Coat of arms The family motto of the Prussian branch is
"In Virtute Pertinax".
Coat of Arms: An
escutcheon with the
field divided into four parts. Left half:
argent tincture, a
gules lion holding a
sinople eradicated oak tree between its paws;
azure tincture charged with three
or mullets; Right half: a
gules castle with three
towers on an
argent tincture;
sinople tincture charged with three
argent roses below it. A
Grafenkrone (
Count's
coronet) as
helmut on top of the
escutcheon,
crested with a
or fleur-de-lis. Two
or lions supporting the
escutcheon.
Motto:
"In Virtute Pertinax".
Heraldic Symbolism: The
lion symbolizes courage; the eradicated oak tree symbolizes strength and endurance; the
towers are symbols of defense and of individual fortitude; the
mullets (5-star) symbolizes divine quality bestowed by god; the
rose is a symbol of hope and joy; the
fleur-de-lis is the floral emblem of
France; the
coronet is a symbol of victory, sovereignty and empire. A
Count's
coronet to demonstrate
rank and because the family originally served the
counts of
Foix and
Béarn during the English Wars in the
Middle Ages.
Marriage Friedrich Wilhelm Quirin von Forcade de Biaix originally intended to marry a daughter of
French Baron
François Mathieu Vernezobre de Laurieux (1690–1748). The rich baron and his family had left Paris after the collapse of
John Law's
Mississippi Company in 1720 and befriended King
Frederick William I of Prussia. When the King ordered Vernezobre to marry his daughter to
von Forcade de Biaix, who she rejected, the marriage was only averted when Vernezobre agreed to undertake the construction of a prestigious city residence for the King, referred to as the
Vernezobre'sche Palais, located at Husarenstraße 102, later renamed in his honor to
Wilhelmstrasse 102, after the King's death in 1740. He subsequently married on 7 October 1727 at the
French Cathedral in Berlin Berlin (* 23 July 1728,
Berlin; † 3 September 1778,
Frankfurt/Oder at the
French Temple in
Berlin-Friedrichstadt by none less than the
King, Frederick William I of Prussia and
Major General Jean de Forcade de Biaix, the paternal
grandfather, together his
Godfathers.
Countess Anna Sophia von Treskow, second wife of
General Field Marshal Count Alexander Hermann von Wartensleben, and
Susan de Pelissier, wife of
Major General Louis de Montolieu, Baron de Saint-Hippolyte and the child's the maternal
grandmother, collectively his
Godmothers. •
Louis von Forcade de Biaix (* 20 August 1729,
Berlin; † 19 January 1737,
Berlin). The child was presented for baptism on 27 August 1729 at the
French Temple in
Berlin-Friedrichstadt by
Louis de Montolieu, Baron de Saint-Hippolyte,
major general in the service of the King of Prussia and Lieutenant Marshal in the service of
Philip V of Spain,
King of Sardinia, the child's maternal grandfather, and by
Dame Julie von Honstedt, widow of
Lieutenant General Jean de Forcade de Biaix, his paternal grandmother, his Godparents. •
Charlotte Sophie von Forcade de Biaix (* 30 July 1730,
Berlin; † 15 March, 1794, Ober Langenöls,
Silesia), ∞ 29 July 1748 in
Berlin-Garnisonkirche with
Heinrich Siegismund von Eberhard († 5 March 1757). She was presented for baptism on 8 August 1730 in her parents' home in
Berlin by
Baron Friderich Charles, de Montolieu, the King's
Chamberlain and the child's maternal uncle, and by
Dame Philippine Sophie de Forcade de Biaix, wife of
Major Paul Albrecht de Glereau (sometimes written
de Gleveau) and the child's paternal aunt, his Godparents. •
Louise Susanne von Forcade de Biaix (* 4 December 1731,
Berlin) ∞ on 17 November 1756 in
Berlin with
Carl Bernhard Feriherr von Prittwitz und Gaffron (* 29 March 1735; † 7 September 1786,
Berlin). She was presented for baptism on 14 December 1731 at the
French Temple in
Berlin-Friedrichstadt by Forcade's
commanding officer Colonel Egidius Ehrentreich von Sydow,
Baron Eberhard Wilhelm von Honstedt,
Louise Charlotte von Sturm, wife of
Colonel Christian Reinhold von Derschau, and by
Susanne de Montolieu, Baroness de Saint-Hippolyte, wife of
Lieutenant Colonel Henri le Chenevix de Beville and the child's maternal aunt, collectively the Godparents. •
Christian Louis von Forcade de Biaix (* 3 January 1733,
Berlin; † 27 April 1739,
Berlin). The child was presented for baptism on 14 December 1731 at the
French Temple in
Berlin-Friedrichstadt by
Monseigneur the
Margrave Christian Louis,
Baron Johann Gottfried von Cocceji,
