Notes |
- Comte de Clermont.
From Leo Van de Pas:
Robert Dauphin was born about 1150, the son of Guillaume VII 'le jeune', comte d'Auvergne, and Marquise d'Albon. He was not the count of Auvergne as his father had been dispossessed of Auvergne by his uncle, who ruled Auvergne as Guillaume VIII, known as 'le vieux', and passed Auvergne to his son. Robert called himself Dauphin in memory of his mother, whose brother Guigues V d'Albon was the first to take the title of Dauphin de Viennois.
Robert became count of Clermont on the death of his father about 1169. As his apanage he received the lordships of Issoire, Chamalières, Montrognon, Plauzat, Champeix, Crocq, Aurières, Neschers, Chanonat, Chauriat and Rochefort, as well as the castellany of Vodable, encompassing the estates of Solignat, Ronzières, Antoing, Mazerat, Longchamp, Le Broc, Mareughol, Bergonne, Collanges, etc. This domain, with its capital of Vodable, was designated as the dauphiné d'Auvergne, and Robert was its first dauphin. He abandoned the arms of the counts of Auvergne and replaced them with those of Albon de Viennois. His seal showed a dolphin with the inscription _Sigillum Delphini._
Robert was renowned for his patronage of the arts, and was himself a troubadour, called in Occitan 'el bons Dalfins d'Alvernhe'. Many troubadours were employed by him or sang at his court, including Peirol, Perdigon, Peire de Maensac, Gaucelm Faidit, and Uc de Saint Circ. His cousin Robert d'Auvergne, bishop of Clermont, and Richard 'the Lionheart', exchanged erotic verses with him.
|