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The Desclergues

of la Villa Ducal de

Montblanc

A Millennium-long Odyssey with Generations of Declercq & de Silva

Second Edition Omnibus

Nico F. Declercq

Professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology

This book was typeset using LATEX software.

Copyright © 2024 Nico F. Declercq

License: Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

2nd Edition, published in 2024.

The author, Prof. Dr. Nico F. Declercq, is affiliated with The Georgia Institute of Technology, G. W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, 801 Ferst Drive, NW, Atlanta, GA 30332-0405, USA.

Historical research forms the Humanities part of the author’s research and is done outside the realm of his Engineering and Physics Research activities as Georgia Tech Professor.

The family tree covered by this work is presented on MacFamilyTree® (NicoFDeclercq1975, password

DesclerguesMontblanc), Geneanet® (ndeclercq3), and Ancestry® (tree 198405565).

ISBN/EAN 9789083176949 (hardcover, omnibus)

This publication is licensed under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence, Copyright © 2024 Nico F. Declercq. Images with p in the caption are licenced under CC0, and so are all the shown postcard images. It is registered under the United States Copyright, case 1-11026040351, December 5, 2021, case 1-13969186381, June 22, 2024, and with the United Kingdom Copyright Service under registration number 284744191, December 5, 2021, and under

registration number 284755355, June 16, 2024.

This work is best printed on, minimum, 210 mm x 397 mm paper, i.e. A4 format, at least 330 PPI, glossy, color, hardcover. The nature of this work is not for profit. As a result, the author grants permission to any instance to print and distribute this work without changes, i.e. facsimile, gratuitous or at a reasonable cost reflecting the charge for printing, if the product conforms to the indicated quality criterion. As such, the author shall not be held accountable or liable for the printing or shipping of this book and shall not receive any form of financial remuneration for this work. Likewise, the author grants permission to store and distribute unaltered digital versions of this product and restricts file size reduction, either by page extraction or quality reduction, to lower than the indicated resolution, without prior written consent.

The author’s multidisciplinary and international journey through history is specially dedicated to the talented student H. R. H. the Princess Leonor of Asturias and Gerona, the Duchess of Montblanc,

and is humbly extended to H.M. King Felipe IV and his charming family.

Image 1

Figure 1: Su Alteza Real Doña Leonor de Todos los Santos de Borbón Ortiz, Princesa de

Asturias, Girona y Viana, Duquesa de Montblanc, Condesa de Cervera y Señora de Balaguer.

© Casa de S.M. el Rey.

’Il y a quelque chose de plus fort que la mort, c’ est la présence des absents, dans la mémoire des vivants,’

Jean d’ Ormesson at the Académie française, on June 6, 1974.

’As we look for new answers in the modern age, I for one prefer the tried and tested recipes, like speaking well of each other and respecting different points of view; coming together to seek out the common ground; and never losing sight of the bigger picture’ ,’ Even with the most deeply held differences, treating the other person with respect and as a fellow human being is always a good first step towards greater understanding,’

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, January 24, 2019, and December 24 2018, respectively.

’Hablo latín con Dios, italiano con los músicos, castellano con las damas, francés en la corte, alemán con los lacayos e inglés con mis caballos,’

Emperor Charles V.

Use of Artificial Intelligence

In the creation of this book, Artificial Intelligence (Chat GPT) was sporadically employed to assist in the reorganization of text portions and to help the author more efficiently articulate certain concepts. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and coherence, the use of AI has facilitated the enhancement of clarity and structure in various sections. The author’s original voice and intent have been preserved throughout.

Unlike the process of writing stories, this book is the culmination of numerous text entries pertaining to various historical periods, each entry building upon discoveries made sequentially in a random order. Throughout this journey of discovery, it became necessary to revise the text in multiple locations following each new finding. The extensive period over which this work has evolved, combined with the spontaneous nature of note-taking, would typically result in a disparate writing style and occasional typographical errors.

To mitigate these issues, the text has been meticulously reviewed using both typo and grammar checking software to eliminate as many errors as possible and to achieve a consistent writing style throughout the book.

Nevertheless, it is possible that these tools may have inadvertently introduced new errors in the process.

Warning

Every individual bears responsibility for their achievements, mistakes, and blessings. While our ancestors deserve respect and understanding, it is crucial to distinguish between their experiences and our own; their

accomplishments, errors, and fortunes are theirs alone. However, genetics and ancestry provide insights into our inherited traits, and we may often respond to situations similarly to how our ancestors might have, given similar circumstances.

Each person is unique and valuable, and we share a blood connection with all humanity. Even without specific ancestral knowledge, we are all descendants of the earliest human beings. A person’s worth is inherently their own.

Life grants us a singular opportunity to discover and become who we are. This book aims to focus on individuals and factual accounts rather than the pursuit of glory.

Descendants of the individuals discussed in this book should seek their achievements rather than rely on their ancestors. Similarly, readers should refrain from attributing blame or glory from any person in this manuscript to their descendants.

Privacy notice

The practice of the highest care has been assumed to protect the privacy of living persons. For this reason, living persons are not listed in this book, apart from exceptions under explicit or assumed consent, innocuously mentioned where appropriate.

Legal notice

All the information provided in this book is solemn, was collected according to the highest possible scientific standards and is accurate to the best of the author’s knowledge. Errors, if any, must, therefore, be considered involuntary and may be due to mistakes in the consulted sources or syntax in the programming code used to produce the manuscript. Liability claims regarding damage caused by the use of any information provided, including any incomplete or incorrect information, will, therefore, be rejected by the author or anybody mentioned in this work.

Political notice

The author has attempted to describe history without judgment. Therefore, names have been used to identify and describe territories and peoples, which must neither be interpreted as opinions nor political statements. Examples are Spain, Belgium, France, Flanders, Catalonia, Castile, Aragon, Languedoc, North Catalonia, Wallonia, . . . and related peoples’ names, including Muslims, Catholics, Protestants, Templars, Cathars, Moors, Jews. The author rejects any responsibility for any interpretation or contextual extraction by the reader.

’Der Wahrheit zu Theil ward, der nur ein kurzes Siegesfest beschieden ist, zwischen den beiden langen Zeiträumen, wo sie als paradox verdammt und als trivial geringgeschätzt wird.’

Die Welt als Wille und Vorstellung - Arthur Schopenhauer (Gdansk 1788 - Frankfurt 1860).

Image 2

Figure 2: The Coat of Arms of Nico F. Declercq and his descendants. Artwork by Björn Fridén, Swedish Heraldic Artist.

(Nico F. Declercq, ©2020, all rights reserved)

Image 3

Figure 3: The Legend of Sant Jordi, by Père Niçard in 1470.

In antiquity, the narrative of Sant Jordi in Montblanc unfolds amidst a landscape characterized by the emergence of a fearsome dragon within the Catalan region, specifically at the periphery of Montblanc. This dragon, possessing the remarkable ability to traverse air, water, and land, posed a dire threat to the inhabitants with its noxious breath and predatory instincts. Despite valiant attempts by knights to vanquish the creature, the dragon consistently emerged victorious, instilling terror and despair throughout the town.

In response to the pervasive fear instigated by the dragon’s reign of terror, the monarch convened the populace, culminating in a collective agreement to placate the beast through regular offerings of goods. However, as the supplies dwindled, the sacrifices escalated from livestock to the grim practice of human sacrifice, determined by a lottery among the townsfolk. Poignantly, the king’s own daughter found herself selected as the initial offering, a revelation met with anguish and sorrow.

Undeterred by the inevitability of her fate, the princess embarked towards the dragon’s lair, resigned to her purported destiny. Yet, amidst the verdant expanse of the forest, she encountered an enigmatic knight named Jordi, resolute in his mission to rescue her from impending doom. Engaging in a fierce battle against the formidable dragon, Jordi ultimately triumphed, dealing a decisive blow to the creature’s vulnerable point beneath its left wing.

Utilizing the princess’s girdle as a binding implement, Jordi subdued the vanquished dragon, offering assurance of its docility. Returning triumphantly to the heart of Montblanc, Jordi’s valorous deed was celebrated amidst the town square, culminating in the ceremonial dispatch of the dragon and the emergence of a vibrant garden of crimson roses in the aftermath of its demise. Symbolically, Jordi tenderly presented the most exquisite rose to the princess, heralding a moment of communal jubilation and reverence.

Departing through the enduring monument of Saint George’s Gate, Jordi’s legacy endures as an emblem of courage, sacrifice, and the triumph of righteousness over adversity within the annals of Montblanc’s storied history.

