Gerry's Collection
of Antique Wax Seal Stamps
de Béziade Family
Marquis and Duke of Avaray
The de Béziade (or Bésiade) Family and the Duchy of Avaray
The de Béziade family, originally from Orléanais, rose from regional nobility in the late Middle Ages to national prominence in France, eventually acquiring the marquisate of Avaray, from which their ducal title would later derive. They first appear in historical records in the 14th century, holding positions in the local nobility and serving the French Crown. Over time, they established themselves as a respected noble lineage with steady advancement through military and courtly service.
By the 16th and 17th centuries, members of the de Béziade family had acquired the title of Marquis d’Avaray, derived from the estate of Avaray located in the Loir-et-Cher department. The marquisate became a cornerstone of their identity, and the family steadily increased its social standing under the Ancien Régime.
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Several members of the de Béziade family served in prestigious positions at court and in the military.
Claude Théophile de Béziade (1655-1745) was a page of Monsieur, the brother of Louis XIV, before he turned to the military career. On 1 October 1672 he entered the Régiment de cavalerie de Sourdis as a cornet. Following a successful career in the military, Claude Théophile de Béziade, Duc d’Avaray, did serve as Ambassador of France to Switzerland. His appointment to this diplomatic post reflected the trust the monarchy placed in him, as Switzerland held strategic importance for France during the 18th century due to its central European location and longstanding military alliances (notably the Swiss Guard in French service).
Charles Théophile de Béziade (1701-1746), son of Claude Théophile, was destined for service in the church, but left in 1712 to become a cornet in the Musketeers. His career ended when he was assigned to the Army of Flanders and went to Antwerp, where he died on 30 May 1746.
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Charles Théophile' son, Claude-Antoine de Béziade (1740–1829), Marquis then 2nd Duke of Avaray, was also in the military and became politician at the end of the 19th century. He entered royal service in 1757 with the Chevaux-légers of the King’s Guard and took part in the campaigns of the Seven Years’ War. He became brigadier in 1780 and was promoted to maréchal de camp (major general) in 1781.
As Grand Bailiff of the Sword of Orléans, Claude-Antoine de Béziade was elected on April 1, 1789, as a deputy representing the nobility of Orléanais to the Estates General of 1789, where he sat in the Constituent Assembly. At the end of 1791, his three sons and two sons-in-law emigrated. His eldest son, François, followed the Comte de Provence (later Louis XVIII), to whom he was a devoted servant and favorite. The second son, Théophile, took part in the Quiberon expedition, along with the Marquis de Grave, who had married the Marquis d’Avaray’s eldest daughter. Both were executed by firing squad in 1795 following the failure of that royalist operation. A long and painful illness prevented the Marquis d’Avaray from joining his sons and sons-in-law under the banners of the Armée des Princes, and he was only able to offer his services to Louis XVI in June 1792.
Imprisoned alongside his wife, he endured nine months of captivity, living in daily fear of execution during the Reign of Terror. Saved by the events of 9 Thermidor (July 27, 1794), he emigrated soon afterward but was only able to recover part of his fortune by obtaining removal from the list of émigrés in 1795.
He was confined for over six years under the Empire to his château at Avaray, under a measure of high police surveillance, and kept himself apart from public affairs until the fall of Napoleon I.
In April 1814, Claude-Antoine de Béziade crossed to England and went to Hartwell to meet the King. He accompanied Louis XVIII back to France, resumed his office as Master of the Wardrobe, and was promoted to lieutenant-general on August 13, 1814, created a Peer of France in 1815, and appointed a member of the administrative council of the Hôtel des Invalides in 1816. On August 6, 1817, Louis XVIII confirmed in his favor the titles of Duke of Avaray and Peer of France, which had originally been granted to his eldest son in 1799. He was named a Knight of the Royal Orders of the King on September 30, 1820, appointed First Chamberlain to His Majesty on November 25, 1820, made an Officer of the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour on April 19, 1820, and Governor of the 19th Military Division on October 1 of the same year.
Another most prominent figure of the family was Antoine Louis François de Béziade (1759–1811), son of Claude-Antoine. He played a crucial role during the French Revolution and into the Bourbon Restoration. Loyal to the monarchy, he was a close companion and devoted supporter of the future Louis XVIII during the royal exile.
In recognition of his loyalty and assistance during the king’s years in exile, Antoine Louis François de Béziade was granted the title of duc d’Avaray by Louis XVIII. The king, then in exile, awarded the ducal dignity in 1799. Although it was a royal honorific title without full legal recognition during the Revolution and Empire, it was later confirmed after the Restoration.
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Antoine de Béziade was often referred to as the “liberator of the king,” a reference to his instrumental role in helping the Comte de Provence (Louis XVIII) escape revolutionary France. He organized the logistics of the king’s departure and remained at his side throughout the exile, earning deep gratitude and favor from the future monarch.
After the monarchy was restored in 1814, the family’s status was further solidified. The title of duc d’Avaray was confirmed as hereditary, and the family enjoyed renewed prominence at court. The de Béziade family remained close to royal circles and participated in ceremonial and administrative roles under the restored Bourbon regime.
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The family’s ancestral estate in Avaray, a château near Blois, remained a symbol of their influence and nobility. The château was renowned for its architecture and served as a physical reminder of the family’s status and service. Today, it is classified as a historical monument in France.
The ducal line continued into the 19th century but gradually faded from political significance as France transitioned through successive republics and empires. Nonetheless, the name de Béziade d’Avaray retained its historical prestige in noble genealogies and heraldic records.
The de Béziade arms typically feature a shield azure semé-de-lis or, with lion rampant or armed and langued gules, a mark of both royal favor and feudal power, as supporters. The ducal coronet and mantle were added after the elevation to ducal rank. Today, the family is remembered as a symbol of loyalist nobility, closely tied to the fate of the Bourbon monarchy in its most turbulent years.
Gerry's Collection of Antique Seal Stamps.