La Maison de Marolles 1130-1941

Origins

This ancient family first appears in the "Acts of Donation" to the Abby of Saint Paul de Cormery in 1130. According to the document, a certain Raoul de Marolles, Chevalier (Knight) donated to the Abby the "domaine de Trian" (Source 1).

Another Helias de Marolles, Seigneur (Lord) de Marolles also made a donation to the Abby of Beaugerais  in the dioceses of Tours.

For more than 300 years, the de Marolles family has given France soldiers, bureaucrats, and priests. 

It is important to mention that the "de Marolles" family and the "Gaigneron Jollimont de Marolles" family are not one and the same. From several genealogies consulted, it is evident  that they were from the same region (Touraine) and that both families were united in 1569 with the marriage of   Antoine de Marolles, Seigneur (Lord) de CHEFNAYE and  Marie GAIGNERON (Source 2). Moreover, both families have used "de Marolles" as a last name which has caused a degree of confusion.

The "de Marolles" family is broken into  branches according to the Lordships (seigneurs) they held. It is possible that the entire family or at least one branch of the family become extinct with the death of Louis Roger Gerard de Marolles, Count de Marolles  (1869-1941) and his two sons (Claude-Adrien- Jacques and Louis-Ferdinand) who died during World War I (1914-1917). 



The Coat of Arms (Blason) of the House of Marolles 

Charles René d'HOZIER (1640-1732) Source 12

Described in "Annuaire de la noblesse de France..." (1905) as:


"d'azur, a une épée d'argent, garnie d'or, acostée de deux pennes adossées aussi d'or"

Sometimes, the coat of arms has the edge of the sword pointed up and other times pointed down. We have added the crown of Count in the Kingdom of France.

From the image of Michel de Marolles

Above, is the coat of arms of Michel de Marolles, Abbé de Villeloin (1600-1681). He was translator of several important works from Latin into French such as the "Roman Breviary".  In his coat of arms, we see the Miter (symbol of Episcopal authority) and the Crozier (symbol of the duty to lead the people). 

Titles of the de Marolles (Lords of) Seigneur de...

1) de Marolles
2) de Peutanges
3) de Loigné
4) de Montaigu
4)  de Méreaux
5) des Caves
6) de Breuillard
7) de la Boutellerie (1457)
8) de Couvent
9) de Bournigale
10) du Plessis and many others.

The male head of the family began using the title Count (Comte) de MAROLLES as early as 1726. It is not clear when the family was ennobled with the title of Count in the Kingdom of France.  The first to make use of the title of Count de Marolles was Louis-Joseph de MAROLLES, Lord of Bournigal (1696-).

Abbreviated Genealogy 

Branch of Seigneurs (Sgrs) de Marolles 

Raul de Marolles, Seigneur (Sgr) de Marolles (c.1216)

 

Jean I de Marolles, Sgr. de Marolles (c.1266)

 

Jean II de Marolles, Sgr. de Marolles (c.1327)

 

Guillaume I de Marolles, Sgr. de Marolles (c.1382) 

Guillaume II de Marolles, Sgr. de Marolles

Married in 1447 Guillemette BOUTET and issued (Jean, Robert, and Etienne)

 

Jean III de Marolles, Sgr. de Marolles

Married on March 25, 1498 Guyanne de THORET and issued (Etienne, Marie, Jacquette, Diane)

La Maison de THORET

Etienne de Marolles, Sgr. de Marolles, Gentilhomme of the Household (Chambre) of the King

Married twice:

1) March 25, 1498 to Catherine GRASLEUIL (daugthter of Jean de ROCHEBRETEAU) and issued four children (François, Jean, Françoise, Roberte)

de la Maison de GRASLEUIL et ROCHEBRETEAU

2) Married Catherine de SAUVAIN with no issue

François de Marolles, Sgr. de Marolles, Gentilhomme of the Falconry of the King

 Married Philippe de BOISVILLIERS and issued Claude and Antoine

La Maison de BOISVILLIERS

Claude I de Marolles, Sgr. de Marolles,

Married in 1558 Françoise d'ERIAN (ERIAU) who was the daughter of Pierre (Sgr.) de ROCHERE and NOIZAY and Anne GUIET. They issued (Claude, Louis, Gabrielle, and Charlotte)