Sant Jordi, also known as Saint George, has left an indelible mark on Christian and Islamic traditions as a revered martyr saint. Born in Kayseri in 275 CE, his life story intertwines with legends of martyrdom and miracles, shaping his enduring legacy. Despite the lack of concrete historical evidence, Sant Jordi’s tale continues to captivate believers and scholars alike. This article delves into the enigmatic figure of Sant Jordi, exploring his familial ties, his life as a Roman soldier turned Christian martyr, and the evolution of his cult through the ages.

Sant Jordi’s family background is rooted in Catholic tradition, which holds that he was the son of Gerontius, a Roman officer from Cappadocia, and Policronia, a local woman from Diospolis (modern-day Lod, Israel). Raised in a Christian household, Sant Jordi followed his father’s footsteps into the Roman army. His upbringing amidst the cultural crossroads of the Roman Empire likely influenced his later actions and beliefs.

At the age of thirty, Sant Jordi served as a tribune in Nicomedia under Emperor Diocletian’s reign. During this time, Diocletian initiated a fierce persecution against Christians. Despite the risks, Sant Jordi refused to renounce his faith, resulting in his imprisonment and subsequent martyrdom. His steadfast devotion and defiance in the face of persecution became emblematic of his saintly status.

Accounts of Sant Jordi’s martyrdom vary, with legends attributing miraculous events to his trials. From surviving being burned, cut by swords, and poisoned to performing miracles amidst his torment, Sant Jordi’s story is steeped in fantastical elements. Though lacking in historical veracity, these narratives underscore the enduring appeal of his martyrdom and the proliferation of his cult.

Over the centuries, Sant Jordi’s cult spread far and wide, transcending geographical and religious boundaries.

Despite attempts by authorities to discredit his legend, the enthusiasm of his devotees only grew stronger. Pope Gelasi’s decree in 496 acknowledging the apocryphal nature of Sant Jordi’s martyrdom did little to dampen the excitement surrounding his veneration. The fusion of pre-existing traditions with the cult of Sant Jordi further fueled his widespread appeal, ensuring his place as a beloved saint in the popular imagination.

In conclusion, the legend of Sant Jordi, while steeped in myth and uncertainty, continues to endure as a testament to the power of faith and martyrdom. Though disputed by historians, his story resonates with believers across cultures, inspiring devotion and reverence. As we unravel the layers of myth surrounding Sant Jordi, we uncover not just a historical figure but a symbol of resilience and unwavering faith in the face of adversity.

According to the legend, Saint George, also known as Sant Jordi, was born in Kayseri around the year 275 AD. He is said to have died in Nicomedia, present-day İzmit in Turkey, around April 23, 303 CE. Sant Jordi, also known as Saint George or Sint Joris, is celebrated on April 23.

PREFACE & ENDORSEMENTS

The Desclergues of la Villa Ducal de Montblanc, 2nd ed., Omn.

© 2024 Nico F. Declercq

Dear Reader,

After years of trying to delve into the history of the land of my ancestors, the past came to meet me.

For centuries, Montblanc has preserved the memory of an ancient family, the Desclergues, who lived among us but disappeared under little-known circumstances.

Well, in fact, they have not disappeared entirely because the most important place in the town, the plaça Major, still houses the imposing Palau Desclergues. It is a noble and haughty building that has hosted some of the most relevant activities of the Montblanc residents in recent centuries.

A few years ago, the Desclergues returned to Montblanc. Professor Nico F. Declercq contacted me, telling the impressive story of how the Desclergues left Montblanc, headed to northern lands, and adapted their name to Declercq. He happened to be a descendant of the Desclergues.

It was a privilege to modestly help Professor Declercq with some local aspects of his research, but the greatest privilege was hosting him and his lovely family on their visit to Montblanc to see the land, the palace, and the context from which their ancestors departed centuries ago.

The story of this migration is the book you have in your hands: an impressive historical review based on a titanic task of research and analysis.

It is an honor for me to have collaborated modestly and to recommend its reading.

It is definitely a reference work.

Thank you, Nico, for counting on me with your proposition to let me write this foreword.

Eduard Contijoch

Telecommunications Engineer and Historical Researcher

Barcelona, Spain.

June 20, 2024.

Image 4

Figure 4: Letter from the Royal Palace in Madrid.

Prof. Nico Declercq,

I enjoyed perusing your book and find that you have not only brought in some new material on Sri Lanka’s history but dealt with controversial issues quite well. I have alerted the National Library of Sri Lanka on the existence of your online volume.

Chandra R. de Silva,

June 30, 2023.1

1Endorsement of the passages pertaining to Sri Lanka in the First Edition of this book, by Professor Chandra R. de Silva on July 30, 2023, by email. Professor Chandra R. de Silva, is an esteemed scholar whose work I have much enjoyed. Dr. Chandra Richard de Silva is a distinguished professor renowned for his historical expertise and authorship. Hailing from Sri Lanka, he has significantly contributed to the scholarly community. De Silva, an esteemed academic in the field of history, holds the position of professor at Old Dominion University. His scholarly contributions include a range of works dedicated to exploring Sri Lankan history. Chandra De Silva pursued his secondary education at St. Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya, and afterward enrolled at the University of Ceylon, where he completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1962. In 1968, he completed the Doctor of Philosophy degree requirements at the University of London. In 1963, de Silva started his teaching career at the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya. From 1978 to 1981, he held the position of dean at the Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya. In 1984, he assumed the position of professor of history at the institution.

From 1989 to 1991, he held the position of visiting professor in the departments of history and Asian studies at Bowdoin College. From 1991 until 1998, he held the position of Chair of History at Indiana State University. In 1998, he assumed the chair of history at Old Dominion University. In June 2003, he assumed the position of dean at the College of Arts and Letters within the institution. Presently, he holds the position of vice provost for faculty and program development at the institution.

The chapters about Sri Lanka received his endorsement.

Image 5

Figure 5: This endorsement has been written by Professor Raja Ram Yadav on June 18, 2024.

Professor Yadav is the former head of the Physics Department at the University of Allahabad,

often referred to as ’Oxford of the East,’ and has also served as the Vice-Chancellor of Veer

Bahadur Singh Purvanchal University, Jaunpur. In addition to his knowledge and distinguished

contributions to the field of physics, he currently presides over the Ultrasonics Society. His

profound knowledge extends beyond the realm of physics to encompass Indian history, society,

and culture. Notably, Professor Yadav is also an accomplished musician.

Beste,

langs deze weg wil ik u oprecht feliciteren met uw prachtig boek, ongetwijfeld het werk van vele jaren onderzoek. Als Pattyn-zijnde, vind ik dit een waar historisch meesterwerk met een indrukwekkende hoeveelheid bron- en aktevermeldingen. Ik kon de verwijzingen naar de historische context waarin de diverse personen leefden ook heel erg smaken....Daarnaast wil ik u nog meegeven dat historisch gezien de stamboom van Guyotte De Hames ook leest als een geschiedenisboek, helemaal tot aan de Franken en Merovingers. Misschien een idee voor een vervolg of extra hoofdstuk. Desondanks, ook al is mijn eigen familie van Geluveld (later Zonnebeke en zelf woon ik in Ieper) mijn tak van de familie blijft momenteel nog een raadsel. Veel genealogen geloven (kopiëren zonder onderzoek of controle) dat een zekere Carolus een zoon van Pieter Simon Patin was, en noteren hem als vader van Joannes Patin (gehuwd met Helena Forrest). Ik weiger op dit moment om deze hypothese aan te nemen want duidelijk bewijs kan ik hiervan nergens vinden. De familie Pattyn heeft voor mij dus nog een aantal mysteries achter de hand.

Christophe Pattyn,

genealogist,

December 28, 2022.2

2Endorsement of the First Edition of this work; an appendix has been added in the current edition.

Dear Nico,

I write to you with deep appreciation for the significant contributions your work has made to our understanding of political power throughout history. Your diligent research into the Cortés family’s heritage, from which you draw a portion of your ancestry, has undoubtedly enriched our knowledge in this field and demonstrates a commendable dedication to your craft.

It was a pleasure to collaborate with you on your second book edition, providing additional information from a wide range of sources, including ancient codices, historical texts, chronicles, and noble archives across Spain, France, and Italy. The fusion of medieval history and genealogy, as you have demonstrated, is a complex task that requires years of meticulous effort to unravel the intricate puzzle of lineage and historical context.

Moreover, my keen insight into various aspects of medieval history, such as power dynamics, social movements, and the evolution of noble lineages, reflects my deep passion for the subject matter. My expertise extends beyond the genealogy of the Cortés family to encompass a wide array of topics, including the Crusades, Mediterranean trade routes, and the cultural tapestry of medieval Europe.

I am particularly impressed by your discerning analysis of historical records and your comprehension to dispel myths and inaccuracies that have persisted in earlier works. Your second edition, in particular, in which you incorporated much of the data and explanations I provided you with, sheds light on the origins of Hernán Cortés and provides valuable insights into the Christian conquest of Extremadura, offering a clear and logical genealogy of the Rodríguez de las Varillas and Monroy families. In conclusion, I want to express my deep admiration for your scholarly pursuits and the invaluable contributions you have made to our understanding of history.

