Comtes de Baux

There is more than one Baux family, and both went through various changes of name and titles, making for a very complicated genealogy. The oldest and best-known Baux line held the title "Prince of Orange" (among others). The present-day holder of the title is Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, head of the House of Orange-Nassau.

The founder of the first family is Hugues de Baux, lord of the Provençal town of that name (where aluminum ore was first discovered, hence 'bauxite'). His parents' names were Pons and Perfecta, but nothing is known about them. Hugues was born about the turn of the eleventh century, and died in 1059. His wife was Inauris, a daughter of Guillaume, sieur d'Apt. Their son Guillaume had three children, of whom the second, Raymond de Baux, was involved in a civil war among claimants to the 'throne' of Provence (the "kingdom of Arles") and also participated in the First Crusade. He died in Barcelona about 1150. His wife was Stephanette, a daughter of Gilbert, vicomte de Gevaudun. ... more

Francesco del Balzo's castle in Andria, Italy

• A1 = Pons "iuvenis" de Baux, m. Profecta;
  • B1 = Hugues de Baux, lvd:1059;
    • C1 = Guillaume de Baux, m. Vierne;
      • D1 = Raymond de Baux, lvd:1116/1150, m. Stephanette de Gevaudun;
        <========
  • E1 = Bertrand, Sire de Baux, Prince of Orange, d:1181, m. Tiburge d'Orange;
    • F1 -- Hugues, Vicomte de Marseille, d:1240, m. Barrale de Marseille;
      • G1 -- Barral, Sire de Baux, d:1268, m. Sibylle d'Anduze;
        • H1 -- Cecile de Baux, m. Count Amadeo IV of Savoy;  <==  House of Savoy
    • F2 ~ Guillaume I, Prince of Orange, d:1218, m1 N., m2. Ermengarde de Mevouillon;
      • G1 ~ [m1]: Guillaume II, co-prince of Orange, troubadour;
        • H1 ~ Raymond II, co-prince of Orange, d:1279;
          • I1 ~ Bertrand III, co-prince of Orange, d:1305, m. Stephanette de Baux (* below);
            • J1 ~ Hugues de Baux, Sieur de Gaudissart, d:1310, m. Jacopa del Marra;  ==>  Sanseverino family
              • K1 ~ Sveva del Balzo, lvd:1330, m. Conte Roberto Orsini;  <==  Orsini family
      • G2 ~ [m2]: Raymond I, Prince of Orange, d:1282, m. Malberjone d'Aix;
        • H1 ~ Guillaume de Baux, m. Guise de Lunel;
          • I1 ~ Stephanette de Baux, lvd:1281, m. Bertrand III de Baux; (* above)
    • F3 ~ Bertrand, Sieur de Meyrargues et de Puyricard, d:1201, m. Etienette de Baux;
      • G1 ~ Raymond, Vicomte de Marseille, lvd:1213/1235, m. Alacassie de Marseille;
        • H1 ~ Guillaume de Baux, lvd:1212/1265, m. Eucharie de Tournel;
          • I1 ~ Bertrand, Sieur de Berre, lvd:1265/1309, m. Berengere;
            • J1 ~ Bertrand, Vicomte de Misson, d:1351, m. Marguerite d'Aulnay;
              • K1 ~ Isabella de Baux, m. Antonio Sanseverino;  <==  Sanseverino family
              • K2 ~ Francesco I de Balzo, Duca d'Andria, lvd:1330/1420, m. Sveva Orsini;  ==>  Orsini family
                • L1 ~ Margherita de Baux, lvd:1394/1469, m. Count Pierre I;  <==  House of Luxembourg

Château des Baux-de-Provence
The name Baou is the Provençal word for a prominent, elevated rock (like a protruding, narrow cliff). The "Baux" family became powerful here in the 9th century and ruled as Lords until 1426).