Claude II de Marolles (+1663), Sgr. de Marolles, Sgr. de la Rochère, du Breuil, and Noizay, Gentilhomme of the King, Lieutenant-Colonel and Maréchal de Camp

 

Claude II de Marolles Circa 1657  (Image Source 6)

Married twice:

1) in 1594 to Agatha de CHASTILLON (+1639) and issued (Gilles, Michael, Louis, Charles, Madeleine, and Polixène)
2) Lucrece du HAMEL 

La Maison de CHASTILLON

Michael de Marolles (1600-1681), Abbé de Villeloin, Writer, Translator, and Collector  of Prints

Michel de Marolles was one of Europe's greatest collectors of prints/engravings. He had over 120,000 prints by such artists as Mantegna, Dürer and Lucas van Leyden. Upon his death, his collection was purchased by His Majesty, Louis XIV of France and Navarre in 1667. This collection become the focal point of the holdings of present-day  Bibliothèque Nationale de France (Source 7).

Moreover, the Abbé de Villeloin was a writer of several books. Michel de Marolles published on the first genealogies on the Maison de Marolles in Les Mémoires de Michel de Marolles (1656).  He also belonged to the salon of Madeleine de SCUDERY (1607-1701) where such topics as art and philosophy were discussed.

Image Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Source 13)

Engraving by Claude Mella of Michael de Marolles in 1648 (Image Source 7)

Médaillon in marble of  Michel de Marolles, abbé de Villeloin (1600-1681)

(Image Source, The Louvre Museum) Original was located in l’église Saint-Sulpice de Paris 

 

The Abby of Villeloin. Established in 850. (Image Public Domain)

 

Louis de Marolles, Sgr. de Marolles, Sgr. de la Rochère

  Married twice:

1) November 3, 1627 to Claude de ROCHEFORT (+1620), daughter of François, Baron de LUCAY

2) In 1630 Jeanne de MENOU, daugther of Emond, Sgr. du RABRY and issued (Emond, Claude, Eustache, Michel, René, Dieudonne-Louis, Gabriel, Claude, Agathe, Françoise-Gabrielle, Anne-Louise, and Angelique)

Branch of Sgrs. de BREUILLARD

Robert de Marolles, Sgr. de Breuillard

He was the second son of Guillaume II de Marolles, Sgr. de Marolles and his wife Guillemette BOUTET

In 1471 he Robert de Marolles married Renée de THORET and issued (François and Perrine).

La Maison de THORET

François de Marolles, Sgr. de Breuillard

In 1490 he married Marguerite de GANNES (or GAINES) and issued (Jean, Bertrand, and Guillaume)

Jean de Marolles, Sgr. de Breuillard

Married twice:

1) In 1535 he married Catherine du MESNIL and issued (Julien, Antoine, Marguerite, Catherine, and Anne)
2) Antoinette du Claux (widow of Jacques GAIGNERON) and had no issue.

[Note: Antoinette du Claux (Cloux) was the widow of Jacques GAIGNERON (1500-) and mother of
 Barthélémy GAIGNERON (1539-1589)  and Marie GAIGNERON ( ?) . Through the marriage of Jean de Marolles to Antoinette du Claux a first alliance between the Maison de GAIGERON was established indirectly]

La Maison de MESNIL

Antoine de Marolles, Sgr. de la Chesnaye

In about  1569 he married Marie GAIGNERON.They issued:

1) Antoine de Marolles died with no issue
2) Renée  de Marolles died with no issue
3) Catherine de Marolles married Jean de LAUNAY

Marie was the daughter of Jacques GAIGNERON, Seigneur (Lord) of GAUDINIERE and Antoinette du CLAUX.