Regarding the information and clues I have provided to you about your Desclergue ancestors in Mallorca and Occitania, I see myself as akin to a teacher to Professor Desclergue, who is my student. And, like any good teacher, I challenge my students and encourage them to investigate, read, and exercise their brains a little.

With warm regards,

Jairo Eduardo Cortés Rosal,

your genealogical cousin.345

Edinburgh, United Kingdom, October 6, 2023.

3Jairo Eduardo Cortés Rosal is a Venezuelan-Spanish historian and professional genealogist who earns all the credit for providing the author with the enormous amount of information about the ancestry of Maria Ana Cortés de Monroy y Vega. During an exchange with Jairo Eduardo Cortés Rosal, he elucidated the requisite skills and methodologies used by historians and genealogists when delving into the investigation of ancestral lineages, namely those delineated throughout the chapters of this literary work, particularly the ancestry of Hernán Cortés, but also the medieval Desclergues.

4Cortés Rosal created the Santa Fe de Bogotá Genealogy team, led by Fenita Hollman de Villaveces, in Bogotá. He is a descendant of Don Enrique de Guzmán, the Count of Niebla of the Ducal House of Medina-Sidonia. His grandfather is Juan Flórez de Ocariz, a Royal Notary in the Viceroyalty of New Granada in Santa Fe de Bogotá and was a great genealogist. He wrote the excellent work

’Genealogies of the New Kingdom of Granada.’

5Jairo Eduardo Cortés Rosal provided invaluable insights concerning the Desclergue lineage during the medieval period, thereby playing a seminal role in establishing a connection between the Desclergues of Montblanc and those of Mallorca. Additionally, Cortés Rosal contributed significantly to elucidating the Torró lineage within our genealogy. Despite his dissent regarding the inclusion of Bertrand Du Guesclin in the Torró lineage, the author maintains a conviction supported by a preponderance of the evidence that one of the ancestral lines, particularly the patrilineal descent, is true of Du Guesclin origin. This assertion is comprehensively expounded upon in the present work, notably in Part VI, wherein genetic and historical documentation are synthesized to bolster the argument.

Adhering to the principles of scientific inquiry, the author acknowledges that this theory’s fortification or potential revision hinges upon the emergence of additional evidential corroboration. The trajectory of scholarly inquiry will ultimately adjudicate the veracity of this proposition.

Cher Professeur Declercq,

C’est un privilège pour moi de vous adresser ce message afin de saluer la soumission que vous avez gracieusement transmise pour mon évaluation critique. Bien que ma recherche doctorale ne porte pas spécifiquement sur Bertrand Du Guesclin, elle couvre la même époque dans une perspective médiévale européenne plus large. Je vous suis reconnaissant de m’avoir permis d’intégrer de manière anonyme mes remarques évaluatives, qui contiennent des opinions personnelles, dans la préface de la seconde édition à venir de votre ouvrage scientifique.

Permettez-moi d’exprimer ma plus grande admiration pour votre œuvre phare, Les Desclergues de la Villa Ducal de Montblanc. C’est avec grand plaisir et satisfaction intellectuelle que j’écris pour exprimer ma profonde appréciation pour la profondeur de la recherche, la rigueur scientifique et l’analyse astucieuse contenues dans ses pages. Votre explication de la lignée de la famille Desclergue, en particulier le lien obscur entre Bertrand Du Guesclin et sa progéniture en Espagne avec une lignée de la Dame de Torró, témoigne de votre dévouement à découvrir des vérités historiques. La manière méticuleuse avec laquelle vous naviguez à travers les sources historiques et contextualisez ces révélations dans le cadre plus large de l’Europe médiévale est louable.

Je suis particulièrement impressionné par votre gestion des questions controversées entourant l’implication de Bertrand Du Guesclin dans la Guerre de Cent Ans et par la complexité de ses engagements en Espagne au cours du tumultueux XIVe siècle. Les enchevêtrements politiques et les sentiments nationalistes qui enveloppent souvent les discussions sur cette époque, tant en France qu’en Espagne, posent des défis considérables aux historiens.

Pourtant, votre approche impartiale consistant à disséquer ces débats et à présenter un récit nuancé en dit long sur votre intégrité scientifique et votre perspicacité intellectuelle.

L’intégration de méthodologies modernes telles que l’analyse ADN pour corroborer les découvertes historiques témoigne non seulement de votre approche innovante de l’enquête historique, mais également de votre contribution significative dans ce domaine. En intégrant harmonieusement la recherche archivistique traditionnelle avec des techniques scientifiques de pointe, vous avez fait progresser notre compréhension de la généalogie médiévale et créé un précédent pour les études interdisciplinaires dans le domaine.

Je salue votre courage pour aborder des sujets historiques aussi sensibles et controversés avec rigueur académique et impartialité. Votre travail constitue un phare d’érudition et un témoignage de l’importance d’une enquête historique rigoureuse pour démêler les complexités du passé.

J’attends avec impatience les futures contributions que votre précieuse plume apportera sans aucun doute, enrichissant encore davantage notre compréhension de l’histoire.

Avec mes salutations chaleureuses et mon admiration scientifique,

April 10, 2024.6

6The author solicited an endorsement from a doctoral candidate specializing in French History, following discussions on obtained DNA results and providing excerpts from his 2nd book edition. The author pledged to uphold confidentiality regarding the identity of the graduate student.

Estimado Dr. Declercq„

Me ha parecido muy interesante su investigación y le felicito por la publicación del libro. Respecto a su consulta, debo decirle que a primera vista me parece ver una conexión con las obras de un escultor francés activo en la zona de Tarragona entre el final del siglo XVI y los principios del XVII, llamado Benet Baró.

Creo que hay puntos de contacto en cuanto al tipo de relieve, los fondos arquitectónicos, las figuras, etc. Debo decir que el retablo que usted publica ha sido restaurado de forma abusiva. También que Benet Baró era un escultor de poca calidad, a mi parecer... Espero haberle sido de utilidad.

Saludos.

Sofia Mata De la Cruz,

Història i Història de l’Art,

Universitat Rovira i Virgili,

February 1, 2022.7

7Sofia Mata de la Cruz is a distinguished historian who specializes in art history, particularly the painting and sculpture of the Tarragona diocese during the modern era. She was born on August 4, 1955, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and earned her degree in Philosophy and Arts, specializing in Art History, in 1977. Her professional career began in 1987 at the Delegation of Artistic and Sacred Heritage of the Archdiocese of Tarragona, and she has been a conservator at the Museu Diocesà de Tarragona since 1989. Dr. Mata de la Cruz completed her doctorate at the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) in 2001 with a thesis on 16th-century painting in the Tarragona diocese. She started teaching at URV in 2004 as an associate professor in the Department of History and Art History. Throughout her career, she has cataloged and inventoried numerous artworks and contributed to various exhibitions and academic publications. In recognition of her contributions to cultural heritage, she has received several accolades, including a Diploma of Cultural Merit from the city of Tarragona. Her published works include detailed studies on religious constructions and notable figures in art from the Tarragona region, such as ’Tarragona y el concilio de Trento’ and ’La pintura del cinc-cents a la Diòcesi de Tarragona.’

xxxii

© 2024 Nico F. Declercq

The Desclergues of la Villa Ducal de Montblanc, 2nd ed., Omn.

