Possible date of birth

Data

Code

1280

From chapter 26, the key BERNARD at the beginning of the 13th century and end of the 12th century was the BERNARD d’ORNON, chevalier, and in 1312 father of GUILHEM FORT, Seigneur d’ORNON and Jean d’ORNON. In 1310 BERNARD de la Forssa, was Prevost or mayor of CAMPARRIAN near SAUBIIAU/SAUBUSSE (BAZAS), a few miles away from ORNON on the outskirts of Bordeaux. A reasonable assumption is that he was born about 1280 AD. Whether he survived fighting the Scots in 1319 and 1320 (Extrait de Brequigny books 3 and 8) is not known.

8

1260

In 1297 BERTRAND den FAUCAR was mayor of Bordeaux at the same time as several WILLIAMS fathers/sons were mayors of BOURG which is 15 km north of Bordeaux on the east side of the great river GARONNE. BERTRAND was born about 1260 AD. In 1294/6 the French army occupied Gascony under Phillip IV for a short time.

9

1260

In 1289 there are three separate references to Bernard. "BERNARDUM de FFORCES, chevalier" was 'descended from OTHOMS de LEOMANNIA'. A vital clue revealed: Lomagne is north of Auch in Gascony, just east of Armagnac country. Then BERNARD de Fourcès was given by King Edward of England the sovereignty of the Chateau of FIMARGON in a land dispute at St Martin de Goyne on the river Gers, between the Counts of LOMAGNES and the FIMARCONS BERNARD FOSSATI, notary of MALOVICINO (MAS-d’AUVIGNON) was a witness to an Act whereby JORDAN de l’ISLE ceded lands to the Count of Armagnac. These three references all in Gascony, refer to Bernard born about 1260 'Le Sires de FIMARCON, vassaux des Rois d’Angleterre édifièrent le chateau a la fin 15, sur le modèle des chateaux anglais'.

9

In 1286 Pierre ASTAFFORT sold to VITAL MARTHORET 'plusieurs terres casals (farms) dans le fief noble & territoire de FORCEZ, LARROQUE et BEAUMONT de LOMAGNE'. In the same year BERNARDUS de FORCEZIC, de FFORCES and HUGO his brother and CLARMONDE their mother were living near St SIMON, CONDOM & MONTREAL 'recognoveruat se tenere a dicto domino Rege quidquid habeat in Castro de FORCEZIC et in rupe (rock) de FORCEZIC - century solidos morlanos domini AGENEZII (Agen some 40 miles North), et unum militem (soldier), seu scutiferum (equipment), equo (horse) et armis, armatum de exercitu, Edoarde Anglise Regi' (Source Bordeaux archives No 12, book 1 p.353). Bernard and Hugo’s contribution in money and armed soldiery to the English King was clarified.

9

1260

The Auvergne records show that sometime in 1286 Bernard and another brother ARCHAMBAULD/ARNOLD were in Aurillac, and that Bernard had two sons called BERNARD & ARCHAMBALD. In 1281 Bernard de la Force has sold land in the Auvergne to Etienne de Scorailles, bishop of the northern town of MAURIAC.

1260

In 1283 BERTRANDI de FOSSATO, was a landowner in the Bordeaux area. In 1279 a major outbreak of Peste - the Black Death - broke out in the Dordogne and northern Gascony: Agen & Condom were ceded to the King of England.

9

1240

In 1271 BERTRANDUS de FOSSATO, his brother ARNANDOS de FURCIS, both ‘domi zellus’ (a title) and AMANEUS de FOSSATO were in Agen to pay fealty to King Edward I. In 1263 BERTRAN de la FFORCARIA lived at SEGONSAC, near the towns of FOURS and BLAYE (which is the next parish to BOURG). WILlIAMS had been Mayors of BOURG since 1247, and chevaliers of LANDERON for the towns in the Gironde (not Gascony) of FOSSÈS, de FORCES and FORCES (Rec. FEUDAL No 495 1 July 1263)

10

1240

BERTRAN du FAURE and GUILHEM FORTON, brothers, were JURATS & PROCUREURS of LIBOURNE in 1263.

10

1240

BERNARD was known as a CAVOIR or SQUIRE in 1265 when he was a TEMOIN or WITNESS when three local lords paid hommage to the English King. One was GERAUD, Comte d’ARMAGNAC and FEZENSAC; the next was GUILLAUME de BEAUVILLE, Seigneur de LANGON and the third was GAILLARD de FARGUES. The phrase used was "caution analogue fournis par Bertran de La FFORCARIA". LANGON and FARGUES were north of BAZAS. This illustrates the fact that the family had influential links with Bordeaux and Gascony.

10

1220

In 1247-54, BERTRAND de Fourcès, de FONTE, de FURCYS was a Chevalier 'convoquée par le Prince Edouard à la guerre d’Ecosse' and later again for King Henry III (of England). He would have been born about 1220. In 1258-74 Guillelmus, Sancius, Arnaldus & Garsie were inter-related and living around Auch, Nogatel and Savannes in Gascony: William father & son were Chevaliers of Agen. In 1255 BERNARDO DOFFAS donated a church of BECCAVE (modern BETIAVE) in Gascony (Archives,de SIMORRE). He was married about 1240 to CLARMONDE and had a brother ARCHAMBAULD/ARNOLD. They both visited, occasionally lived in the Auvergne. Historian BOUILLET calls them by their full name DE LA FORCE.