Minister of State (, ),
Gertrud von Haeseler, wife of
Ehrenrich Bogislaus von Creutz,
Minister of State (, ) and
Cabinet Secretary under
King,
Frederick William I of Prussia, and by
Anna Charlotte von Brandt, wife of General
Egidius Ehrentreich von Sydow, collectively his Godparents. • Twin:
Albertine Marthe von Forcade de Biaix, the elder twin (* 25 February 1734,
Berlin; † 10 May 1734,
Berlin). The child was presented for baptism on 7 March 1734 at the
French Temple in
Berlin-Friedrichstadt by the
General Field Marshal Count Albrecht Konrad Finck von Finckenstein and by Madame
Marthe de Rocoulle (sometimes
de Rocoulles, de Roukoul),
Grand Governess (, ) to the
royal family, a
Huguenot refugee who arrived in
Berlin as the widow of
Esaie du Maz de Montbail and his wife,
Ilse Anna von Brünnow, the
Grande Maîtresse to the royal household. •
Elisabeth Marie Henriette Quirin von Forcade de Biaix (* 21 December 1735,
Berlin; † 24 September 1774,
Klieken,
Saxony-Anhalt; buried 27 September 1774,
Berlin-Spandau), ∞ 22 August 1756 with
Lieutenant General Philipp Friedrich Lebrecht von Lattorff (* 29 December 1733,
Klieken; † 15 July 1808,
Klieken). She was presented for baptism on 5 January 1734 at the
French Temple in
Berlin-Friedrichstadt by
Prince Henry of Prussia,
Lieutenant General Count Friedrich Sebastian Wunibald Truchsess zu Waldburg, by the
Duke of Holstein (believed to actually be
Frederick Ernest of Brandenburg-Kulmbach), by the
Princess Sophia Dorothea of Prussia, by the
Margrave Douairière Louise Charlotte of Brandenbourg, née Duchess of Courland, and by
Christiane Freiin Wolfskeel von Reichenberg, aka
Madame von Katsch, Grand Governess (, ) to
the Queen and widow of
Christoph von Katsch, First
Minister of Justice, collectively her Godparents. •
Guillaume Henry Leopold Philippe von Forcade de Biaix (* 1737,
Berlin; † 23 July 1737,
Berlin). He was presented for baptism on 10 March 1737 at the
French Temple in
Berlin-Friedrichstadt by
General Field Marshal Friedrich Wilhelm von Grumbkow,
Minister of State (, ),
Count Heinrich von Podevils,
Minister of State (, ),
Leopold August von Wülknitz, Chamberlain and later
Hofmarschall to the King,
Lieutenant Colonel Philippe de Brueys, Baron de Bézuc,
Margarethe Elisabeth von Rhetz (sometimes
von Reetz), widow of
Lieutenant General David Gottlob von Gersdorff, and by the wife of the Chamberlain
von Morian, collectively his Godparents. •
Sophie Mariane Louise von Forcade de Biaix (* 2 November 1738,
Berlin; † 26 January 1739,
Berlin). She was presented for baptism on 15 November 1737 at the
French Temple in
Berlin-Friedrichstadt by
Monseigneur Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth,
Friederike Sophie Wilhelmine, Margravine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth, his wife,
Adam Otto von Viereck,
Paul Anton von Kameke, and the
Baroness von Montzinger, the
Baroness Luise Susanne von Beschefer, wife of
Baron Ludwig Kasimir von und zu Hertefeld and daughter of
Huguenot Lieutenant General Jacob de Bechefer, aka
Jakob von Beschefer, Commandant of
Magdeburg, collectively her Godparents. •
Caroline Albertine Louise von Forcade de Biaix (* 2 December 1739,
Berlin; † 22 August 1739,
Hohenfinow,
Barnim,
Brandenburg), ∞ before 1766 with three time widower
Baron Matthieu de Vernezobre de Laurieux (* 15 April 1721,
Paris; † 28 April 1782,
Hohenfinow), married in his first marriage with
Charlotte Henriette Amalie von Cocceji (* 5 August 1729; † 4 October 1757). She was presented for baptism on 15 December 1739 at the
French Temple in
Berlin-Friedrichstadt by
Monseigneur Charles William Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach,
Count General Field Marshal Christoph Wilhelm von Kalckstein, her first cousin once removed
Captain Isaac de Forcade de Biaix,
Countess Charlotte Albertine Finck von Finckenstein, wife of
Colonel Friedrich Wilhelm von Kannenberg,
Sophia Albertine von Creutz, wife of Royal
Adjutant General Count Hans Christoph Friedrich von Hacke, and the wife of
Gerhard Heinrich von Wolden, Chamberlain to
Frederick William, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt and later
Hofmarschall in Rheinsberg to
Frederick the Great, collectively her Godparents. •
Christophle Louis von Forcade de Biaix (* 24 March 1741,
Berlin; † 2 November 1768,
Jakarta,
Indonesia). He was presented for baptism on 3 April 1741 at the
French Temple in
Berlin-Friedrichstadt by
