Dauphin of France, originally Dauphin of Viennois, was the title given to the heir apparent to the throne of France from 1350 to 1791, and from 1824 to 1830. The word dauphin is French for dolphin. At first, the heirs were granted the County of Viennois (Dauphiné) to rule, but eventually only the title was granted.
The Dauphiné is a former province in Southeastern France, whose area roughly corresponded to that of the present departments of Isère, Drôme and Hautes-Alpes. The Dauphiné was originally the Dauphiné of Viennois.
Hugh III was Duke of Burgundy between 1162 and 1192. As duke, Burgundy was invaded by King Philip II and Hugh was forced to sue for peace. Hugh then joined the Third Crusade, distinguishing himself at Arsuf and Acre. He died at Acre in 1192.
The Count of Valentinois was originally the official in charge of the region (county) around Valence. It evolved in a hereditary title of nobility, still indicating control of the Valentinois and often of the Diois. The title later became the Duke of Valentinois.
Guigues VII (1225–1269), of the House of Burgundy, was the dauphin of Vienne and count of Albon, Grenoble, Oisans, Briançon, Embrun, and Gap from 1237 to his death. He was the son of Andrew Guigues VI and Beatrice of Montferrat. When his father died, his mother helped guide the leadership of the new Dauphin.
Humbert II de la Tour-du-Pin was the Dauphin of the Viennois from 1333 to 16 July 1349. Humbert was the last dauphin before the title went to the French crown, to be bestowed on the heir apparent.
Guigues I, was Count of Oisans, Grésivaudan, and Briançonnais. He was the son of Guigues d'Albon and Gotelana de Clérieux.
Guigues the Old, called Guigues III, was a Count of Albon from 1079, when the County of Vienne, then in the possession of the Archdiocese of Vienne, was divided between him and Humbert I of Savoy, who received Maurienne.
Andrew Guigues VI, known as André de Bourgogne, Dauphin of Viennois, was the Count of Albon, Briançon, Grenoble, and Oisans from 1228 until his death. He was the son of Hugh III of Burgundy and Béatrice of Albon. He took his regnal name after and inherited the titles and lands of his maternal grandfather, Guigues V.
Guigues V was the Count of Albon and Grenoble from 1142 until his death. He was the first to take the title Dauphin du Viennois.
Humbert I of Viennois was baron of la Tour-du-Pin and then also became, by his marriage, dauphin of Viennois. He was the son of Albert III, baron of la Tour-du-Pin, and of Béatrice de Coligny.
Béatrice, Countess of Albon and Dauphine of Viennois (1161–1228) was ruling countess and dauphine in 1162–1228, in succession upon the death of her father Guigues V.
Beatrice of Montferrat was an Italian noblewoman, the eldest daughter of William VI, Marquess of Montferrat, and the third wife of Guigues VI of Viennois, by whom she had two sons. According to the vida of the troubadour Gauseran de Saint-Leidier, Beatrice was the domna (lady), whom he allegedly loved. He celebrated his idealised devotion to her in his cansos.
Beatrice of Savoy ruled as Lady of Faucigny, having succeeded her mother, Agnes of Faucigny. She was the only legitimate child of Peter II, Count of Savoy, but did not inherit the county, which passed instead to her uncle. Beatrice was also Dauphine of Viennois and Viscountess of Béarn by her two marriages.
Count of Diois is a title of nobility, originally in French peerage. It was created in 1350 inside Dauphine of Viennois Patrimony by Philip VI of France when Humbert II of Viennois sold his lands and titles to King Philip VI of France. All patrimony of Dauphine consisted in: Count of Albon, Grésivaudan, Briançonnais, Grenoble, Oisans, Briançon, Embrun and Gaph, Baron de La Tour du Pin, Dauphin of Viennois, count of Valentinois, and given to Cesar Borgia join to Duke of Valentinois by Louis XII of France.
Guigues IV, called le Dauphin, was the count of Albon from 1133. He was the first to take the name Dauphin, meaning "dolphin", which became a title among his successors.
The Collegiate Church of Saint-André, Grenoble is a parish church, formerly a collegiate church, dedicated to Saint Andrew, in Grenoble, France.
Anne of Viennois, was a Countess regnant suo jure of Viennois and Albon in 1282-1299, and the daughter of Guigues VI of Viennois and Beatrice of Montferrat. She married Humbert, Baron of La Tour du Pin in 1273. She was buried in the Carthusian monastery of Salette, in the barony of La Tour.
Guigues II d'Albon, known as the Fat (Pinguis), born around 1025 and died around 1079, was count in Grésivaudan and Briançonnais from 1070 to 1079, count of Albon in 1079. He came from the House of Albon.
