Duc de La Force
The title of Duc de La Force, pair de France was created in 1637 for members of the Caumont family, who were lords of the village of La Force in the Dordogne.
The family originated as Lord of Caumont (Seigneur de Caumont) in the early 11th century and were subsequently raised in rank over the following centuries.
The family is Protestant : the father (François de Caumont) and brother of the first Duke were killed in the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre (1572). Afterwards the family served the king loyally on the battlefield, but remained Protestant.
Armand de Caumont died in [1755] on the battlefield at Cuneo on 30 September, at the age of 23. Afterwards, the dukedom passed to a distant relative of the main line, Bertrand (1724–1773), then to his son, Louis-Joseph Nompar (1768–1838) and to his descendants. In 1909, the great-great grandson of Louis-Joseph, Armand-Joseph (1878–1961), took the title of Duke of La Force. There are La Force/LeForce families in the United States, Canada and Portugal that are descendant of the French La Force family.
Line of Descent
People of the family name De la Force (Delaforce)originate from the town of Fources.
Lord of Caumont (from father to son)
- Calo I (c. 1050), 1st lord of Caumont
- Geoffrey I, 2nd lord of Caumont
- Calo II, 3rd lord of Caumont. He participated in the First Crusade.
- Dodon, 4th lord of Caumont
- Sanchez, 5th lord of Caumont
- Richard, 6th lord of Caumont, had two sons, including Nonpar, Lord of Lauzun
- Begon, 7th lord of Caumont
- William I, 8th lord of Caumont
- William II, 9th lord of Caumont
Lord of Caumont, Samazan and Montpuillan (father to son)
- Bertrand, son of William II, 9th lord of Caumont. 10th lord of Caumont, 1st lord of Samazan and Montpuillan
- William III, 11th lord of Caumont, 2nd lord of Samazan and Montpuillan
- William-Raymond I, 12th lord of Caumont, 3rd lord of Samazan and Montpuillan
- Nonpar I, 13th lord of Caumont, 4th lord of Samazan and Montpuillan
Lord of Caumont, Samazan, Montpuillan, Castelnau and Berbiguires
- William-Raymond II (d. 1426), son of Nonpar I, 13th lord of Caumont, 4th lord of Samazan and Montpuillan. 14th lord of Caumont, 5th lord of Samazan and Montpuillan, 1st lord of Castelnau and Berbiguires
Lord of Castelnau
- Brandelis, son of William-Raymond II. 2nd lord of Castelnau
- Charles I, 3rd lord of Castelnau
- Charles II (d. 1627), 4th lord of Castelnau
- François (killed in the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre), 5th lord of Castelnau
Duc de La Force, Pair de France (1637-1699)
- Jacques-Nompar de Caumont, duc de La Force, (1558–1652), marshal of France
- Armand-Nompar de Caumont, duc de La Force, (1580?-1675), son and marshal of France
- Henri-Nompar de Caumont, duc de La Force, (1582–1678), brother
- Jacques-Nompar II de Caumont, duc de La Force, (1630?-1699), grandson
Duc de La Force, Comte de Mussidan, Baron de Castelnau, Caumont, Tonneins et Samazan (1699-1773)
- Henri-Jacques Nompar de Caumont, duc de La Force, (1675–1726), son and Member of the Académie française
- Armand-Nompar II de Caumont, duc de La Force, (1679–1764), brother
- Jacques-Nompar III de Caumont, duc de La Force, (1714–1755), son
Marquis puis Duc de La Force, Pair de France (1773-1838)
- Louis-Joseph Nompar, Marquis then duc de La Force in 1787 (1768–1838)
Duc de La Force (pour le deuxieme fois) (1839-Present)
- François Pierre Bertrand Nompar de Caumont, 14th duc de La Force (1772–1854)
- Auguste de Caumont, 13th duc de La Force (1803–1882)
- Oliver Emmanuel de Caumont, 12th duc de La Force (1839–1909)
- Auguste de Caumont, 13th duc de La Force (1878–1961)
- Jacques de Caumont La Force, 14th duc de La Force (1912-1985)
- Henri Jacques Nompar de Caumont La Force (1944 -), 15th duc de La Force