Contents

PREFACE & ENDORSEMENTS

xiv

VOLUME I

1

I Foreword

3

0.1 A Reflection on The Dichotomy Between the First and Second Editions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5

0.2 About this Manuscript’s First Edition, 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5

0.3 A few words about the author . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6

0.4 The Author’s Academic Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6

II Research Fundamentals and Synopsis: Methods and Major Discoveries

3

1 Boudewijn I van Vlaanderen & Judith van West-Francië

5

2 Introduction to Historical Research Methodology

9

2.1 What is Historical Research? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9

2.2 Application of Methods in Historical Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9

2.3 Significance of Abduction in Historical Breakthroughs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9

2.4 Achievements in this Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9

3 Executive Summary

11

3.0.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

3.0.2 Comprehensive Family Lineage: An Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

3.0.3 Ancient Iberian Roots and Greek Integration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

3.0.4 Roman Era: Administrative Ascendancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

3.0.5 Byzantine Influence and North African Ventures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

3.0.6 Visigothic Resurgence and Islamic Conquests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

3.0.7 Frankish Reconquest and Christian Revival . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

3.0.8 Breton Expansion and Du Guesclin Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

3.0.9 Catalonia and the Knights Templar: Reestablishment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

3.0.10 Conquest of Mallorca: A Family Milestone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

3.0.11 Establishing the Desclergue Dynasty in Montblanc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

3.0.12 Strategic Marriages and Noble Alliances: Further Rise in Prominence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

3.0.13 Migration to Flanders: Military and Notarial Alliances in Kortrijk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

3.0.14 Genetic Legacy and Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

3.0.15 Notable Individuals and Their Contributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

3.0.16 Maternal Ancestry: Expanding the Family Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

3.0.17 The Montblanc Period: A Focused Exploration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

3.0.18 The De Silva Lineage of Uduwara: A Global Journey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

3.0.19 Additional Ancestral Lines and Military Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

3.0.20 The Chapel in Deerlijk: A Historical Revelation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

3.0.21 Epilogue: Insights and Reflections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

III Prelude

17

4 Heraldry and Geography

19

4.1 Heraldic Arms of Nico Felicien Declercq . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

4.1.1 Motto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

4.1.2 Historical Backbones of the Arms: Toulouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

4.1.3 Historical Backbones of the Arms: Desclergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

4.1.4 Historical Backbones of the Arms: de Patin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

4.1.5 Presentation of Declercq’s Arms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

4.1.6 The Declercq de Silva Family Tomb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

4.1.7 Heraldic Registrations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

4.2 Arms of Shirani de Silva . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

5 The Town and the Duchy of Montblanc in Spain.

23

6 A Glimpse on the Desclergues

29

The Desclergues of la Villa Ducal de Montblanc, 2nd ed., Omn.

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CONTENTS

7 Onomastics

31

7.1 Names in a Genealogical Context . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

7.2 Polymorfic Names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

7.3 Other Foreign Names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

7.4 First Names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

7.5 The Name Connected to the Casal dels Desclergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

8 A Brief History of Flanders and its Iberian Connections

39

8.1 Rethinking the Middle Ages: A Comprehensive Reevaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

8.2 Francia - The Kingdom of the Franks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

8.3 The Spanish Reconquista . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

8.4 The Battle of the Golden Spurs in 1302 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

8.5 The Burgundian Empire Rise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

8.5.1 Philip the Bold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

8.5.2 John of Burgundy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

8.5.3 Philip the Good . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

8.5.4 Charles the Bold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

8.5.5 Mary the Duchess of Burgundy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

8.5.6 Philip the Handsome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

8.6 Iberia as the Crown of the World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

8.7 Emperor Charles V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

8.8 The Habsburg Rule of Belgium under the Spanish Crown after Carlos V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

8.8.1 H. M. Felipe II as King of Spain and Ruler of the Spanish Netherlands, 1556-1598 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

8.8.2 H. M. Felipe III as King of Spain, 1598-1621 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

8.8.3 H. M. Isabella of Spain and H. M. Albert of Austria as Rulers of the Spanish Netherlands, 1598-1621 . . . . 51

8.8.4 H. M. Felipe IV as King of Spain and Ruler of the Spanish Netherlands, 1621-1665 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

8.8.5 H. M. Carlos II as King of Spain and Ruler of the Spanish Netherlands, 1665-1700 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

8.9 The Eighty Years War . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

8.10 El Camino Español . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

8.11 The Spanish Army of Flanders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

8.11.1 The composition of the Army of Flanders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

8.11.2 Timeline of the Eighty Years War . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

8.12 The Spanish Devolution War and the War of Succession . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

8.12.1 The Devolution War 1667-1668 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

8.12.2 The War of Succession 1701-1714 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

8.13 The Spanish Monarchy from H.M. King Felipe V until the First Republic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

8.13.1 H.M. Felipe V of Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

8.13.2 H.M. Luis I of Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

8.13.3 H.M. Felipe V of Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

8.13.4 H.M. Fernando VI of Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

8.13.5 H.M. Carlos III of Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

8.13.6 H.M. Carlos IV of Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

8.13.7 H.M. Fernando VII of Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

8.13.8 H.M. Isabella II of Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

8.13.9 H.M. Amadeo I of Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

8.14 The Spanish Monarchy, the Second Republic and the Civil War . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

8.14.1 H.M. Alfonso XII of Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

8.14.2 H.M. Alfonso XIII of Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

8.15 The Second Spanish Republic and Francisco Franco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

8.16 Spanish Monarchy after Francisco Franco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

8.16.1 H.M. King Juan Carlos I of Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

8.16.2 H.M. King Felipe VI of Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

8.17 Belgium Austriacum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

8.17.1 H.M. Emperor Charles VI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

8.17.2 H.M. Empress Maria Theresia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

8.17.3 H.M. Emperor Joseph II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

8.17.4 H.M. Emperor Leopold II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

8.17.5 H.M. Emperor Francis II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

8.18 The First Belgian Revolution in 1789 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

8.19 H.M. Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

8.20 The Dutch Period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

8.21 Modern Belgium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

8.21.1 H.M. King Leopold I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

8.21.2 H.M. King Leopold II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

8.21.3 H.M. King Albert I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

8.21.4 H.M. King Leopold III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

8.21.5 H.M. King Boudewijn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

8.21.6 H.M. King Albert II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

8.21.7 H.M. King Philippe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

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CONTENTS

xxxv

IV More than two thousand years of Desclergues

77

9 The Desclergues during the Greek Era

79

9.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

9.2 The Foundation of Empúries and the Desclergues Lineage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

9.3 Phocaea was the Origin of Greek Colonists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

9.4 Empúries was a Greek Foundation in Iberia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

9.5 The Integration of Local and Greek Elites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

9.6 The Legacy of Empúries and the Desclergues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

10 The Desclergues during the Roman Era

85

10.1 The Roman Conquest of Empúries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

10.2 The Role of the Desclergues in Roman Empúries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

10.3 Integration into the Roman Administrative Framework . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

10.4 Economic Prosperity and Social Influence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

10.5 Adaptation and Legacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

11 Byzantine Era

87

11.1 The Desclergues and Their Byzantine Alliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

11.2 Byzantine Conquest and Administration in Hispania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

11.3 The Desclergues in Hispania and North Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

11.4 Byzantine North Africa: Bejaia (Saldae) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

11.5 The Decline of Byzantine Hispania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

11.6 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

12 Visigothic and Islamic Era

91

12.1 The Byzantine Reconquest and Visigothic Resurgence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

12.2 The Desclergues and the Visigothic Alliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

12.3 The Islamic Conquests and the Transformation of the Iberian Peninsula . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

12.4 The Byzantine Legacy and Cultural Influence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

12.5 The Onset of the Muslim Conquest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

12.6 Adaptation and Division within the Desclergues Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

12.7 Catalonia and the Visigothic Resistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

12.8 Transition from Scribes to Hakim under Muslim Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

13 Brittany, Occitania and Catalonia

93

13.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

13.2 The Formation and Development of the Spanish March (778-950) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

13.2.1 Early Muslim Incursions and Carolingian Response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

13.2.2 Structure and Governance of the Spanish March . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

13.2.3 Conflicts and Consolidation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

13.2.4 Towards Autonomy and Independence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

13.3 The Breton March . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

13.3.1 Historical Background and Initial Establishment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

13.3.2 The Role of Roland and Early Conflicts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

13.3.3 Administrative and Military Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

13.3.4 Key Figures and Conflicts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

13.3.5 Decline and Transformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

13.3.6 The Second Breton March . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

13.3.7 Stabilization of Borders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

13.4 Consolidated Marches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

13.4.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

13.4.2 The Counties of the Spanish March . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

13.4.3 The Counties of the Breton March . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

13.4.4 The Transition to Autonomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

14 The Reconquista: A Brief Analysis of Historical and Cultural Dimensions

97

14.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

14.2 Historical Context and Phases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

14.2.1 Early Resistance and Formation of Christian Kingdoms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

14.2.2 The Role of Christian Kingdoms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

14.2.3 The Almoravid and Almohad Interventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

14.3 The Concept of Reconquista: Historiographical Debates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

14.4 Cultural and Religious Dynamics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

14.4.1 Coexistence and Conflict . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

14.4.2 The Role of Military Orders and Crusading Ideology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

14.5 Socio-Economic Transformations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

14.5.1 Repopulation (Repoblación) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

14.5.2 Economic Integration and Urban Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

14.6 The End of the Reconquista and Its Legacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

14.6.1 The Fall of Granada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

14.6.2 Long-term Impacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

15 The Name Desclergue: A Socio-Historical and Genealogical Study

99

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16 The Powerful Clergues Clan in Occitania

