Villars

-http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/burgkbresse.htm#HumbertIIIThoiredie...

1. HUMBERT [III] ([after 1235]-14 May 1301, bur Saint-Claude). The Chronicle of Chassagne abbey records that [his paternal grandmother] “Agnes de Villari, Stephani de Thoire et de Villars militis mater” donated “decimam apud Marlieu” to Chassagne, with the consent of “Humberti de Villars filii Stephani predicti”, and in 1242 donated “mansum et molendinum de Felicieu Liberum et mansum de Chastellard”[477]. The following document shows that Humbert [III] was still a minor at the time: “Guichard sire de Beaujeu” and “Béatrix dame de Thoire et de Villars...représentant son mari et son fils mineur” agreed the fiefs held by the latter from the former by charter dated Mar 1253 (O.S.)[478]. Seigneur de Thoire et Villars. The Chronicle of Chassagne abbey records that “Humbertus de Thoire et de Villars” granted duty exemptions to “homines abbatiæ” for using “terra sua de Villars” 3 Jan 1260[479]. “Jehans cuens de Borgoigne et sires de Salins” notified “sa...nyepce Biétrix dame de Vilars et à Humbert son filz” that, after his death, they would owe homage to “Hugon conte palatin de Borgoigne nostre ainsnez filz” by charter dated Mar 1260[480]. The Chronicle of Chassagne abbey records that the abbey settled disputes with “Humberto de Thoire et Humberto filio eius, comite Gebennensi” concerning “justitia de Chassagnia et pro pedagio portus de Loya” in 1270[481]. "Humbertus dominus de Thoire et de Villars" reached agreement with the priory of Nantua, with the consent of "Henricus de Villars canonicus Lugdunensis et Beatrix domina de Thoire mater dictorum Humberti et Henrici", by charter dated 22 Aug 1270[482]. “Humbert sire de Villars et de Thoire chevalier” acknowledged holding “le bourg de Villars, le château de Loyes...le château de Montieux...et le château de Montillier” in fief from “Isabelle comtesse de Forez, dame de Beaujeu” by charter dated Aug 1271[483]. A charter dated 1271 records an arbitral sentence in a dispute between “l’abbé de l’Ile-Barbe” and “Humbert sire de Thoire et de Villars” concerning “la garde du château de Ligneu”[484]. Humbert was guarantor under the 1274 marriage contract of Thomas [III] de Savoie Conte del Piemonte and Guye de Bourgogne [Comt%C3%A9][485]. Guichenon notes charters dated 1275, 1279, 1281, 1287, 1289, 1291, 1298, and 1299 which name Humbert[486]. Guichenon records his death 14 May 1301 and burial “dans l’église de S. Claude en Comté”, whose necrology records the death “XIII Kal Mai” of “Humbertus miles dominus de Thoiry et de Villariis”[487]. It should be noted that Guichenon splits Humbert [III] into two persons, father and son, the earlier marrying the sister of the Duke of Burgundy and dying “sur la fin de l’année 1279” (no source cited), the latter dying 14 May 1301 as noted above[488]. Given the estimated birth-dates of Humbert [III] and Humbert [IV], an intervening generation between the two is unlikely.

[m [BEATRIX] de Bourgogne, daughter of EUDES III Duke of Burgundy [Capet] & his second wife Alix de Vergy ([1216/18] or before-). It is unlikely that this person existed. Guichenon identifies the wife of Humbert [III] as “Béatrix de Bourgogne Dame de Montreal, d’Arbent et de Martigna en Bugey...fille d’Eudes III...et d’Alix de Vergy”, citing “deux sçavans historiens de nostre temps, mais ils la nomment mal, Alix de Bourgogne”[489]. Guichenon does not identify the “deux...historiens”, but Duchesne names “Alix de Bourgogne” (whom he associates with an epitaph at Cîteaux recording her death in 1266) as a daughter of Duke Eudes III (no marriage specified)[490], as does Père Anselme who says she died “fille en 1266” citing the same Cîteaux epitaph[491]. The chronology suggests that Guichenon is unlikely to be correct. Béatrix’s supposed father died in 1218, placing her birth in [1216/18] at the latest, while her supposed husband was still a minor in 1254: such an age difference between the wife and her husband would have been unusual. The family origin of a wife of Humbert is confirmed by the book of fees of the church of Lyon which records “domino de Villars et de Thoiré” holding “tota terra Montisregalis quæ est ultra Sagonam...usque ad Gebennas” which he received “in dotem suæ uxoris sororis ducis Burgundiæ”[492], but as suggested below this may refer to Humbert’s wife Marguerite.]

m firstly MARGUERITE, daughter of ---. Guichenon names “Marguerite” as wife of Humbert Seigneur de Villars and mother of his son Humbert, who is named below, but cites no source[493]. The primary source which confirms her name has not been identified. As noted above, the book of fees of the church of Lyon records “domino de Villars et de Thoiré” holding “tota terra Montisregalis quæ est ultra Sagonam...usque ad Gebennas” which he received “in dotem suæ uxoris sororis ducis Burgundiæ” without naming the wife in question[494]. His wife was therefore presumably Dame de Montréal, d’Arbent et de Martignat, as indicated in Europäische Stammtafeln[495]. Given that Humbert’s marriage to Béatrix of Burgundy is unlikely to be correct as discussed above, maybe this entry refers to Humbert’s wife Marguerite: if that is correct, the chronology suggests that she was [Marguerite], daughter of [Hugues IV Duke of Burgundy & his first wife Yolande de Dreux]. One difficulty is that Duke Robert is already recorded with two sisters named Marguerite. The alternative possibilities are therefore that Humbert’s wife was not called Marguerite or that Duke Robert had three sisters with that name. The properties granted by Humbert [III] when he emancipated his son in Jul 1291 included “...Montreal...Arbent”, suggesting inheritance from the “sororis ducis Burgundiæ” named in the Lyon book of fees[496], suggesting that he inherited them from his mother.

m secondly (after 1276) as her second husband, JORDANE de Grandson, widow of AIMON [III] de la Tour, daughter of PIERRE [I] Seigneur de Grandson & his wife Agnes de Neuchâtel (-10 Dec ---). Her parentage and marriage are shown in Europäische Stammtafeln[497], but the primary source which confirms this information has not been identified. The necrology of Bonmont records the death 10 Dec of “Jordana domina de Villar” and her donation[498].