Montfalcon family

Origins and early members Montfalcon is located in the present-day commune of La Biolle in Savoy. The family owned the (Mons Falconis), from which it derived its name. The castle occupied a strategic position controlling the road linking Annecy, in the Genevois region, to Chambéry in Savoy, passing through Albens and Rumilly, as well as the routes leading toward Lake Bourget. It served as the seat of a castellany that included the present-day communes of La Biolle, Albens, Saint-Germain-la-Chambotte, and Saint-Girod, along with the castles of , Flaxieu, and Vhitry. The earliest known reference to the Montfalcon family dates to 1084, at the foundation of the priory of Saint-Innocent (Brison-Saint-Innocent) on Lake Bourget. As vassals of the Counts of Maurienne, members of the family continued to appear in regional records; Willelme, a knight, is mentioned as a witness to Count Humbert III in a charter confirming privileges to the in Bugey around 1149. On January 12, 1252, Bernard Farguil de Montfalcon transferred his rights and properties of the lordship of Montfalcon to Béatrice of Savoy. The family formed several branches: Montfalcon-Flaxieu (Bugey), Montfalcon-Roasson, Montfalcon-Saint-Pierre, and Montfalcon-Novalaise (Savoyard Bugey). Historian Andenmatten (2018) described this branch as being in a period of ascent, particularly due to its marriage alliances. Guillaume de Montfalcon’s marriage to Marguerite of the influential family facilitated the rise of their descendants to episcopal positions. Genealogists Guichenon (1650) and La Chesnaye Des Bois (1869) proposed that the Montfalcon family of Bugey descended from Pierre de Montfalcon, knight and lord of Bourgoing in Dauphiné, who was allegedly a member of the Montfaucon family, , although both noted the lack of evidence supporting this claim. Lordship of Cevins In the 14th century, Emeric de Montfalcon married Bernarde de Cevins, the sole heiress of her line, who later appears to have married Ogier, the natural son of Count Aymon of Savoy, after 1364. The title of Cevins passed through the marriage of Antoinette de Montfalcon, Lady of Cevins and Miolans, to Amédée de Crescherel (died before 1453). It later returned to the Montfalcon family when Charles-François de Montfalcon married Françoise Hyéronime Seyssel, Lady of Cevins, in 1683. The lineage concluded when Françoise Hyéronime de Montfalcon de Saint-Pierre married Victor-Prosper de Carelly de Bassy in 1754, whose title of Count of Cevins lapsed during the French Revolution. == Heraldry ==

The lords of Montfalcon held the following titles at various periods: Cengle, Flaxieu, La Pesse, Mionaz, Montfalcon, Pierre-Charve, Rumilly, Sillans, Tessy; • Co-lords of Roasson. == Offices ==

Family members served as castellans of: • (1422–1434); • and the fortified house of Bonnant (1490–1494, 1496–1497, 1499–1500, 1502–1504, 1508, 1511–1513, 1514–1515); • (1491–1511); • Cordon (1352); • Entremont (1356–1358); • (1366–1372); • (1479–1486); • (1368–1380); • (1355). == Filiation ==

Genealogist detailed the complete lineage of the Montfalcon-Flaxieu family, along with the Montfalcon-Roasson and Montfalcon-Saint-Pierre branches, and also mentioned a branch established in Novalaise (Savoyard Bugey). The Historical Dictionary of Switzerland states that the Montfalcon family established in Compesières originated from Novalaise but does not indicate a connection with the earlier branch. According to a genealogy compiled by Auguste de Montfalcon, the Compesières family descends from the Novalaise branch identified by de Foras. • Pernette/Perronette, married Jean X (Vaud branch). • Jeanne, married Ancelin , lord of Boëge. • Jeanne the Younger, married (1) Philibert de Clermont, lord of Vaulserre, (2) Méraut , baron of Virville. • Claude, . • Louis, baron of Flaxieu, lord of Terreaux and Martignat, married Pernette de Montfalcon, Lady of Chitry. Four children included: • Marin (tested 1562), baron of Flaxieu, lord of Terreaux, Martignat, and Fernex, married Antoinette de Clermont; many descendants including: • Jacques, baron of Flaxieu. • Rolland-Claude, legitimized natural son, baron of Flaxieu, married (1) Claudine de Vignod, (2) Jeanne de Moyra. • Jean (died 1591), baron of Flaxieu, lord of Martignat, Chitry, and La Balme, governor of Savoy (1583), married Andréanne de Breuil; three daughters including: • Pierre-Marc, prior of Aiglefort. • Madeleine, nun. • François de Clermont, appointed heir, required to adopt the Montfalcon name. • Pierre, (?). • Aymon/Aimé (1443–1517), bishop of Lausanne, diplomat and poet. • Jean, canon of Belley. • Alix, married (1474) Claude, lord of Montferrand. • Catherine, married Guillaume de Mareste, knight. • Antoine, clergyman. • Jeanne, married Guillaume de La Balme, knight, lord of Terreaux (Valromey). Geneva Branch: • Louis (1759–1831), magistrate, married (1786) Jeanne-Marie Pacthod, sister of an Empire general. • Louis-Apollonie (1807–1872), lawyer, deputy to the Grand Council, and mayor of Compesières. • Johannès (1843–1891), politician, heir of the Montfalcon general. • Louis-Apollonie (1764–1840), military doctor. • (1767–1845), French general during the Revolution and the Empire. == Notable figures ==

Laity • François Philibert de Montfalcon (died 1682), Count of Saint-Pierre, State Counselor, and First President of the (1624). • Louis (1759–1831), magistrate. • Louis-Apollonie (1764–1840), military doctor. • (1767–1845), French general during the Revolution and the Empire. == Clergy ==

• Aymon de Montfalcon (1443–1517) was a Savoyard ecclesiastic, diplomat, and poet. He served as counselor to Duke Amadeus IX of Savoy, ambassador to Rome, advisor to Duchess Blanche of Montferrat, administrator of the Diocese of Geneva, and Bishop of Lausanne from 1491 to 1517. He also held the title of Prince of the Holy Roman Empire. • Two canons of Lausanne: Jacques (1518) and Claude (1525). • (1489–1560), Bishop of Lausanne (1517–1560). == See also ==