House Rochechouart de Mortemart

### Founder

Aimery I, Comte de Rochechouart (Parent House)Guillaume, Comte de Mortemart (Mortemart House)

### Current head

Louis Alexandre Hercules de Rochechouart de Mortemart

### Motto

The Spirit surpasses the Matter(Parisien: L'Esprit surpasse la Matière)

### Cadet branches

Rochechouart de Mortemart de RochebruneRochechouart de Mortemart de Belle-Île (extinct)

Rochechouart de Mortemart de Verrieres (extinct)

**The House of Rochechouart de Mortemart** (French: La Maison de Rochechouart de Mortemart) is a Grandelumierian noble house of ancient roots. The Family can trace their line back to 980 from the House of Rochechouart, which itself went extinct, passing their titles to the Mortemart line. It is one of the oldest existing Houses in the Empire, and certainly considered the most prestigious family, originating from Limousin, with its base of territory in Limoges.

## Notable Members

* **Louis-Chrétien Hercules,** *Cardinal de Mortemart* (29th August 1693 - 7th January 1760)
* **Louis-Paul Jules,** *Marquis, then Duc de Mortemart* (20th July 1710 - 10 March 1758)
	+ Responsible for the house's elevation from a *Marquisate* to *Duché* in 1758.
* **Louis-Alexandre Hercules,** *Duc de Mortemart* (10th June 1737 - Présent)
	+ Commanding figure in the *Guerre de Succession Britannique* of 1763, and served as *Maréchal de Grandelumière*.

## List of Titles

### Titles

House Rochechouart de Mortemart had a wide set of titles, mostly within the Limousin region and surrounding the town of Limoges. These titles however expanded to areas around Paris under Cardinal Louis Chrétien Hercules. A list of senior titles includes:

Duc de Mortemart, Duc de Montpipeau, Prince de Tonnay-Charente, Marquis de Vivonne, Marquis de Rochechouart, Marquis de Fontainebleau, Marquis de Rueil, Marquis de Sannois, Marquis de Belle-Île, Marquis de Galiffet, Marquis de Saint-Cyr, Marquis de Rhuys, Comte de Limoges, Comte de Groix, Comte de Lussac, Comte de Rochebrune, Comte de Le Bouchet, Comte de Cognac-la-Forêt, Comte de Blond, Comte de Flavignac, Baron de Saint-Victurnien, Baron de Verrieres, Baron de Dienne, Baron de Cussac, Baron de Saint-Germain-de-Confolens, Baron de Pontville, Baron de Fauvette, Baron de Vieillevigne

### Seigneuries

Mortemart's landed wealth was mostly made up in the wide variety of Seigneuries that were located in one area, building up the base of power within Limoges. These seigneuries include:

Seigneur de Montrol, Seigneur de Nouic, Seigneur de Vaulry, Seigneur de Breuilaufa, Seigneur de Le Fraisse, Seigneur de Javerdat, Seigneur de Montmorency, Seigneur de Gorre, Seigneur de Broualan, Seigneur de Nontron, Seigneur d’Oradour-sur-Glane, Seigneur d’Availles, Seigneur d’Abzac, Seigneur de Migné, Seigneur de Dasdé, Seigneurie de Landal, Seigneur de Chandeniers, Seigneur de Faudoas, Seigneur de Bourdet, Seigneur de Jars, Seigneur de Saint-Amand, Seigneur de Aspremont, Seigneur de Barbazan, Seigneur de Vigneau, Seigneur d’Aixe-sur-Vienne, Seigneur de Pageas

## Châteaux

Given the extensive property holdings of the family, and the historic position the family has held, the family owns several Châteaux, property that had expanded during the lifetime of the Cardinal Louis Chrétien Hercules, who added significantly to his estate portfolio. A list of residences include:

* Château de Beauvoir
* Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire
* Château de Javarzay
* Château de Jumilhac
* Château de La Motte de Bauçay
* Château de Rochechouart
* Château de Rueil
* Château de Sannois
* Hôtel de Vivonne (No. 19 Place Royale)
* Pavillon de Lapis
* Palais Cardinal