Charles-René d'Hozier, French historian and author (b. 1640)

Charles-René d'Hozier: A Cornerstone of French Genealogy and Heraldry

Charles-René d'Hozier (24 February 1640 – 13 February 1732) was a highly influential French historical commentator and a pivotal figure in the development of French genealogy and heraldry. Born into a distinguished family of royal genealogists, he was the younger son of the renowned Pierre d'Hozier, himself a "historiographer of France" and "juge d'armes". Charles-René inherited his father's profound expertise and dedication, becoming a true successor to this venerable lineage of record-keepers for the French monarchy.

The d'Hozier family played an indispensable role in authenticating noble status and recording armorial bearings for centuries. Charles-René continued this tradition, contributing significantly to the understanding and documentation of French historical lineages and heraldry, which was crucial for social order and royal administration in pre-revolutionary France.

Early Contributions and Scholarly Works

Beyond his extensive official duties, Charles-René d'Hozier made notable contributions to historical scholarship. He provided valuable commentary that was appended to the 1686 edition of Antoine Varillas's history of King Charles IX. Such commentaries were essential in the scholarly practice of the era, offering critical insights, clarifications, or additional factual depth to existing historical narratives. Earlier in his career, in 1673, he published his own significant work, Recherches sur la noblesse de Champagne. This publication meticulously investigated and documented the noble families of the Champagne region, providing a foundational resource for regional genealogical studies and demonstrating his commitment to rigorous research and validation of noble claims.

The Monumental Armorial Général de France

Charles-René d'Hozier's most enduring and significant contribution was his instrumental role in establishing the Armorial général de France. This monumental project commenced following the promulgation of a royal edict in 1696. This edict, often referred to as the "Edit du droit de scel" or "Edit de la taxe des armoiries," mandated that all individuals and corporate bodies possessing armorial bearings were required to register them and pay a fee of 20 livres. This sum, equivalent to roughly 20 days' wages for a skilled artisan at the time, was a significant financial imposition, primarily intended to raise revenue for King Louis XIV's treasury during a period of extensive warfare, such as the War of the League of Augsburg.

Charles-René d'Hozier was entrusted with the immense task of collecting these declarations from across the various généralités (administrative regions) of France. He diligently compiled these submissions, which formed the basis of the Armorial général de France. This extensive work was revolutionary for its scope, as it included not only the armorial bearings of the ancient noble families but also those of commoners who were legally entitled to bear arms, such as bourgeois officials or wealthy merchants. This inclusion provided a snapshot of social aspirations and the evolving nature of heraldry beyond traditional nobility.

Challenges and Legacy of the Armorial Général

Despite its comprehensive aims, the Armorial général de France was never truly complete. Many individuals, both noble and commoner, refused to register their arms. Reasons varied: some felt it an affront to their established prestige to "re-register" arms they had borne for generations, considering it an indignity or an unnecessary validation. Others simply wished to evade the prescribed fee. Nonetheless, the resulting collection, now housed in the prestigious Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) in Paris, remains an invaluable historical and genealogical resource. It comprises an impressive 34 volumes of descriptive text and an additional 35 volumes of exquisitely coloured armorial bearings, offering a vivid visual record of French heraldry.

This treasure trove of information, despite its known deficiencies, serves as an indispensable store of information for the history of old French families, local administration, and the visual culture of the Ancien Régime. The collection categorizes approximately 60,000 names, meticulously grouped according to provinces and their provincial subdivisions, making it an organized and accessible database for researchers. Various sections of this monumental work have been published over time by later scholars, including:

The Foundation of the Cabinet des Titres

In 1717, a personal dispute with his nephew, Louis Pierre (son of Louis Roger d'Hozier), led Charles-René to make a significant decision: he sold his vast personal collection of genealogical papers to the king. At the time of sale, this collection was already immense, comprising 160 portfolios of meticulously arranged alphabetical genealogical papers, 175 volumes of various historical documents, and numerous printed books, many of which were profusely annotated with his personal scholarly insights.

The collection's importance was immediately recognized, and in 1720, it was inventoried by Pierre de Clairambault, a prominent royal genealogist in his own right. Clairambault further enriched the collection by incorporating additional genealogies derived from the papers of Roger de Gaignières, a notable collector of historical documents. This integration expanded the total to an impressive 217 boxes and portfolios. This unified and vastly expanded collection formed the foundational core of what became known as the Cabinet des titres of the Bibliothèque nationale de France. The Cabinet des titres is now the premier repository for French genealogical and heraldic research, safeguarding centuries of detailed information on French families, nobility, and armorial rights.

Later Life, Reconciliation, and Legacy

Despite the sale of his primary collection, Charles-René d'Hozier remained active. He later reconciled with another nephew, Ambroise-Louis-Marie d'Hozier. Upon his death in Paris on 13 February 1732, Charles-René bequeathed to Ambroise-Louis-Marie all the papers he had accumulated during the period from the quarrel until his passing, demonstrating his continued dedication to genealogical work throughout his life. His distinguished career in royal service was succeeded by his nephew, Louis Pierre, who took on the prestigious role of juge d’armes, ensuring the continuation of the d'Hozier family's unique legacy in French heraldry and genealogy.

Frequently Asked Questions About Charles-René d'Hozier

Who was Charles-René d'Hozier?
Charles-René d'Hozier (1640-1732) was a highly influential French historical commentator and genealogist, best known for his pivotal role in creating the Armorial général de France and for his family's long-standing service to the French monarchy in documenting noble lineages and heraldry.
What was the Armorial général de France?
The Armorial général de France was a massive, government-mandated register of armorial bearings (coats of arms) established in 1696. Compiled by Charles-René d'Hozier, it recorded the arms of noble families, commoners entitled to bear arms, and corporate bodies across France, primarily for royal taxation purposes.
Why was the 1696 edict to register arms promulgated?
The 1696 edict was primarily a fiscal measure implemented by King Louis XIV. It aimed to generate significant revenue for the royal treasury, which was often depleted by expensive wars, by charging a fee (20 livres) for the registration of armorial bearings.
What is the significance of the Cabinet des titres?
The Cabinet des titres at the Bibliothèque nationale de France is the central repository for French genealogical and heraldic documents. Its foundation largely originated from the extensive personal collection of Charles-René d'Hozier, which was purchased by the king and later enriched by other royal genealogists, making it an unparalleled resource for French historical research.
How complete is the Armorial général de France?
The Armorial général de France, though monumental in scope, is not entirely complete. Many individuals and entities chose not to register their arms, either to avoid the registration fee or from a sense of vanity, believing their long-established right to bear arms did not require royal validation. Despite these omissions, it remains an invaluable source of information.
What role did the d'Hozier family play in French history?
The d'Hozier family served as a dynasty of royal genealogists and juges d'armes for several generations. They were officially responsible for verifying and recording noble lineages and armorial bearings, playing a crucial role in maintaining social order, authenticating claims of nobility, and providing historical documentation for the French monarchy.