Montesquiou family

The House of Montesquiou is the main branch of the Fezensac family, itself being a cadet branch of the House of Gascony. It is one of oldest aristocratic families in Europe. Montesquiou is closely related to the other branches of the bigger family, such as the families of Armagnac, of Marsan, and d'Artagnan.

The Barons de Montesquiou descend from the Counts de Fezensac, themselves descendants of Garsie Sanche (886-920) Duke of Gascony.

Eventually, the very name of Fezensac was renewed by Louis XVI in 1777 to be carried by the head of the house, which was then, as is now, represented by Montesquiou family. Since that time the main line of the Montesquiou became known as Montesquiou-Fezensac. The main branches of Montesquiou-Fezensac and d'Artagnan merged in the early twentieth century. The titles of the main line are:

• Baron de Montesquiou-Fézensac and Pair de France (1815, 1819 and 1824)
• Comte de Montesquiou-Fézensac and Pair de France (1817)
• Duc de Montesquiou-Fézensac and Pair de France (1821)

The branches of the family are: Montesquiou-Marsan, Montesquiou-Marsac, Montesquiou-Sainte-Colombe, Montesquiou-Montluc, Montesquiou-Lasseran-Massencomme-Montluc.

Throughout centuries, this family produced notable military leaders, ecclesiastics, as well as particularly notable men of letters.

Notable members

• Bernard de Montesquiou (+1175) Bishop of Tarbes;
• Raymond V de Montesquiou (fl. 1190) lord of Montesquiou, participant of the Third Crusade and uncle of Gerard de La Barthe, Archbishop of Auch
• Pierre Cardinal de Montesquiou (+1262), Bishop of Albi;
• Pictavin Cardinal de Montesquiou (+1355/6), Bishop of Albi;
• Jean de Montesquiou de Montluc (1502–1579), Archbishop of Bordeaux;
• Pierre de Montesquiou d'Artagnan, (1645–1725), musketeer and maréchal de France;
• Henri Jacques de Montesquiou de Puylobon (1710–1777), Bishop of Sarlat;
• Anne-Pierre de Montesquiou-Fézensac (1739–1798), general and politician, member of the French Academy, he joined the Third Estate during the French Revolution;
• François-Xavier-Marc-Antoine de Montesquiou-Fézensac (1756–1832), French politician;
• Raymond Aymeric Philippe Joseph de Montesquiou-Fezenzac, French soldier;
• Anatole de Montesquiou-Fezenzac (born in 1788), French soldier ;
• François-Xavier-Marc-Antoine de Montesquiou-Fézensac, French priest, traveler, writer, politician, member of the French Academy;
• Bertrand de Montesquiou-Fézenzac (1837–1902), French admiral;
• Robert de Montesquiou (1855–1921), writer, poet, art collector;
• Léon de Montesquiou (1873–1915), essayist, French monarchist;
• Mathilde de Montesquiou-Fézenzac (1884–1960), wife of the composer Charles-Marie Widor;
• Aymeri de Montesquiou, contemporary French politician;
• Alfred de Montesquiou, contemporary French journalist;