[Note: this is the first genealogical link between the House de Marolles and the House of Gaigneron, later Lords of Jollimont and Marolles]

Click to see full Genealogy of the House of Gaigneron Jollimont de Marolles

Julien de Marolles, Sgr. de Breuillard

Married Catherine de SANCERRE and issued (Martin)

La Maison de SANCERRE

Martin de Marolles, Sgr. de Breuillard

Married Marie de la CROIX and issued no children. This branch died out

Branch of Sgrs. de la BOUTELLERIE and TOUVIAUX

 

Bertrand de Marolles, Sgr. Boutellerie and de Touviaux

Second son of François de Marolles and Marguerite de GANESS

He married thrice:

1) Catherine de POIX who as the daughter of Sgr. du CLOUSEAU  and issued (René, François, Sgr. de VARENNE, Jacques, Louise, and Claude)

2) Jeanne de CHARRUE

3) Renée de NEVET

 

Jacques de Marolles, Sgr. Boutellerie and de Touviaux 

Married Claude GERVAIS (Geruais) daughter of Louis Sgr. des MURS and Denise BROSSIER and issued (Louis, Pierre, Jacques, Claude, Marie)

La Maison de GERVAIS

Branch of Sgrs. des CAVES

 

Guillaume de Marolles, Écuyer (Esquire) and Sgr. des Caves

Third son of Francois de Marolles and Marguerite de GAISNESS

Married Antoinette de MONTJOIS, daughter  of Jean des CAVES and Florence RANCE and issued (René, Jean, Louis, Jacques, and Françoise)

René de Marolles, Sgr. des Caves

Married Guillenette de BREUIL and issued (Louis)

Louis de Marolles, Sgr. des Caves

Married Hélène de BERGERAC daughter of Philippe de Bergerac, Sgr. de Ragouneau and issued (Palaméde, René, Charles, Renée, Marie and Geneviéve)

La Maison de BERGERAC

Branch of Sgrs.VARENNE

François de Marolles, Sgr. de Varenne (+1672)

He was the son of Claude de Marolles, Sgr. Touviaux and Florence de NEVET.

Married on March 14, 1639 to Marguerite de la CROIX, daugther of Valentin de la CROIX and Marguerite BRACHET and issued (Louis)

Branch of Sgrs. de VALINIERE

Louis de Marolles, Sgr. de Valiniére (+1672)

Married on May 11, 1671 to Marie SAUVAGE daughter of René, Sgr. de Bray and Marie COUTELY and issued (Louis)

From the Archives of Charles René d'HOZIER (1640-1732). Source 12

Louis de Marolles, Sgr. de Valiniére

Married on January 9, 1696 in Cléré-du-Bois to Marie de SIGOGNE, daughter of Louis de SIGOGNE, Sgr. de BOURNIGAL and Antoinette MONNIER and issued (Louis)

La Maison de SICOGNE

 

Branch of Counts de Marolles (1726-1941)

 

 

Louis-Joseph de Marolles (1696-), Count (Comte) de Marolles, Sgr. de Bournigal, Page de la grande écurie (1714), Calvary Captain, Conseiller du Roi, bailli d'épée de Chantillon-sur-Indre, Chevalier of the Royal and Military Order of Saint-Louis

Married on October 24, 1726 to Charlotte-Catherine de LESCOLLE, daughter of René de LESCOLLE, Consul du ROI de France, and Catherine-Charolotte, Baronne de BETTENDORF and issued (Loui-Joseph, Charles-René, Louis-Stanislas)

Louis-Joseph II de Marolles (1728), Count de Marolles, Sgr. de Bournigal and de la Forest, Captain of the Queen's Calvary, Écuyer de main de la Reine

Married on September 21, 1749 to Julie-Albertine d'ESPALUNGUE de LOBADIE, daughter of Charles, Litenant-General of the Armies of the King and Marie-Albertine de CORSWAREN and issued (Louis-Marie and Louis-Jean)

 

La Maison d'ESPALUNGUE

Louis-Jean de Marolles, Count de Marolles (1769-1809), Lieutenant-Colonel, Aide de camp of the Governor General of the Indes 

Married on February 5, 1807 Gertrude-Adrienne van POLANEN, daughter of Roger-Gérard van POLANEN, President of the Council of the Indies of the Netherlands and Plenipotentiary Minister. They issued (Louis-Roger and Jules-Auguste).

La Maison de van POLANEN

Louis-Roger de Marolles, Count  de Marolles (1808-1855), Brigadier General in the French Army, Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, Commander of the Pontifical Order of Saint Gregory 

Former student of the Saint-Cyr Military Academy. Died in the Crimean War (1853-1856) while the siege to Sevastopol took place.

