 Abt 0930 - Bef 1012 (< 81 years)
-
| Name |
MONTMORENCY Bouchard |
| Birth |
Abt 0930 |
Montmorency, Val d'Oise, France  |
| Gender |
Male |
| Death |
Bef 1012 |
Montmorency, Val d'Oise, France |
| Notes |
- ouchard de Montmorency, later Bouchard [I] dit "le Barbu" Seigneur de Montmorency (lat: Burchardus de Monte-Morenciaco) was a French nobleman who headed the historically important Maison de Montmorency during the early years of the Capetian dynasty - under Hugues (Hugh) Capet and his son Robert II le Pieux (Robert II "the Pious" King of the Franks). [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
Among other documents, Bouchard is reflected in a 1005 charter of Robert II King of the Franks confirming possessions of Saint-Bénigne de Dijon; and a charter of 1007 under which King Robert confirmed the foundation of the "ecclesia B. Mariae Bellimontis." [1] [2] [4]
Bouchard's parents are not known with certainty, nor is his brother - although there are suggestions that his father may have been Bouchard de Bray-sur-Seine and his brother Aubrey / Alberic, the Seigneur de Vihiers-en-Anjou (see Research Notes below). [1]
Marriage and acquisition of initial estate
Bouchard [I] de Montmorency married the widow of Hugues Basset (whose first name and family remain uncertain) - and it was through her that Bouchard acquired a castle on an island in the Seine (referred to as the Chasteau Basset): [1] [5]
Her marriages are confirmed by Duchesne who reproduces the "Chroniques françoises de l’abbaye de sainct Denys" which state that "Bouchard a la Barbe" held a castle "en une Isle de Seine" from "sa femme, et sa femme d’un sien mary qu’elle ut paravant…Huc Basset."
Conflict with the church and establishment of Montmorency
During the early years of the Capetian dynasty (la dynastie Capétienne), central control was generally considered to be limited and members of the nobility often directly controlled affairs in their lands, although they owed fealty to the king. While Hugh Capet was well accustomed to the traditional approach (and historians often note that he was elected by the nobility in part for these reasons), after Hugh died in 987, his son King Robert II became known as "the Pious" in large part for his attempts to enhance the role of the church in state affairs. Bouchard de Montmorency was the subject of an early case.
Many lords extracted tolls and other payments for access to their lands - but in Bouchard's case the control of a castle on an island in the Seine north of Paris provided a key opportunity. His mistake perhaps was in attempting to extract homage and/or funds from an Abbot named Vivien of the associated Abbaye de Saint-Denis. With King Robert the Pious having assumed control from Hugh Capet, the Abbot appealed to the king. After hearings in 997, texts of which are reported by Du Chesne, it was determined that Bouchard's practice should cease and the castle in the Seine be destroyed - but that Bouchard would be granted lands at Montmorency. Cf. pp 65-68 of Du Chesne re Bouchard "le Barbu" (referred to as Bouchard II in his numbering system as noted below). [2]
Much would be made of the Seigneury de Montmorency, for Bouchard and his descendants, as noted below.
Family and Succession
Bouchard and his wife had a son who would eventually succeed him as Bouchard [II] Seigneur de Montmorency et de Marly and potentially several other children. [1] [2]
Bouchard "le Barbu" died before 1012. His son Bouchard [II] was later reflected in a royal charter of 1023: [1] [3]
"Burchardi filii Burchardi de Montemorenciaco" subscribed the charter dated 1 May 1023 under which Robert II King of France confirmed property of the abbey of Saint-Vaast.
Maison de Montmorency
Armes de Montmorency
Descendants of the Maison de Montmorency included many French notables who were closely related to the establishment of numerous other noble families in France and elsewhere in Europe. As summarized by Encyclopedia Brittanica:
MONTMORENCY, the name of one of the oldest and most distinguished families in France. The family, since its first appearance in history in the person of BOUCHARD I, sire de Montmorency in the 10th century, has furnished six constables and twelve marshals of France, several admirals and cardinals, numerous grand officers of the Crown and grand masters of various knightly orders, and was declared by HENRY IV to be, after that of the Bourbons, the first house in Europe.