103

16.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

16.2 Cathars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

16.3 Our Roots in Albi and Castres, France . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

16.4 Montaillou . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

16.5 Cortés Rosal’s Reflections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

16.6 Château de Linardié . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

16.7 Béatrice de Planisolles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

16.8 Lord of Guimerie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

V The Desclergues’ Return to Spain

111

17 Historical Events Marking this Period

113

17.1 Purpura de la Patria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

17.2 The Catalan Genesis of the Desclergue Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

17.3 Toulouse County and La Marca, Aragon and Barcelona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115

17.4 The Knights Templars, Juanista and Mary Magdalene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116

17.4.1 A general Perspective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116

17.4.2 The Templar’s Chapel of Metz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116

17.5 Templars in Occitania and in Aragón . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

17.6 Ramon Llull was Francesc Desclergues’ Acquaintance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118

17.7 The Templars of Mallorca . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119

17.8 Mallorca and the Nobility from Occitana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119

17.9 The Desclergues were Pioneers of Mallorcan Banking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120

17.10The Tradehub of Mallorca in the Late 13th Century . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120

17.11Intertwined Mallorca and Barcelona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121

17.12The Transition from Mallorca to the Catalan Mainland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121

17.13Highlighting the Templars in Catalonia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122

18 Our Desclergue Ancestry

129

18.1 The Genesis of Catalunya Nova: Conquest and Colonization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

18.2 The Role of the Knight’s Templar in Catalonia’s Expansion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

18.3 The Brothers Francesc and Arnau Clergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

18.3.1 Pere Clergue, Arnau Clergue’s Son . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135

18.4 Excile from Albi Langedoc 1209-1229 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135

18.5 The Conquest of the Arab Kingdom of Mallorca . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136

18.6 Banking in Mallorca . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136

18.7 Trade in Mallorca . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136

18.8 The Desclergues embodied the Renaissance Spirit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

18.9 Countess Joan of Toulouse (1220–1271) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

18.10Raymond des Clergue, Father of the Desclergues Clan in Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

18.10.1 Desbosch, Friend of Desclergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

18.10.2 Ramón Desclergue ceased the Opportunity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

18.11Francesc Desclergue, the Son of Raymond des Clergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

18.11.1 Francesc Desclergue and his Freedom of Speech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140

18.11.2 Francesc Desclergue and the Maria Magdalena Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140

18.11.3 Guillem Borrell, Father-in-law of Francesc Desclergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

18.11.4 Bernat Desclergue, the Son of Francesc Desclergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143

18.12Guillermo Desclergue, the Son of Francesc Desclergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143

18.13The Trial of the Templars in 1307 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143

18.14The Desclergues Emigration from Mallorca to Aragon in 1382 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144

18.15Pere Desclergue, the Son of Guillermo Desclergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144

18.15.1 Berenguer, the Son of Pere Desclergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144

18.15.2 N. Desclergue, the Daughter of Pere Desclergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144

18.16Geronimo Desclergue, the Grandson of Guillermo Desclergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144

18.17Ramon Desclergue, the Son of Geronimo Desclergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145

18.18Francesc Desclergue, the Son of Ramon Desclergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145

18.19Berenguer Desclergue, the Son of Francesc Desclergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145

18.20Clementa Desclergue, the Daughter of Berenguer Desclergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145

18.21The Settlement in Montblanc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145

18.22Desclergues in Barcelona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145

18.22.1 Benedicto Desclergue in Barcelona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145

18.23Desclergues in Cervera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145

18.23.1 Jaume Desclergue in Cervera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145

18.23.2 Joan Desclergue in Cervera & Barcelona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146

18.23.3 Geronimo Desclergue in Cervera & Barcelona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146

18.24Desclergues in Lleida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146

18.24.1 Antich Desclergue in Lleida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146

18.25Desclergues in Granvena . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146

18.25.1 Gabriel Desclergue in Granvena & Lleida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146

18.26Desclergues in Verdú-Tàrrega . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147

18.26.1 Balaguer Desclergue in Verdú . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147

18.27Desclergues in Tarragona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147

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18.27.1 Benet Desclergue in Tarragona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147

18.28Desclergues in Balaguer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147

18.28.1 Bonaventura Desclergue in Balaguer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147

18.29Desclergues in Manresa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147

18.29.1 Pere Desclergue in Manresa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147

18.29.2 Nicolau Desclergue (I) in Manresa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151

18.29.3 Nicolau Desclergue (II) in Manresa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151

18.30The Desclergues in Sevilla . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151

18.31Other Desclergues in Montblanc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151

18.32Other Desclergues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152

18.32.1 Cerdana Desclergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152

18.32.2 Nicolaus Desclergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152

18.32.3 Benet Desclergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152

VI The Patrilineal Ancestry along Bertrand Du Guesclin

153

19 Bertrand Du Guesclin

155

19.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155

19.2 Who was Bertrand Du Guesclin? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157

19.3 Why Bertrand Du Guesclin? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159

19.4 La Marche de Bretagne and Île Du Guesclin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160

19.5 Spanish Patrilineal Roots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160

19.6 Mediterranean Blood at Saint Coulomb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163

19.7 The Legend of King Aquin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163

19.8 Hakin in La Marche de Bretagne, Originating from La Marche d’Espagne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164

19.8.1 General Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164

19.8.2 Specific Notable Figures in La Marche d’Espagne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166

19.9 Consistency with the Official History of Saint Coulomb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168

19.10Du Guesclin’s Strategic Genesis in Bougie (Béjaïa) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169

19.11Descent from Desclergue through Hakim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170

19.11.1 Du Guesclin’s Heraldic Shield points at Muslim Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171

19.12The Reported Patriliniar Ancestors of Du Guesclin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172

19.12.1 Richer de Guarplic (DG01) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172

19.12.2 Clamaroch de Guarplic (DG02) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172

19.12.3 Bertrand I de Guarplic (DG03) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172

19.12.4 Geoffroy de Guarplic (DG04) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172

19.12.5 Bertrand II du Guesclin (DG05) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172

19.12.6 Pierre du Guesclin (DG06) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172

19.12.7 Bertrand III du Guesclin (DG07) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172

19.12.8 Bertrand IV du Guesclin (DG08) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173

19.12.9 Guillaume du Guesclin (DG09) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173

19.12.10Robert II du Guesclin (DG10) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173

19.13Autosomal Roots of Bertrand du Guesclin in Occitania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173

19.13.1 Toulouse-Gerona-Barcelona-Empúries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173

19.13.2 Bertrand Du Guesclin’s Occitanian Blood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173

19.13.3 Du Guesclin and Borrell, link to Barcelona and Ampurias . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174

19.13.4 Du Guesclin was a Blood Relative of Enrique de Trastamara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175

19.14Was Du Guesclin a Templar? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175

19.14.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175

19.14.2 Bertrand Du Guesclin had Ancestors who were Crusaders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176

19.14.3 Templars in Matignon, Bretagne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178

19.14.4 A templar’s Chapel in Pléboule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179

19.14.5 Jacky Minier’s thoughts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180

19.14.6 Cuvelier’s thoughts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181

19.15Descendants in Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184

19.15.1 Banquet with the King, and Errors in Historical Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185

19.15.2 ’Dame de Soria’ was not from Soria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187

19.15.3 Doña Torró - Du Guesclin’s Doña de Soria, and their Offspring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188

19.15.4 The Descendants of Beltrán Torró, Son of Bertrand Du Guesclin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189

19.15.5 The Ancestry of Clementa Desclergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189

19.15.6 The Descendants of Guerau Torró, Son of Bertrand du Guesclin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190

19.15.7 Historians on Du Guesclin’s Offspring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192

19.16Du Guesclin’s Brief Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199

19.17Du Guesclin’s Appearance in Spain: War of Two Peters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199

19.18Bertrand du Guesclin’s Chivalric and Strategic Motives in the War of the Two Peters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200

19.19The Logic Behind Aragon’s Support of Bertrand Du Guesclin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201

19.20The Role of the House of Montfort in the Mutual Sympathy Between Bertrand Du Guesclin and the Count of Barcelona201

19.21Du Guesclin’s role in the Battle of Montiel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202

19.22Honors Received by Du Guesclin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203

19.23Du Guesclin’s Legacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203

19.24Bertrand Du Guesclin’s Final Words Revealed his Roots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203

19.25The Burial Place of Bertrand Du Guesclin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205

19.26Heraldry and the Appearance of Du Guesclin in Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205

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19.26.1 Du Guesclin supporting H.M. Enrique de Trastámara of Castile in The Castilian Civil War, and supporting

H.M. Peter IV of Aragon in The War of the Two Peters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205

19.26.2 Places visited by Du Guesclin in Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208

19.26.3 The Presence and Liberation of Montblanc by Du Guesclin in the Records of 1366-1370 . . . . . . . . . . . . 209

19.26.4 The Spanish format of Du Guesclin’s name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209

19.26.5 Heraldry of the Du Guesclin family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209

19.26.6 The seal of Du Guesclin upon his arrival in Spain: The Gryphon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210

19.26.7 The shield of Du Guesclin as Count of Trastamara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210

19.27DNA Analysis Exposing the Connection with Du Guesclin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210

