What is Duke of Noailles?
[[File:Armes noailles.png|right|thumb|200px|Coat of arms of the Dukes of Noailles as peers of France.]] The title of '''Duke of Noailles''' was a [[Peer of France|French peerage]] created in 1663 for Anne de Noailles, Count of Ayen. Noailles is the name of a great French family, derived from the [[castle of Noailles]] in the territory of Ayen, between [[Brive]] and Turenne in the [[Limousin]], and claiming to date back to the 11th century. It did not obtain fame until the 16th century, when its head, Antoine de Noailles (1504–1562), became admiral of France and was ambassador in England during three important years, 1553–1556, maintaining a gallant but unsuccessful rivalry with the Spanish ambassador, Simon Renard. Henri (1554–1623), son of Antoine, was a commander in the religious wars and was made Count of Ayen by [[Henry IV of France]] in 1593. The title of Duke of Ayen was also given to the family. However, the heir to the Noailles dukedom was usually called the ''Prince of Poix''. The family owned a lavish townhouse in [[Paris]] called the ''Hôtel de Noailles''. ==List of Dukes of Noailles== #[[Anne de Noailles, Duke of Noailles|Anne de Noailles]] (1663-1678). #[[Anne Jules de Noailles, Duke of Noailles|Anne Jules de Noailles]] (1678-1708). #[[Adrien Maurice de Noailles, Duke of Noailles|Adrien Maurice de Noailles]] (1708-1766). #[[Louis de Noailles, Duke of Noailles|Louis de Noailles]] (1766-1793). #Jean de Noailles (1793–1824). #Paul de Noailles (1824–1885). #Jules Charles Victurnien de Noailles (1885–1895). #Adrien de Noailles (1895–1953). #François de Noailles (1953–2009). #Hélie de Noailles (2009–present). The present holder of the title is Hélie de Noailles, but as France is now a republic, titles are not officially recognised. [[Category:Dukes of Noailles| ]] [[Category:17th-century establishments in France]] [[Category:1660s establishments in Europe]]