Research Notes
Brother of Bouchard
As discussed in FMG, text from a history by Ménage published in 1663 indicates that Bouchard had a brother named Aubrey / Alberic who was the Seigneur de Vihiers-en-Anjou, but the primary source has not yet been identified. [1] [6]
As also discussed in FMG, a relationship has been suggested between Bouchard and Aubrey [II], the Vicomte d'Orléans, but the relationship is considered uncertain.[1]
Father of Bouchard and historical naming order
Several historical studies, including that of André Du Chesne, identify the father of Bouchard de Montmorency as being Bouchard de Bray-sur-Seine - who married Hildegarde. Bouchard de Bray-sur-Seine is thus referred to as Bouchard I - and Bouchard "le Barbu" as Bouchard II - in Du Chesne and other accounts. [2] [3]
While Bouchard de Bray-sur-Seine and his wife Hildegarde may have been the parents of Bouchard "le Barbu" it remains uncertain. Following the presentation of these individuals in FMG, Bouchard the younger (le Barbu) is referred to as Bouchard [I] de Montmorency, listed first among the Seigneurs de Montmorency [1]). The elder Bouchard is referred to as Bouchard de Bray-sur-seine, whose wife was Hildegarde, and is addressed in connection with the Vicomtes d'Orléans as Bouchard [II] de Bray-sur-Seine. [6]
Pending further review, Bouchard de Bray-sur-Seine remains connected but the parental relationship has been designated as uncertain.
Wife of Bouchard
As noted above and in FMG, Bouchard "le Barbu" married the widow of Hugues Basset; however, her own first name and family remain uncertain. [1]
Hildegarde de Blois was previously connected as the wife of Bouchard - potentially confusing her with the wife of Bouchard de Bray-sur-Seine, whose first name was Hildegarde (see Research Note - Father of Bouchard and historical naming order).
Sources
↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Seigneurs de Montmorency by Cawley, Charles in Medieval Lands: A prosopography of medieval European noble and royal families. Published by Charles Cawley and the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy (FMG) 2006-2021, including source citations and relevant texts; hosted online by FMG, accessed July 2025. (See also WikiTree's source page for MedLands)
↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Du Chesne Tourangeau, André (Geographe du Roy). Histoire généalogique de la maison de Montmorency et de Laval, (Cramoisy, Paris 1624); available online via Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF) Gallica at: Histoire généalogique de la maison de Montmorency et de Laval
↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Du Chesne Tourangeau, André (Geographe du Roy). Preuves de l'Histoire de la Maison de Montmorency Tirées des Chartes de Diverses Églises, des Registres de la Chancellerie, du Parlement, & de la Chambre des Comptes, (Cramoisy, Paris 1624); available online via Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF) Gallica at: Preuves de l'Histoire de la Maison de Montmorency Tirées des Chartes de Diverses Églises, des Registres de la Chancellerie, du Parlement, & de la Chambre des Comptes
↑ 4.0 4.1 Bedos, B. Les origines de la famille de Montmorency, Société d’Histoire et d’Archéologie de Senlis, Comptes Rendus et Mémoires, année 1976 (1978).
↑ 5.0 5.1 Bedos, B. La Châtellenie de Montmorency des origines à 1368. (Pontoise 1980)
↑ 6.0 6.1 Vicomtes d'Orléans by Cawley, Charles in Medieval Lands: A prosopography of medieval European noble and royal families. Published by Charles Cawley and the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy (FMG) 2006-2021, including source citations and relevant texts; hosted online by FMG, accessed July 2025. (See also WikiTree's source page for MedLands)
See also:
Wikipédia (fr) - Bouchard le Barbu
Wikipédia (fr) - Maison de Montmorency
Wikipedia (en) - House of Montmorency
Encyclopedia Brittanica (11th ed. 1911) - Montmorency
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| Person ID |
I60131 |
Freeman-Smith |
| Last Modified |
27 Jan 2026 |
| Family |
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| Children |
| | 1. MONTMORENCY Bouchard, b. Abt 0957, Montmorency, Val d'Oise, France d. Aft 04 Feb 1031, Montmorency, Val d'Oise, France (Age > 74 years) [Father: natural] |
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| Family ID |
F347618 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Last Modified |
27 Jan 2026 |
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