19.27.1 DNA Evidence of Du Guesclin as the Originator of the Desclergues of Montblanc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210

19.27.2 The Counts of Barcelona and the Royal House of Aragon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211

19.27.3 The Du Guesclin Haplogroup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211

19.27.4 A sample of R. Grouazel-Krauss from Ruca in Brittany, male descendant of Guéhéneuc . . . . . . . . . . . . 211

19.27.5 A sample of Nadine Isabelle Ulrich, descendant of Robert II Du Guesclin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212

19.27.6 A sample of Marguerite Emma De Myttenaere, descendant of Robert II Du Guesclin . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213

19.27.7 A sample of Vargas-Kolabukoff, descendant of Pierre III Du Guesclin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213

19.27.8 A sample of F. Guézénnec . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213

19.27.9 A sample of B. Chaix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213

19.27.10A sample of M. Cariou . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213

19.27.11A sample of Cloarec-Le Prunennec-Le Parlouer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214

19.27.12The Brittanic Grouazel-Krauss family as Descendants of Uuethenoc and Boisguehenneuc . . . . . . . . . . . 214

20 The Torró Bloodline

215

20.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215

20.2 The Torró came from Occitania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217

20.3 Beltrán Torró (DT01) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217

20.3.1 Guerau Torró (DT01b), Brother of Galceran Torró (DT02) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222

20.3.2 Nicolau Torró . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222

20.4 Galceran Torró (DT02) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223

20.5 Pere Torró (DT03) & Eulalia Miquel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223

20.5.1 Pere Torró . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223

20.5.2 Eulalia Miquel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223

20.6 Francesc Torró i Miquel (DT04) & Clementa Desclergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223

20.6.1 Francesc Torró i Miquel (DT04) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223

20.6.2 Clementa Desclergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224

20.6.3 Galceran Torró y Desclergue (DC01b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224

20.6.4 Pere Torró y Desclergue (I) (DC01) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224

20.7 Other Members of the Torró clan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224

20.7.1 Ramon Torró . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225

20.7.2 Aynard Torró . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225

20.7.3 Galceran Torró . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225

20.7.4 Joan Torró . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225

20.7.5 Pere Torró . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226

20.7.6 Elionor Torró . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228

20.7.7 Galceran Torró (DT03g) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228

20.7.8 Bertran Torró (DT03f) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228

20.7.9 Francesc Torró . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229

20.7.10 Francesc de Torró y Desclergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229

20.7.11 Pere Galceran Torró . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229

20.7.12 Dionís Torró (alias Miquel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229

20.7.13 Sibilla Miquel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230

20.7.14 Galceran Torró . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230

20.7.15 Bernat Torró . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230

20.7.16 Guillem Torró . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230

20.7.17 Jaume and Joan Torró . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230

20.8 Members of the Miquel clan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231

20.8.1 Berenguer de Miquel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231

20.8.2 Pere Miquel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231

20.8.3 Anton Miquel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231

20.8.4 Joan Miquel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231

20.8.5 Gabriel de Miquel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232

20.8.6 Guillermo Torró de Miquel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232

20.8.7 Gerónimo de Miquel i Torró . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232

20.8.8 Francesc Miquel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232

VII The Desclergues in Montblanc

233

21 Earliest Desclergues in Montblanc - Matrilineal Connection

235

22 Summary of the Desclergue Paternal Ancestry Line

241

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23 Coat of Arms: Links to Du Guesclin and Cortés de Monroy

245

23.1 The Shield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245

23.2 The Helmet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245

23.3 The Gryphon on the Helmet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245

23.4 Three Military Flags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246

23.5 The Fleurs de Lys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246

24 Settlement of our Desclergues at Montblanc

253

25 Don Pere Torró y Desclergue (I) (DC01)

257

25.0.1 Ancestry of Pere Torró y Desclergue (I) (DC01) on his Mother’s Side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257

25.0.2 Pere Torró y Desclergue (I) (DC01) was a Notary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260

25.0.3 Eleonor Torró y Miquel, the Wife of Don Pere de Torró y Desclergue (I) (DC01) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261

25.1 Descendants of Pere Desclergue (I) (DC01) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262

25.1.1 Pere Desclergue (DC02b), a Mercador . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262

25.1.2 Antich Desclergue (DC02c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262

25.1.3 Galceran Desclergue (I=II) (DC02d) & Ana de Villavicencio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262

26 Don Joan Berenguer Desclergue (DC02) & Doña Prunera y Ferrer

291

26.0.1 Don Joan Berenguer Desclergue (DC02), General Conservator of the Montblanc Dukedom . . . . . . . . . . . 291

26.0.2 Doña Prunera y Ferrer, the wife of Joan Berenguer Desclergue (DC02) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291

26.0.3 Children of Joan Berenguer Desclergue (DC02) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294

27 Don Bonaventura Desclergue & Maria Anna Cortés de Monroy

295

27.1 Don Bonaventura Desclergue (I) (DC03), a Notary and Local Deputy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295

27.2 Maria Ana Cortes de Monroy y Vega Bazan, her Lineage and Relatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301

27.2.1 Don Cristóbal Cortés de Monroy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307

27.3 Maria de Vega Bazan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307

27.4 Lope Fernandez de Vega . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307

27.5 Ines de Luna y Rojas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308

27.6 Alonso Martin Cortés de Monroy y Sánchez de Badajoz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311

27.7 Pedro de Paz y Gomez de Anaya . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313

27.8 Catalina de Boil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314

27.9 Pedro de Boil y Foces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314

27.10Ximena Ferrench de Luna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314

27.11Garcia Garces de Boil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314

27.12Ermesenda de Cervellon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315

27.13Juan Rodriguez de las Varillas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315

27.13.1 Garci Sánchez de Badajoz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318

27.13.2 Diego Sánchez de Badajoz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320

27.14Don Sancho de Cerdanya y Provenza . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320

27.15Maria Sanchez of Navarra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322

27.16Gil Podavila or Bodavila . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322

27.17Maria Fernandez de Monroy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322

27.18Fernan Perez de Monroy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322

27.19Estefania Rodriguez de Varillas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323

27.20Hernán Cortés de Monroy, Ana’s Cousin and a Conquistador . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324

27.20.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324

27.20.2 Heraldic Shield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324

27.20.3 His Early Life and Arrival in the New World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324

27.20.4 The Deity Quetzal Coatl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325

27.20.5 His Life in Hispañola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326

27.20.6 His First Visit of Tenochtitlan (Mexico City) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326

27.20.7 His Conquista of Tenochtitian (Mexico City) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326

27.20.8 His Involvement in Other Conquistas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326

27.20.9 A Devastating End of His Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326

27.20.10The Author’s Meso-American and Hellenistic Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327

27.20.11Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327

27.20.12The Author’s Publications on this Matter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328

27.20.13Articles Published by News Agencies on the Author’s Activity, concerning the Quetzal echo at Chichen Itza . 328

27.20.14Articles Published by News Agencies concerning the Author’s Work on the Raindrop Effect . . . . . . . . . . 329

27.20.15Articles Published by News Agencies Concerning the Author’s Work in Epidaurus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329

27.20.16Offspring of Hernán Cortés de Monroy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329

27.20.17Martín Cortés el Mestizo, Martín El Viejo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329

27.20.18Don Martín Cortés Zuñiga . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330

27.20.19Other Offspring of Hernán Cortés . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331

27.21Descendants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331

27.21.1 Francesc Torró y Desclergue (DC04b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331

27.21.2 Bonaventura Torró y Desclergue (DC04c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332

27.21.3 Galceran Torró, son of Bonaventura Torró y Desclergue (DC04c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332

27.21.4 Luis Desclergue (I) (DC04d) y Cortés, a Mercador . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332

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28 Bonaventura Desclergue (DC04) and his family

335

28.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335

28.2 Don Bonaventura Desclergue y Cortés (II) (DC04) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335

28.3 His Marriage with Anna (II) Ratera and Their Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336

28.3.1 Don Francesc Desclergue (DC05e) y Ratera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336

28.3.2 Don Antoni Desclergue y Ratera (DC05b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343

28.3.3 Doña Francisca Desclergue (DC05d) y Ratera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344

28.3.4 Doña Isabel/Elisabeth Desclergue y Tous (DC05ex1) - First Marriage, with Jacinto Francesc Jori . . . . . . . 344

28.3.5 Doña Isabel/Elisabeth Desclergue y Tous (DC05ex1) - Second Marriage, with Jacinto Pedrolo . . . . . . . . 344

28.4 Marriage with Maria Anna Desclergue y Villavicencio and Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345

28.4.1 Don Jeroni Joan Desclergue y Cortés (DC05) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346

28.4.2 Don Enric Desclergue (DC05c) y Cortés . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346

28.5 Don Francesc de Pedrolo y Desclergue, (DC05ex1y2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346

28.5.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346

28.5.2 Narrative of His Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 348

28.5.3 Descendants : de Pedrolo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 349

28.5.4 Manuscripts Authored by Francesc de Pedrolo y Desclergue (DC05ex1y2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 349

