 | This article is largely based on an article in the out-of-copyright Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, which was produced in 1911.(March 2016) |
The Durfort family is an old French noble family, distinguished in French and English history. It originated as feudal lords of Durfort, Tarn, a village of south-western France. [1]
Though earlier lords are known, the pedigree of the family is only clearly traceable to
The greatness of the family dates, however, from the 17th century.
The family of Durfort was later represented in France by the branch of Durfort-Civrac, dating from the 16th century.
Louis de Rouvroy, duc de Saint-Simon, GE, was a French soldier, diplomat, and memoirist. He was born in Paris at the Hôtel Selvois, 6 rue Taranne. The family's ducal peerage (duché-pairie), granted in 1635 to his father Claude de Rouvroy (1608–1693), served as both perspective and theme in Saint-Simon's life and writings. He was the second and last Duke of Saint-Simon.
Marshal of France is a French military distinction, rather than a military rank, that is awarded to generals for exceptional achievements. The title has been awarded since 1185, though briefly abolished (1793–1804) and for a period dormant (1870–1916). It was one of the Great Officers of the Crown of France during the Ancien Régime and Bourbon Restoration, and one of the Grand Dignitaries of the Empire during the First French Empire.
The title of Duke of Noailles was a French peerage created in 1663 for Anne de Noailles, Count of Ayen.
Jacques Henri de Durfort, 1st Duke of Duras was Marshal of France.
Guy Aldonce de Durfort, 1st Duke of Lorges, Marshal of France, (1630–1702) fought in the Franco-Dutch War mostly on the Rhine under his uncle Marshal Turenne, but in 1673 he was seconded to the Siege of Maastricht. Back on the Rhine, he fought at Entzheim in 1674, at Turckheim in January 1675, and at Sasbach in July 1675, where Turenne fell. He distinguished himself at the retreat from Sasbach and the ensuing Battle of Altenheim.
Angélique Victoire de Durfort-Civrac, Countess of Chastellux, was a French courtier. She served as dame d'honneur to Madame Victoire, daughter of King Louis XV, from 1786 to 1799.
The Life Guards was the senior formation of the King of France's household cavalry within the maison militaire du roi de France.
A Colonel General was an officer of the French army during the Ancien Régime, the French Revolution, the Napoleonic era and the Bourbon Restoration.
Henri Nompar de Caumont, 3rd Duke of La Force was Duc de La Force and peer of France. He was the son of Marshal of France, Jacques-Nompar de Caumont, duc de La Force and Charlotte de Gontaut, daughter of Marshal Armand de Gontaut, baron de Biron. First marquis de Castelnau, later Duc de La Force after the death of his brother, he served King Louis XIII on many occasions in the army, under his father, as Maréchal-de-camp.
Colonel Louis de Duras, 2nd Earl of Feversham, KG was an English Army officer and peer. Born in the Kingdom of France, he was marquis de Blanquefort and sixth son of Guy Aldonce, Marquis of Duras and Count of Rozan, from the noble Durfort family. His mother was Elizabeth de la Tour d'Auvergne,the sister of Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, Viscount of Turenne. His two brothers Jacques Henri and Guy Aldonce were both appointed as Marshal of France. He was a Huguenot.
Jean-Antoine de Mesmes, comte d'Avaux (1661–1723) was a premier president of the Parlement of Paris and member of the Académie française. As premier president he presided at the rescinding of the will of Louis XIV and in 1720 at the remonstrance against the regent, Philippe of Orléans, for allowing Law's disastrous financial scheme and appointing Guillaume Dubois as archbishop of Cambrai.
Emmanuel Félicité de Durfort, 4th Duke of Duras was a French politician, diplomat, peer, marshal and Freemason.
Louis Charles Pierre Casimir de Blacas d'Aulps, 2nd Duke of Blacas, 2nd Prince of Blacas was a French nobleman and antiquarian.
Louis de Pardaillan de Gondrin, Duke of Antin, was a French courtier, freemason and male-line great-grandson of Madame de Montespan.
Guy Michel de Durfort, 2nd Duke of Lorges was a French general and nobleman. He was duke of Lorges and duke of Randan and was made a marshal of France in 1768.
The Régiment de Royal Marine was an infantry regiment of the Kingdom of France, established in 1669. The regiment was directly involved in the Day of the Tiles, which took place in Grenoble on June 7, 1788. The last unit of the regiment was incorporated into the 23 demi-brigade on March 21, 1797 and the regiment ceased to exist.
Gaillard II de Durfort, Lord of Duras, Blanquefort, and Villandraut, and Seneschal of Gascony, was a 13th-14th century Gascon nobleman of the Durfort family.
Amédée-François-Régis de Pérusse des Cars was a French nobleman and soldier.
Jean Baptiste de Durfort, 3rd Duke of Duras was a French nobleman as the 3rd Duke of Duras and was created a Marshal of France while also having the additional rank of a Peer of France.