Duke of Berry


Duke of Berry or Duchess of Berry was a title in the Peerage of France that was created several times for junior members of the French royal family. It was frequently granted to women, either members of the royal family or married into it. The last official holder was Charles Ferdinand of Artois, son of Charles X. The Berry region is now the departments of Cher, Indre and Vienne.

First creation

On October 1360, King John II created the title for his third-born son, John of Poitiers, maybe in occasion of his marriage with Joan of Armagnac. Despite two marriages, John of Berry had only 5 children, with only one son who could inherit the title, John, Count of Montpensier, who died in 1397 with no issue. After John's death in 1416, the dukedom was forfeited and granted to his grandnephew, John, Dauphin of France, who integrated it into the Dauphiné's titles.

Second creation

In 1461, new king Louis XI re-created the dukedom to his younger brother, Charles. However, Charles had a long-time rivalry with his brother and joined other French overlords headed by the Count of Charolais into the League of the Public Weal, starting a short war against Louis XI which was concluded with the Treaty of Conflans in 1465. Under the Treaty, Charles gained also the Duchy of Normandy, exchanged with the Guyenne in 1469. Charles' fortunes ended with his death in 1472 due to syphilis, although some suspicions of poisoning. With no male heir, the title was forfeited once again.

Third creation

In 1498, king Louis XII re-created the dukedom for his former wife Joan of France, daughter of Louis XI, as compensation for their marriage's annulment. She was the first suo jure Duchess, and after her death the title was forfeited, both according to the succession law and her unmarried and childless status.

Fourth creation

In 1527, King Francis I created his sister Marguerite "Duchess of Berry", probably on the occasion of her marriage to Henry II of Navarre. After her death, the title was forfeited.

Fifth creation

In 1550, King Henry II granted the appanage of Berry to his sister Margaret, like his father.

Sixth creation

In 1575, King Henry III granted the appanage of Berry to his sister-in-law and dowager queen Elisabeth of Austria. In addition, she received the title of Countess of La Marche, but in 1577 both titles were forcibly exchanged with the duchies of Auvergne and Bourbon.

Seventh creation

In 1577, Queen dowager Elisabeth of Austria exchanged the Berry to the Crown who, in the person of King Henry III gave it to his brother Francis, as well other appanages, for his role in the Peace of Monsieur with Huguenots.

Eighth creation

In 1589, King Henry IV granted the appanage of Berry to the Queen dowager Louise of Lorraine.

Ninth creation

In 1686, King Louis XIV granted the dukedom to his newborn third grandson Charles. Although he never gained the relative appanage, he continued to stylize himself as Duke of Berry.

Tenth creation

In 1754, King Louis XV stylized his newborn grandson Louis-Auguste as new "Duke of Berry", until his ascension as Dauphin of France in 1765, after his father death.

Eleventh creation

In 1778, King Louis XVI re-established the appanage for his newborn nephew, Charles Ferdinand of Artois, who was killed in 1820 by Louis Pierre Louvel, a Bonapartist. The title then passed to his widow, Marie-Caroline, until her death in 1870. The title subsequently became extinct.