28.5.5 Francesc de Pedrolo y Desclergue (DC05ex1y2) is also found in. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350

28.5.6 Francesc de Pedrolo y Desclergue’s Ancestral Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350

28.5.7 His Paternal Uncle, Francesc Onofre de Pedrolo y Desclergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350

28.5.8 Desclergue Documents in Fons documentals de Montblanc a l’ Arxiu comarcal de Tàrrega . . . . . . . . . . . 350

28.5.9 Antoni de Pedrolo (DC05ex1y2y1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 352

28.5.10 Amadeo Francesc Desclergue y Tous (DC05ey1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 352

28.6 Earlier Connection with the de Pedrolo Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353

VOLUME II

363

VIII The Desclergues in Habsburg Belgium

365

29 Jeroni Joan Desclergue y Cortés (DC05) & Felipa de Montoya

367

29.1 Jeroni’s complete Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367

29.2 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367

29.3 His Roots in Montblanc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 372

29.4 The Impact from the de Queralt Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 373

29.4.1 The Horta Commandery (Tarragona) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 373

29.4.2 The Commandery of Gardeny (Lerida) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 373

29.4.3 The Barberà Commandery (Tarragona) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376

29.4.4 The Recruitment of Jeroni Joan Desclergue y Cortés (DC05) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376

29.5 The Career of Jeroni Desclergue 1587-1604 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 377

29.5.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 377

29.5.2 The Influence of Carlos Coloma and Luis del Villar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379

29.5.3 The Capture of Geldern 1587 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 380

29.5.4 The Invasion of England with the Spanish Armada 1588 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381

29.5.5 The Siege of Bergen op Zoom 1588 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381

29.5.6 The Attempt to sack Ostend in Spring 1589 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381

29.5.7 The Siege of Heusden, Heel and Bommelerwaard, 1589 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 382

29.5.8 The Arrival in Harelbeke and Kortrijk, December 1589 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 382

29.5.9 Culinary Waffle Traditions in Kortrijk involving Our Family and Antoon Van Dyck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 383

29.5.10 Attack on the Fortress of Noordam 1590 near Zevenbergen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 383

29.5.11 The Attack on Occupied Oudenburg 1590 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 383

29.5.12 The Relief of la Ferté-Milon in 1591 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 383

29.5.13 The Liberation of the Westerlo Castle in 1591 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 384

29.5.14 Defence of Nijmegen in 1591 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 384

29.5.15 The Defense of Steenwijk (1592) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 384

29.5.16 The Siege of Coevorden in 1593-1594 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 384

29.5.17 The capture of La Capelle and the Loss of Laon in 1594 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 384

29.5.18 The Capture of Hoei (Huy) in Spring of 1595 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 385

29.5.19 The Siege of Le Catelet, Doullens, and Cambrai - Summer of 1595 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 385

29.5.20 The Hospital of Saint-Jean at Citadel of Cambrai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 386

29.5.21 The Siege of Calais and Ardres in 1596 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 386

29.5.22 The Siege of Hulst in 1596 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 387

29.5.23 The Battles of Turnhout, Alphen and Moers in the North-East, in 1597 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 387

29.5.24 Surprise Capture of Amiens in the South, 1597 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 388

29.5.25 A New Career in Tournai in the Spring of 1598 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 388

29.5.26 Short Career in Barcelona and Membership of the Corts 1598-1602 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 389

29.5.27 His Stay in Tournai 1602-1604 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 390

29.5.28 His Participation in the Siege of Ostend 1602-1604 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 390

29.6 The Events after Jeroni’s Death in 1604 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 423

29.7 The Spaniard Castle of Ghent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 423

29.8 The Early Network of Jeroni Desclergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 425

29.8.1 The Friendship between the Desclergue, Du Puich, Masse, Declercq, de Bucqouy, Vosse, Andries and de la

Cruz families . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 427

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29.8.2 Jan Declercq (DK03) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 427

29.8.3 The du Puich family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 427

29.8.4 The Masse family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 429

29.8.5 The de Vos Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 429

29.8.6 The de la Cruz Family, related to Jeroni’s Wife . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 430

29.8.7 The Andries Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 430

29.9 Jeroni’s children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 430

29.9.1 Juana Desclergue (DC06c), the Daughter of Jeroni Joan Desclergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 434

29.9.2 Maria Desclergue (DC06e), the Daughter of Jeroni Joan Desclergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 434

29.9.3 Anna Desclergue (DC06f), the Daughter of Jeroni Desclergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 434

29.9.4 Antoni Desclergue (DC06), the Son of Jeroni Desclergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 436

29.9.5 Jeroni Desclergue (DC06d), the Son of Jeroni Desclergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 436

29.9.6 Miguel Desclergue (DC06b), the Son of Jeroni Desclergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 436

29.10Felipa de Montoya, the Wife of Jeroni Desclergue, and Her Family. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 438

29.10.1 Etymology of de Montoya . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 438

29.10.2 Her Ancestors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 442

29.10.3 Her Marriage with Jeroni Joan Desclergue (DC05) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 442

29.10.4 Her Acquaintance with the Declercq family in Kortrijk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 442

29.10.5 Her Marriage with Jan Declercq (DK03) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 442

29.10.6 The Siblings of Felipa de Montoya and the Ximenes de la Cruz Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 442

29.10.7 Jeronimo de Montoya, senior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 443

29.10.8 Jeronimo de Montoya, junior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 443

29.10.9 Antonio de Montoya . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 444

29.10.10Maria de Montoya, junior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 444

29.10.11Felipa de Montoya was related to Carlos Coloma de Saa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 444

29.10.12Other Montoyas in Belgium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 444

29.11The Orphans of Jeroni Desclergue, Ius Inter Gentes, their Inheritance, and the Destiny of Felipa de Montoya . . . . 445

29.11.1 Ius Inter Gentes and Citizen Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 445

29.11.2 Unio Prolium, civil and Inheritance Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 451

29.11.3 Ius Inter Gentes, Civil and Inheritance Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 452

29.12The Spanish Military Barracks of Harelbeke, adjacent to Deerlijk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 454

29.12.1 The Historical Perspective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 454

29.12.2 Archaeological Evidence of the Spanish Barracks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 458

30 Whereabouts of Jeroni Desclergue and his family in Flanders

461

30.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 461

30.2 The Spaniard Castle of Ghent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 461

30.3 Kortrijk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 461

30.4 Cambrai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 461

30.5 Tournai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463

30.6 Ostend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463

30.7 Overacker in Deerlijk-Harelbeke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463

31 The Siege of Ostend

469

31.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 469

31.2 The Early Stage of the Battle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 469

31.3 The Late and Final Stages of the Battle and the Death of Jeroni Joan Desclergue y Cortés (DC05) . . . . . . . . . . 470

31.4 Sandhill in Ostend, where Jeroni was Killed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 471

31.5 Colombye, San Miguel and the Pregnant Widow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 472

31.6 Legacy of the Siege of Ostend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 472

32 Antoni Desclergue y Ratera (DC05b)

491

32.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491

32.2 His Career . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491

32.2.1 Recruitment and service in Milan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491

32.2.2 Ostend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491

32.2.3 Damme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491

32.2.4 Barcelona and Gerona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 494

32.2.5 Antwerp, with his brother Enrique (DC05c) and the onset of the 30-year War . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 495

32.3 Spouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 497

32.4 His Death at Ghent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 497

32.5 His Offspring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 497

32.5.1 Pere Desclergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 499

32.5.2 Joan Desclergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 499

32.5.3 Francisca Desclergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 499

32.5.4 Jose Desclergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 499

32.5.5 Maria Desclergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 499

32.6 The appearance of Maria Juana Pollet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 499

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33 Enric Desclergue y Cortés (DC05c)

501

33.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 501

33.2 His Recruitment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 501

33.3 His Career . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 501

33.3.1 Handwritten reference 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 501

33.3.2 Handwritten reference 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 501

33.3.3 Handwritten reference 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 512

33.3.4 Íñigo de Borja y Velasco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 512

33.3.5 The defence of ’s Hertogenbosch in 1603 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 513

33.3.6 His involvements in Ostend and Sluis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 513

33.3.7 The battles with Ambrogio Spinola 1606-1609 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 513

33.3.8 His Mediterranean Career in the Period 1610-1613 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 514

33.3.9 His Involvement in Eastern Provinces and Residence of Enric Desclergue in Antwerp with his Brother Antoni,

and the Onset of the 30-year War, 1614-1618 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 515