Married twice:

1) On June 18, 1847 to Joséphine-Eugénie ORDENER
2) On March 1859 to Etienne-Eugéne de la VILLAINE and issued one daughter (Gertrude)

Jules-Auguste de Marolles, Count de Marolles (1809-1902), Naval Captain, Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, Commander of the Spanish Order of Charles III, Commander of the Pontifical Order of Saint Gregory 

Married on October 17, 1846 to Rose-Pulcherie GILLES de FONTENAILLES and issued: (Louis-Roger-Gerard, Jules-Armand-Georges, Adrienne-Pulcherie, and Marie-Victorine)

Louis-Roger-Gérard de Marolles, Count de Marolles (1851-1941), Vice-Admiral of the French Navy, Commander of the Legion of Honor 

Married March 10, 1885 to Marie-Madeleine de NETTANCOURT daughter of the Marquis Marie-Charles-Armand de Nettancourt and Rosaline-Claire de ROGIER and issued: (Claude-Adrien-Jacques, Louis-Ferdinand, Marguerite, and Gabrielle)

La Maison  de NETTANCOURT

Louis-Roger-Gerard de Marolles (Image Public Domain)

Louis-Roger-Gerard de Marolles (Image Courtesy of Ebay) Engraving from French Newspaper

 

Jules-Armand-Georges de Marolles (1856-1914), Viscount de Marolles, Colonel - Commander of 137th Infantry in the French Army, Officer of the Legion of Honor

He was the second son of Jules-August de Marolles, Count de Marolles and Rose-Pulcherie GILLES de FONTENAILLES

Jules-Armand-Georges died in 1914 for France. He studied at l'Ecole Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr.

He married in about 1890 Marie Hélène Yvonne Hüe de Mathan. She died in 1942 (Source 10).

La Maison de MATHAN

Jules-August de Marolles (Source 11)

 

Claude-Adrien-Jacques de Marolles, Count de Marolles (1897-1917), Croix de Guerre

  He was the first son of Louis-Roger-Gérard de Marolles, Count de Marolles, and Marie-Madeleine de NETTANCOURT. He died in World War I with no issue. Never Married.

 

Louis-Ferdinand, Count de Marolles (+1917), Chef de Batallion, Chevalier of the Legion of Honor

He was the second son of Louis-Roger-Gérard de Marolles, Count de Marolles, and Marie-Madeleine de NETTANCOURT. Louis-Ferdinand de Marolles studied l'Ecole Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr. He died in World War I with no issue. 

 

______________________
Sources Consulted 

1) "Le palais de l'honneur contenant les genealogies historiques des illustres..." (1664) by Menestrier Anselme de Saint Marie pp.236-241 (on Google Books).

2) "Dictionaire de la noblesse contenant....." (1868) by F. Alexandre Albert de Chesnaye des Bois pp. 285-289 (on Google Books).

3) "Annuaire de la noblesse de france...Volume 61 (1905) on Google Books.

4) gw.geneanet.org entry "de Marolles"

5) "Memoire de la societe archeologique de Touraine Serie in 80, Volume 19" (1867) on Google Books.

6) artsy.net: image taken of Claude de Marolles  by the engraver Claude Mellan (1598-1688). Image is part of the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC

7) www.artgallery.nsw.org.au: Image taken of Michel de Marolles. The engraving is part of the collection dedicated to Claude Mellan.

8) Online collection of the Louvre Museum in Paris on "Lapidaire funéraire": Marble image of Michel de Marolles

9) The digital archives of   l'Ecole Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr: Images taken from this website: Jules-Armand-Georges de Marolles and Louis-Ferdinand de Marolles.

10) Wedding/Engagement announcement of  Jules Armand Georges de Marolles with Yvonne de Mathan from e-bay.com.

11) Recherce-Archives-Vendee: Entry "Jules Armand de Marolles"

12) The Armorial d'Hozier by Charles René d'HOZIER (1640-1732). Genealogist of the King (1696). The entire collection of blasons (coat of arms) can be found on the webpage of the Bibliotheque National de France.

13) Image of Michel de Marolles with Coat of Arms is the courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York. It was engraved by Robert Nanteuil (1623–1678) in 1678.