Duke of Bouillon

Duke of Bouillon (French: duc de Bouillon) was a hereditary title borne until the early nineteenth century by members of the House of La Tour d'Auvergne as rulers of the duchy of Bouillon (French: duché de Bouillon), a small state located between Luxembourg, Champagne, and the Three Bishoprics. Once the dynasty became extinct in 1802 and the duchy lost its independence to the Dutch kings who obtained the new Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in 1815, the title became the source of dispute among cognatic relatives and alleged agnatic heirs of the last reigning duke, Jacques Léopold de La Tour d'Auvergne.

History of the Duchy of Bouillon

The Duchy of Bouillon's origins are unclear. The first reference to Bouillon Castle comes in 988 and by the 11th century, Bouillon was a freehold held by the House of Ardennes, who styled themselves Lords of Bouillon. On the death of Godfrey III, Duke of Lower Lorraine in 1069, Bouillon passed to his nephew, Godfrey of Bouillon. In 1095, Godfrey of Bouillon sold Bouillon to the Prince-Bishop of Liège, Otbert of Liège in order to finance his participation in the First Crusade. Godfrey later became first ruler of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.