Bernard VI, Count of Armagnac


Bernard VI,, Count of Armagnac and Fezensac, was the son of Gerald VI, Count of Armagnac, and Mathe de Béarn.

Service for King of France

In 1302, Bernard fought in Italy under the command of Charles of Valois. Subsequently, he participated in all the campaigns in Flanders directed by Philippe le Bel and his son Louis X. He then served as head of large detachments of the royal army. He contributed particularly to the victory of Mons-en-Alarcon on 18 August 1304, with four hundred armed men and a thousand policemen on foot. This military activity was very expensive and impoverished Bernard VI and he was obliged to borrow 2500 gold florins for the funeral of his wife.

Conflict with House of Foix

After the death of Gaston VII, Viscount of Béarn, his grandfather, he maintained a long war against the Counts of Foix following the controversy over the will. The will favored the Count of Foix and Bernard refuted its legitimacy. The conflict escalated into an undeclared war between the houses of Foix and Armagnac, which took place during nearly all of the fourteenth century.

Marriages and Children

He first married Isabella d'Albret, daughter of Bernard Ezy IV Sire of Albret and Jeanne de Lusignan. Through this marriage, Bernard VI carried the title of lord of Albret between the years 1280 and 1294.
In 1298, he married Cecilia de Rodez, heiress of Henri II Count of Rodez.

Children, all born of the second marriage were:
Bernard had an illegitimate son;