Earliest members of the lineage The two charters dated 1083 and 1119 provide the basis for reconstructing a genealogical lineage of the House of Faucigny, as established by various historians. The lineage begins with Aimerard (or Eimerard) and his sons: Louis, Guy, Giselbert, Otton, and Guillaume (also recorded as Willelme). (
Filius W. sapientis de Fucinie), though this is not confirmed by modern scholarship—had several children: Raoul (also Rodolfe or Rodolphe I), Louis, Reymond, Gérard (Gérold), who became
Bishop of Lausanne, and Amadeus, who became
Bishop of Maurienne. The same document also mentions a certain Saviu or Sayvin (
Sayvinus), son of Augeron de Faucigny. He is referred to as
Rodulfus de castro Fulciniaco in a donation recorded around 1121, to which he gave his consent. The identity of his wife is uncertain. suggest she may have been Constance de Beauvoir, based on a reference to a memorial in the royal archives of Turin, originating from the chapter archives of Grenoble. The exact date of Rodolphe I’s death is unknown. Ménabréa estimates it occurred before 1138. The couple is thought to have had six children, including Raoul (Rodolphe II), who succeeded his father and likely died before 1178, when his younger brother is documented as lord. within the territory of Faucigny. The lord of Faucigny granted donations to support the establishment of a Charterhouse at this site. Raoul (or Rodolphe), the third son of Rodolphe I of Faucigny, was known by the epithets "the German" Rodolphe is recognized as the founder of both the Lucinge branch (Faucigny-Lucinge) The document is interpreted as confirming the marriage of Emma de Domène to Rodolphe, known as "the German" and brother of Arducius. Henri, Lord of Faucigny and son of Aymon I, married a woman referred to as "Comtesson" or "the countess," identified as a daughter from the second marriage of Count Amédée I of Geneva. He was the father of , with whom the senior branch of the House of Faucigny became extinct in the male line.
Influence In the second half of the 12th century, the House of Faucigny established itself as a dominant power in the region, holding a substantial domain along the banks of the Arve, with extensions along the shores of Lake Geneva and the Rhône. Historian emphasizes that the Lords of Faucigny were primarily based in the and the middle and upper Arve Valley, gradually expanding into the lower Arve Valley near Geneva. Their principal strongholds included the castles of
Faucigny,
Châtillon, and
Sallanches. In the lower Arve Valley, the distribution of power reflects the observations of Paul Guichonnet. The Lords of Faucigny controlled the left bank of the
Arve River, acquiring in the 13th century the small castles of
Crédoz and Bellecombe near
Reignier. The construction of the marked a strategic advancement, securing the family's presence on the shores of Lake Geneva. The Lords of Faucigny had several vassals, including the Dardel of Arthaz. Among their feudatories under the authority of the Counts of Geneva were the Faucigny-Lucinge, Thoire, Bellegarde, Cissé (Chissé) of Polinges, Magny of Reignier, Nangy, and La Fléchère of Saint-Jeoire.
The Faucigny and the church Like other princely families of the region, the House of Faucigny established close ties with the Church through patronage, the founding of religious institutions, and by placing younger sons in ecclesiastical positions.
Disappearance of the senior branch Amid ongoing tensions with the Counts of Geneva, to whom the Lords of Faucigny owed fealty,
Aymon II of Faucigny distanced himself from his obligations and aligned more closely with the Counts of Savoy. Count
Thomas I of Savoy is believed to have provided him with financial support for territorial expansion in the northern Lake Geneva region, thereby gaining the allegiance of several seigneurs in the Vaud region at the expense of the Count of Geneva. Without a male heir, Aymon II designated his second daughter,
Agnes, as his universal heir. In 1234, she married
Peter of Savoy, son of the Count of Savoy. The marriage was celebrated at the Château de Châtillon and marked a shift in regional power, bringing the
Arve Valley under Savoyard influence. Aymon II subsequently took steps to consolidate Peter’s authority in the region. In 1256, the territory of Faucigny was formally referred to as a barony, and by 1265, it was organized as a
bailliage, Béatrice of Faucigny had married
Guigues VII of Viennois in 1241, under the influence of her grandfather Aymon II. Guigues held the titles of
Dauphin of Viennois and Count of Albon, Grenoble, Oisans, Briançon, Embrun, and Gap. Beatrice of Thoire-Villars, on the other hand, was married to Étienne II, . Concerned about the weakening of Savoyard control over Faucigny, Count
Philip I of Savoy supported Béatrice of Thoire-Villars against her niece, fueling a conflict between the two claimants. Armed hostilities ensued. Philip I imprisoned Béatrice of Faucigny and her son, secured the allegiance of Étienne II of Thoire, and reasserted Savoyard oversight over the territory of Faucigny. Despite these developments, the conflict continued. Béatrice of Faucigny was compelled to render homage to the Count of Savoy on several occasions—in May 1293, April 1295, and again in 1296—before ultimately ceding her rights as an apanage to her grandson Hugues (†1329). The conflict between the House of Savoy and the Dauphin of Viennois intensified during the 14th century. It was resolved with the
Treaty of Paris in 1355, which established a territorial exchange between Faucigny and the regions of Bresse and Valbonne. This agreement resulted in the permanent integration of Faucigny into the
Savoyard State.
A cadet branch: Faucigny-Lucinge Rodolphe, known as "the German" and associated with Grésier, is recognized as the founder of the . Rodolphe II served as seneschal of Faucigny The Lucinge family had held the seneschalty of Faucigny since the 12th century. An anonymous genealogical notice from 1826 further states that he married Gertrude d’Oncieux. Guillaume de Lucinge († c.1276), grandson of Rodolphe II and bailiff of Faucigny, fortified his estate and entered into conflict with
Beatrice of Savoie, known as Beatrice of Faucigny, the last heiress of the senior line and Dauphine of Viennois. A dispute arose between Béatrice and Guillaume de Lucinge concerning jurisdiction and authority. Although a settlement process was initiated, Guillaume died before its conclusion. On 8 March 1276, his widow Eléonore and their children—Humbert, Aymon, François, Raymond, Guillaume, Agnès, Béatrix, Amphélise, Marguerite, and Isabeau—were formally required to renounce the office of seneschal and the right of high justice. They also relinquished the castle of Ravorée and recognized that they held all their possessions in Lucinge, Arenthon, and throughout the barony of Faucigny—from the Dranse to La Roche and from Versoix to Flumet—as fiefs under the authority of Béatrice. == Cadet branches ==