The Counts of Dreux were a noble family of France, who took their title from the chief stronghold of their domain, the château of Dreux, which lies near the boundary between Normandy and the Île-de-France. They are notable for inheriting the Duchy of Brittany through Pierre de Dreux's marriage to Alix de Thouars in the early 13th century.

History

In the tenth century the lands belonged to the forebears of the Capetians; they passed by marriage to Walter, Count of the Vexin, then to Richard I of Normandy. In 1017 the lands were given as dowry to Richard's illegitimate daughter Matilda, who married Odo II, Count of Blois. King Robert II of France confiscated the lands of Dreux from Odo, and they formed part of the royal domain until Louis the Fat granted the county of Dreux as an appanage to his son Robert. The descendants of Robert held the county of Dreux until 1355, when the heiress, Countess Joan II of Dreux, married Simon de Thouars. Simon and Joan had three daughters and no sons; their daughters sold their interests in the county of Dreux to King Charles VI. King Charles gave the county of Dreux as a dowry in the marriage of his kinswoman Marguerite de Bourbon, daughter of Peter, Duke of Bourbon and of Isabella de Valois, daughter of Charles of Valois, with Arnaud-Amanieu d'Albret in 1382. The county returned to the crown in 1556, and thereafter formed part of the royal domain, then the lands of François, Duke of Anjou, and after his death was sold to the Duke of Nemours. It returned to the royal domain in the reign of Louis XV.

List of counts of Dreux

Capetian House of Dreux

1137–1184 fifth son of Louis VI of France and Adélaide of Maurienne Braine aged 64–65 1184–1218 eldest son of Robert and Agnes of Baudemont 1178 no issue (2) Yolande of Coucy 1184 twelve children Braine aged 63–64 1218–1234 eldest son of Robert II and Yolande of Coucy 1210 four children Braine aged 48–49 1234–1249 eldest son of Robert III and Aénor of Saint-Valery April 1240 three children Nicosia aged 33–34 1249–1282 eldest son of John I and Marie of Bourbon-Dampierre 1260 six children Braine aged 40–41 1282–1309 eldest son of Robert IV and Beatrice of Montfort 1292 five children (2) Perrenelle of Sully January 1308 one daughter Braine aged 43–44 1309–1329 eldest son of John II and Joan of Montpensier April 1321 no issues Braine aged 35–36 1329–1331 second son of John II and Joan of Montpensier 1329 no issues Braine aged 35–36 1331–1345 third son of John II and Joan of Montpensier 1341 one daughter Braine aged 46–47 1345–1346 under the regency of Countess Isabeau Chateau de Gamaches only daughter of Peter I and Isabeau de Melun Braine aged 1 1346–1355 with Louis I only daughter of John II and Perrenelle of Sully Thouars 1330 five children aged 45–46 1346–1355 with Joan II Thouars eldest son of John I of Thouars and Blanche of Brabant Thouars 1330 five children (2) Isabeau d'Avaugour Thouars July 1361 no issues Talmont aged 59–60

House of Thouars

In 1377, the three sisters sold Dreux to the French crown.

House of Albret

House of Valois-Angoulême

1559–1569 Marseille 28 October 1533 ten children 1569–1584 duc de Dreux

House of Bourbon

1594–1612 27 December 1601 five children 1612–1641 1641–1656 Paris 6 January 1625 seven children

House of Savoy-Carignano

1656–1673 Chambéry, Savoie, Rhone-Alpes, France Paris 21 February 1657 eight children 1673–1676

House of Longueville

1676–1707 Paris eldest daughter of Henri II d'Orléans, duc de Longueville and Louise de Bourbon Trie 22 May 1657 no issues Paris aged 82

House of Bourbon

1707–1712 Paris eldest son of Louis de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme and Laura Mancini Chateau de Sceaux 21 May 1710 no issues Vinaros aged 57 1712–1718 Hôtel de Condé fifth daughter of Henri Jules de Bourbon, prince de Condé and Anne Henriette Chateau de Sceaux 21 May 1710 no issues Hôtel de Vendôme aged 40

House of Palatinate-Simmern

1718–1723 Paris second daughter of Edward of the Palatinate-Simmern and Anna Gonzaga Chateau de Sceaux 11 December 1663 ten children Petit Luxembourg aged 74

House of Bourbon

1723–1753 Hôtel de Condé fourth daughter of Henri Jules de Bourbon, prince de Condé and Anne Henriette Palace of Versailles 19 May 1692 seven children Hôtel du Maine aged 76 1753–1755 1775–1793 Palace of Versailles 29 December 1744 seven children