11

1220

In 1248 WILLIAM BERNARD DELFAUR of ORNON and LAIRAC, with brothers AYQUEM & RAYMOND of FLOYRAC sought safe conduct passes for himself & sons to travel from Langon to Agen.
He was shown as Consul of CAHORS and CAJARC.

11a

1220

In 1259 'super domos BERNARDI FORT, justa domos qui fuerunt monarchi LAMBIATOIRS' (Cartulaire of AUCH). He was the overlord of the area covered by the river LAMBON which flows from the Garonne towards, but not reaching, Auch.
In the period 1238-46 BERNARD de FORCE accompanied Raymond Count of Toulouse to the Abbey of BELLAPERTICA (Belle perche) near Verdun sur Garonne, as 'Dominum FortunICA', donating 1/3rd of his lands to the church of TUDELE in Armagnac territory, As BERNARD FORT of SEGONHAC he paid hommage to King Henry III in 1238. At the same time his brother GUILLAUME de Fourcès/de FORS was signing a local Treaty of Auch (1226 and 1247) paying fealty to the Comte de Poitiers.

12

1200

In 1230 two brothers BERNARD & ANTHOINE DELFAR visited del BOSC, AGEN.

12

1200 or 1180

In 1222 two brothers WILLIAM BERNARD and BERNARDUS ODON FORTO, were Seigneurs of MONTREAL & LAURAC (near the family town of Fourcès). They exempted citizens of Toulouse from paying taxes and tolls wehn they crossed the family lands.

1180

In 1213 AIMERY de FORZ gave lands to the Abbey GRACE-DIEU in St SAUVEUR (East of Auch) with the assent of his brothers WILLELMI and BERTHANNUS, milites (chevaliers).

1160

In 1204 BERNARDUS FORTE was Abbot of AIZ in St.Emilion (modern Abbées-de-FAIZE, near Libourne). The Abbot was probably born about 1160, son of the bishop of Tarbes, grandson of the bishop of CAHORS.

14

1160

In 1196 BERNARD del FOSSAR, Sanche FORTZ del COLUMBER (Ste-COLOMBE) & FORTZ de la CAUZENA (modern de la Caussald) were landowners in the St Emilion area. Since the three small towns are so close together one can assume the Abbot of AIZ was father of the two sons.

14

1140

Between 1160-7 BERNARD de FOEST was archpriest of ORNON,

15

1140

LUPIAC and CESTARS: his brother WILLIAM BERNARD FORT was also an archpriest: both lived in the Gironde. Bernard later became Eveque/Bishop of TARBES.

15a

1120

In 1159 the Chartes of the Abbey of GIMONT (East of Auch) showed many mentions of the family including BERNARDO des FORC married to SANCIA, father of four sons. GASSIOUS (GARSIAS); FORTONE SANCIC; BERNARDO and WILLIAM BERNARDO.

17

1140

In 1146 BERNARD, S. de MONTESQUIEU, son of GARSIEV le VIEL was shown as cousin to FORTON, Comte d’ASTARAC, a feodal domaine south of Auch.

1120

In 1142 Raymond - BERNARD du FOSAT was bishop of Agen.

16a

1100
1120
1120

In 1156 BERNARD of MEZONS/MEZINS, north of Fourcès, was shown as father of RAIMUNDUS DELFOSSAT, of BERNARDUS, of FORT ANELLIS/ATHO (ANTHONY) and GUILLELMUS. The surname was also spelt DELAROFOIT.

17
16
16a

1100

In 1150 BERNARDU FOSSAT was eveque (bishop) of Agen. His brother WILLIAM/GAUCELMI FORT/FORTIS and his son William la were 'archipresbyter inter alios laudavit' present at the founding of the Priory of S.FIDIS de MANSIROT near Bordeaux. Father and son gave lands of BETORAR & LUDON to the Abbaye St CROIX of Bordeaux. As Bishop of Agen it was probable that Bernard’s son would follow in his footsteps and become Bishop of Tarbes about 1170.
In 1110 and 1120 two major surveys of landowners were carried out and still exist. They covered the area of most of Gascony. They were called the surveys of AGUT dicit BARBARU. The river AGOUT flows from the River TARN into Gascony:
BARBARU was BARBATAN due west of CONDOM in the west of Gascony. The information came from the Cartulaire PRIEVRE’ St John, de Saint MONT, which is in Armagnac country on the river ADOUR

17

1080

In the first survey 15 of the family were mentioned and 19 in the later survey. The names were BERNARDUS SANCHE and BERNARDUS GARSIA, many GARSIAS, several Sanches, a DONAT, a LOUP, an AQUIELMUS/WILLIAM and once the title LORD FUERT. The towns or villages can be identified. For instance ZARTIGA is modern LARTIGE; BARCIOS is modern BASSOUSE; BADAS is modern BAZIAN, DESPANIA is ESPARGNET; etc.

The taxes paid by each man were shown in BANNAS and MODIOS (local currencies).
The interesting point about his survey is the appearance of Spanish names such as SANCHE and GARSIAS, and ‘strange’ names such as DONAT and LOUP which were valuable clues to the two earlier centuries!