Constable of France

The Constable of France (French connétable de France, from Latin comes stabulari for "count of the stables"), as the First Officer of the Crown, was one of the original five Great Officers of the Crown of France (along with seneschal, chamberlain, butler, and chancellor) and Commander in Chief of the army. He, theoretically, as Lieutenant-general of the King, outranked all the nobles and was second-in-command only to the King. He was also responsible for military justice and served to regulate the Chivalry. His jurisdiction was called the connestablie. The office was established by King Philip I in 1060 with Alberic becoming the first Constable. The office was abolished in 1627 in accordance with the Edict of January 1627 by Cardinal Richelieu, upon the death of Francois de Bonne, duc de Lesgiguières, after his conversion from Protestantism to Catholicism in 1622. The position was replaced by the Dean of Marshals (Doyen des maréchaux), in reality the most senior Marshal of France in a strictly ceremonial role. A few constables died in battle or were executed for treason, mostly for political intrigue. Note that there are gaps in the dates as the position was not always filled following the demise of its occupant.

Constables of France

Constables of the Kings of France, 1060–1626

• Alberic 1060–1065
• Balberic 1065–1069
• Gauthier 1069–1071
• Adelelme 1071–1075
• Adam 1075–1085
• Thibaut, Seigneur de Montmorency 1085–1107
• Gaston de Chanmont 1107–1108
• Hugues le Borgne de Chanmont 1108–1135
• Mathieu de Montmorency (d1160) 1138–?
• Simon de Neauphle-le-Chateau 1165–?
• Raoul de Clermont (died 1191) 1174–1194
• Dreux IV de Mello (1148–1218) 1194–1218
• Mathieu I LeGrand Baron de Montmorency (died 1231) 1218–1231
• Amaury VI de Montfort (died 1249) 1231–1240
• Humbert V de Beaujeu (died 1250) 1240–1248
• Gilles II de Trasignies (died 1275) 1248–1277
• Humbert II de Beaujeu (died 1285) 1277
• Raoul II de Clermin (died 1302) 1277–1307
• Gaucher de Chatillon (1249–1329) 1307–1329
• Raoul I of Brienne, Count of Eu and Guînes (d. 1344) 1329–1344
• Raoul II of Brienne, Count of Eu and Guînes (executed for treason 1350) 1344–1350, a POW of British since his capture in 1346, executed immediately on his return to Paris.
• Charles de Castille d'Espagne (died 1354) 1350–1354
• Jacques de Bourbon, Count of La Marche (1319–1362) 1354–1356
• Walter VI of Brienne (c. 1304–1356, killed in the Battle of Poitiers) 1356
• Robert Morean de Fiennes (1308–1372) 1356–1370
• Bertrand du Guesclin (1320–1380) 1370–1380
• Olivier IV de Clisson (1336–1407) 1380–1392
• Philip of Artois, Count of Eu (1358–1397) 1392–1397
• Louis de Sancerre (1341–1402) 1397–1402
• Charles d'Albret, Comte de Dreux (died 1415, killed in the Battle of Agincourt) served twice: 1402–1411 and 1413–1415
• Valeran III de Luxembourg (died 1413) 1411–1413
• Bernard VII, Count of Armagnac (died 1418) 1415–1418
• Charles le Hardi de Lorraine (1365–1431) 1418–1425
• Arthur III, Duke of Brittany (1393–1458) 1425–?
• Louis de Luxembourg (1418–1475) 1465–?
• Jean II le Bon de Bourbon (1426–1488) 1483
• Charles III, 8th duc de Bourbon (1490–1527, killed during the Sack of Rome). 1518–1523
• Anne de Montmorency, Grand Maitre de France (1492–1567, killed in the Battle of Saint-Denis) 1538–1567
• Henri I de Montmorency (1570–1621) 1593–1621
• Francois de Bonne, duc de Lesdiguieres, Marechal de France (1543–1636) 1622–1626 The last constable.

Henry VI of England, who claimed the throne of France, appointed John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury as Constable in 1445.

Related Topics:
Henry VI of England - John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury

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First Empire

Allegedly, the Bourbon family, through the Comte d'Artois, offered Napolean Bonaparte, as First Consul, the title of Constable of France if he would restore the Bourbons as kings of France. In 1808, Napoleon also appointed the Grand Dignitaries of the French Empire (gran Dignitaires de l'Empire Français). In doing this he appointed as Constable his younger brother Louis Bonaparte, King of Holland, and as Vice-Constable, Marshal of the Empire Louis Alexandre Berthier, the French Army Chief of staff and Prince of Neuchatel. Both titles were strictly honorific.

Related Topics:
Comte d'Artois - Napolean Bonaparte - First Consul - Grand Dignitaries of the French Empire - Louis Bonaparte - King of Holland - Marshal of the Empire - Louis Alexandre Berthier - French Army - Chief of staff - Neuchatel

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