Christoph II., Burggrave and Count of Dohna-Schlodien Lord Steward of the Household (, ) of Queen
Sophia Dorothea of Hanover, by
Count Friedrich Ludwig von Wartensleben, the Queen's
Hofmarschall (), by
Baron von Müller, Queen
Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern's Chamberlain, by
Johanna Charlotte von Beschefer, wife of
Minister of State (, )
Samuel von Cocceji and daughter of
Huguenot Lieutenant General Jacob de Bechefer, aka
Jakob von Beschefer, Commandant of
Magdeburg, by
Katharina Dorothea Charlotte von Erlach, wife of
Leopold August von Wülknitz,
queen mother Sophia Dorothea of Hanover's
Hofmarschall (), elevated on 5 November 1742 to
Count, and the
Countess Anne Friederike von Kameke, wife of
Leopold Alexander von Wartensleben,
Adjutant General to the King. He died on 2 November 1768 in
Jakarta,
Indonesia, while employed as a sergeant for the
Dutch East India Company on his first voyage. There is some evidence, although inconclusive, that he may have married a
Marguerite Dubeau from
Bitburg, and had at least one son,
Johann Baptiste von Forcade, born in Berlin about 1765, who immigrated to
Québec and married there in 1787. •
Leopoldine Augustine Anne Charlotte von Forcade de Biaix (* 24 August 1742,
Berlin; † 7 May 1784,
Königsberg,
East Prussia), ∞ about 1766 with
Carl Ludwig von Koschembahr (* 10 June 1723,
Postelwitz,
Duchy of Oels; † 16 December 1781,
Königsberg,
East Prussia), Royal Prussian Lord Steward of Forests (). She was presented for baptism on 3 September 1742 at the
French Temple in
Berlin-Friedrichstadt by
Leopoldine Marie of Anhalt-Dessau, wife of
Frederick Henry, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt,
Princess Marie Auguste of Thurn and Taxis,
Duchess of Württemberg, by
Anne de Bezuc, Baroness de Verfeuil, wife of Monsieur
Alexandre de la Tour du Pin-Gouvernet, Baron de Verfeuil and sister of
Colonel Philippe de Brueys, Baron de Bezuc, by
Marguerite Charlotte le Chenevix de Beville, widow of
Colonel Philippe de Brueys, Baron de Bezuc,
Governor of
Neuchâtel,
Knight of the
Ordre de la Générosité, by
Catherine de Thibaud, wife of
Conseiller de cour Aymar de Montolieu de Saint-Hippolyte, and by
Major Duclos, collectively her Godparents. •
Charlotte Sophie Therese Marthe von Forcade de Biaix (* 25 October 1743,
Berlin; † 23 March 1799, Steinfurth near
Bad Nauheim), First
Lady-in-Waiting (, ) to the Princess of Prussia, ∞ 29 September 1775 in
Berlin-Friedrichstadt with
Baron Johann Hugo Wilhelm Löw von und zu Steinfurth (* 25 August 1750,
Lübz; † 23 May 1786, Steinfurth near
Bad Nauheim), Royal Prussian
Chamberlain and
Knight of the
Order of Joseph. She was presented for baptism on 7 November 1743 at the
French Temple in
Berlin-Friedrichstadt by
Charles Eugene, Duke of Württemberg, the
Minister of State (, )
Friedrich Wilhelm von Borck and the Grand
Squire ()
Friedrich Wilhelm von Roeder, by
Sophie-Caroline de Brandt, aka the
Countess de Camas,
Grand Governess (, ) of the court of Queen
Elisabeth Christine and widow of
Paul de Camas, formerly the
Prussian
Ambassador to
Paris and a close personal friend of the
French Enlightenment writer, historian, and
philosopher,
Voltaire,
Dorothea von Trzebitzky, aka the
Countess Truchsess zu Waldburg, wife of
Lieutenant General Count Friedrich Sebastian Wunibald Truchsess zu Waldburg, and by Mademoiselle
Marthe de Montbail, collectively her Godparents. •
Georg Friedrich Wilhelm von Forcade de Biaix, Oels,
Silesia), the third son, retired Royal
Prussian Lieutenant Colonel, participated in the Rhine Campaigns, •
Wilhelmine Friederike von Forcade de Biaix (* 18 March 1753,
Berlin; † 26 March 1759,
Berlin). She was presented for baptism on 13 January 1748 at the
French Temple in
Berlin-Friedrichstadt by
Princess Wilhelmina of Hesse-Kassel, wife of
Prince Henry of Prussia,
Prince Frederick of Prussia, the
Count de Bredow, Lord Steward of the King's Wardrobe (),
Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Kannenberg,
Lord Steward of the Household (, ) of Queen
Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Crown Princess of Prussia,
Lieutenant Colonel von Königsmark, the
Countess von Schwerin,
Governess to
Princess Anna Amalia of Prussia,
Countess Charlotte Sophie von Aldenburg, aka the
Countess von Bentinck, Countess von Bess, and
Countess Sophie Henriette Susanne Finck von Finckenstein, from the house of Gilgenburg, wife of
Count Karl-Wilhelm Finck von Finckenstein, collectively her Godparents. ==Notes==