33.3.10 Enric Desclergue was Awarded in 1623 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 516

33.3.11 His Residence in Wingene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 516

33.4 His Spouses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 516

33.4.1 Maria, the First Wife of Enric Desclergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 516

33.4.2 Ana Fabiana Pacheco, the Second Wife of Enric Desclergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 516

33.5 The Death of Enric Desclergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 517

33.6 His Offspring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 518

34 Antoni Desclergue y de Montoya (DC06)

519

34.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 519

34.2 The Discovery of Antoni Desclergue (DC06) by Jose Sanchez Real . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 519

34.3 Antoni Desclergue (II) (DC06) in the Literature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 520

34.4 The Birth of Antoni Desclergue (II) (DC06) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 521

34.5 The Life and Military Career of Antoni Desclergue until 1640 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 525

34.5.1 The Siege of Ostend and the Death of his Father Jeroni and Uncle Jeronimo de Montoya . . . . . . . . . . . 525

34.5.2 The Truce Between the Northern and Spanish Netherlands 1609-1621 and How it Ended . . . . . . . . . . . 525

34.5.3 An Event which may have Triggered Antoni to Join the Armed Forces: the Comet on Christmas 1618 . . . . 528

34.5.4 The Siege of Gulik, 1621-1622 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 528

34.5.5 The Siege of Bergen Op Zoom and Steenbergen, 1622 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 529

34.5.6 The Siege of Breda, 1624-1625 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 530

34.5.7 The French-Dutch Alliance against the Habsburgs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 531

34.5.8 The defence of ’s Hertogenbosch in 1629 and Bruges in 1631 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 540

34.5.9 The Siege of Leuven, 1635 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 541

34.5.10 Meanwhile in the World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 542

34.5.11 1639-1641, the Period when Antoni Desclergue (II) (DC06) was in Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 542

34.5.12 Particular Case of a Soldier Recruited in Flanders who Remained near Montblanc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 543

34.5.13 Specific Appearances of and Links to Antoni Desclergue in the area of Deerlijk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 549

34.5.14 Troops and their Families in the Area Deerlijk-Harelbeke-Kortrijk and their Impact on the Inhabitants During

the Lifetime of Antoni Desclergue - Until his Departure for Spain in 1639 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 550

34.5.15 The Role of Carlos Coloma de Saa in the Life of Antoni Desclergue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 550

34.5.16 The Construction of the Chapel at Deerlijk in 1639-1641 and Possible Involvement in Another One in 1666 . 551

34.5.17 A Donation to the Hospital of Saint-Jean at the Citadel of Cambrai in 1641 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 551

34.6 Military Career of Antoni Desclergue after 1641 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 551

34.6.1 The Battle of Honnecourt-sur-Escaut (1642) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 551

34.6.2 The Spanish Defeat at Rocroi (1643) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 552

34.6.3 Troops and their Families in the Area Deerlijk-Harelbeke-Kortrijk and their Impact on the Inhabitants during

the Lifetime of Antoni Desclergue - after 1641 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 566

34.7 Antoni Desclergue as Alderman’s Clerk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575

34.8 The Siege of Barcelona in 1651 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 577

34.8.1 Antoni Desclergue’s Context . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 577

34.8.2 Antoni Desclergue’s Involvement in the Siege of Barcelona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 579

34.8.3 Antoni Desclergue’s Life After the Siege of Barcelona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 581

34.9 Tratado de los Pirineos - Visit of Antoni to Montblanc in 1659 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 582

34.10Devolution War (1667-1669) and Residence in Ghent (1672-1678) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 582

34.10.1 Antoni Desclergue as a Military Recruiter for the Devolution War (1667-1669) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 583

34.10.2 French King Louis XIV and Spanish Maria Theresia of Austria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 584

34.10.3 Residence at Ghent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 584

34.10.4 Other indications of Regional Instability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 585

34.11A Visit to Spain in 1679 for a Wedding after the Peace of Nijmegen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 585

34.12Antoni Desclergue’s Marriage and Whereabouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 585

34.12.1 Beatrice Declercq (DK02byx), Antoni Desclergue’s (II) (DC06) wife . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 586

34.12.2 Antoni Desclergue (II) (DC06) on the List of ’la Bourgeoisie Foraine’ of Kortrijk at Deerlijk . . . . . . . . . . 586

34.12.3 The Orphan’s Deed when Antoni’s Wife Beatrice Declercq (DK02byx) Died in 1651 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 587

34.13Clan of Beatrice Declercq (DK02byx) Antoni Desclergue’s wife . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 597

34.13.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 597

34.13.2 Jan Declercq (DK00) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 597

34.13.3 Nicolas Declercq (DK01) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 597

34.13.4 Nicolas Declercq (DK02) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 597

34.13.5 Jan Declercq (DK02a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 598

© 2024 Nico F. Declercq

The Desclergues of la Villa Ducal de Montblanc, 2nd ed., Omn.

CONTENTS

xliii

34.13.6 Tomas Declercq (DK03d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 598

34.13.7 Jan Declercq (DK03) & Isabeau Braye . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 600

34.13.8 The Lives of the Biological Descendants of Nicolas Declercq (DK02) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 601

35 Pedro de Clerque (DK02by2), the Brother-in-law of Antoni Desclergue (II) (DC06)

637

35.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 637

35.2 His Bloodline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 637

35.3 His Military Career . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 637

36 Children of Antoni Desclergue (DC06)

639

36.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 639

36.2 Antoni Declerque (DC07), the Son of Antoni Desclergue (DC06) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 639

36.3 Anna Declerque (DC07e), the Daughter of Antoni Desclergue (DC06) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 639

36.4 Juan Declerque (DC07c), the Son of Antoni Desclergue (DC06) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 639

36.4.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 639

36.4.2 His Military Career . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 639

36.4.3 Beatrice Maria Vandeputte, the wife of Juan Declerque (DC07c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 641

36.5 Maria Declerque (DC07b) the Daughter of Antoni Desclergue (DC06) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 641

36.6 Joan Declerque (DC07g), the Son of Antoni Desclergue (DC06) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 641

36.7 Pere Declerque (DC07d), the Son of Antoni Desclergue (DC06) and Soldier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 643

36.8 Michiel Declerque (DC07f), Merchant Son of Antoni Desclergue (DC06) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 643

37 Antoni Declerque (DC07) & Martina de la Cruz

647

37.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 647

37.2 Antoni Declerque (III) (DC07), the Son of Don Antoni Desclergue (II) (DC06) and Beatrice Declercq (DK02byx) . . 647

37.3 Antoni Declerque (III) (DC07) on the List of ’la Bourgeoisie Foraine’ of Kortrijk at Deerlijk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 647

37.3.1 Etymology of de la Cruz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 649

37.4 The Ancestry of Martine Vercruyce or Martina de la Cruz, with Roots in Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 649

37.4.1 Father and son Carlos Ximenes de la Cruz at Sint Eloois Vijve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 649

37.4.2 On Martina’s Ancestors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 650

37.4.3 On Martina’s Siblings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 661

37.4.4 An Early Connections Between the de la Cruz and Desclergue Families . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 663

37.4.5 Other Relatives of Martina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 663

37.5 Marriage of Antoni Desclergue (DC07) and Martina de la Cruz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 663

37.6 Their Residence in Ghent during the French Occupation of the Castellany of Kortrijk and the Dutch War (1672-1679)664

37.7 The French Raid of 1681-1685 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 665

37.8 The Nine Year War of 1688-1697 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 666

37.9 Their Offspring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 666

37.9.1 Maria Catarina Declercgz (DC08e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 671

37.9.2 Maria Declercgz (DC08d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 671

37.9.3 Joanna Catharina Declercgz (DC08b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 671

37.9.4 Joan Declercgz (DC08c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 672

37.9.5 Pere Declercgz (DC08) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 672

38 Pere Declercgz (II) (DC08) & Marie Prienne

675

38.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 675

38.2 Don Pere Declercgz (II) (DC08) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 675

38.3 Marie Prienne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 675

38.4 Their Marriage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 676

38.5 Spanish Succession War (1701-1713) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 676

38.6 Their Offspring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 677

39 Joan Declercq (II) (DC09) & Marie Montaigne

681

39.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 681

39.2 Don Joan Declercq (II) (DC09) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 681

39.3 Marie Montaigne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 681

39.4 Their Marriage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 681

39.5 Their Offspring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 681

39.6 The Total Destruction of ’Hof van Brussel’ in 1731 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 684

40 Renier Declercq (DC10) & Marie Anne Thérèse Lombaerde

685

40.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 685

40.2 Renier Declercq (DC10), Sometimes also Referred to as René Declercq . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 685

40.3 Marie Anne Thérèse Lombaerde . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 685

40.4 Their Marriage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 688

40.5 Their Offspring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 688

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