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The Clays of the Dauphine
The Clays of the Dauphine
The town of Grenoble was the capital of a former province known as the Dauphine in south eastern France. The province of Dauphine was roughly the area of the current departments of Isere, Drome and Hautes-Alpes.
The count of Albon Guigues IV bore a dolphin on his coat of arms and was known as Le Dauphin, later counts of Albon changed their title to that of Dauphin of Viennois, the province becoming known as Dauphine.
According to the book, Generale De Dauphine, in 1185 the name and dignity of the house of Clais was then very famous and the close connection between the provost of St Andre, Grenoble and the Countess Beatrix of Dauphine was proof of his particular merit as well as the nobility of his family.
The Clay family in this part of France were as in other parts of France, minor feudal lords and or members of the clergy.
The spelling of the name throughout time was Cleys, Clais, Claysum, Clays, Claies, Cle and Claix, the final spelling was adopted in 1789 after the French Revolution.
The pronunciation of Claix is Clay.
Charters and History
Charters and History
Name/ Reference Detail
De Clais. 1095. Recueil Des Chartes De L’Abbaye De Cluny
012183696
Giraldus 1108 Giraldus is a witness to a
Collection de Charter of Hugh of
Documents Sur Gratianopolitanus
L’Histoire de France
page 9
Giraldus 1108 Donation of Hugonis made
Ref as above At Gratianoplitanus 1st May
Page 176 Giraldus de Clais witness
Giraldus 1109 Charter of William Chatbold
Ref as above Dated 30 May
Page 93 Giraldus de Clais witness
Giraldus 1109 Charter of William Chatbold
Ref as above Dated 1109
Page 103 Giraldus de Clais witness
Giraldus 1109 Charter of King Peter Aqualenz
Ref as above Dated 1109
Page 160 Giraldus de Clais witness
William 1185 William was provost of S Andre
Histoire Generale and a close confidant of countess
de Dauphine Beatrice, in his will he bequeathed
50 pounds to her.
He bequeathed books to Nateleme
De Clais and Amblard De Clais
Amblard/Isoard 1223 Isoard and Amblard hold the fief of
Ref as above Clais
Page 185
Marquis de Clais 1246 Witness to a charter between the
Histoire de Dauphine Dauphine and Count de Berlion
Page 204
Amblard/Isoard 1246 A tribute paid on the 6th day of
Ref as above December 1246 by Isoard and
Page 204. Amblard for the castle of Clais
William 1250 Judges of the Dauphine in Graisvaudan
Biblio Historique et. William de Clais
Litteraire de Dauphine
V3
William 1262 William de Clais recognizes the right of the
Histoire Generale de Dauphine to put his standard in the tower of
Dauphine V 3 Franco son of Amedee
William 1262 Death of Beatrice, Dowager of Provence
Ref as above William de Clais witness
V2
Isoard 1272. Sale made by William Fabre as guardian
Inventaire-Sommaire of his nieces at the command of Isoard
Des Archives de Isere de Clais for the price of 100 Sous
Page 280
Guichard 1273 Sale by Lady Estibors to
Ref as above Clemence wife of Guichard de
Page 280 Clais of all of her possessions
Lantelme/Guigues 1275 Lantelme de Claix prior of St Pierre 1275
Bulletin de la societe Witness to the title of the priory of St
Scientifique que du Martin de musere
Dauphine V12 Page 165
Amblard 1276 Amblard and Isoard the co lords of
Histoire Grenoble et Claix and de Gieres recognize themselves
Ses environs as vassals of the church.
In an act of 1276 the canons took possession of
Claix lands they carried the head of
St Vincent, enclosed in a silver reliquary and
placed it at the top of Claix castle
William 1276. A donation made by William to Odon
Communes de Claix Alleman 16th July 1276
William 1281 A purchase of land and vineyards near
Archives civile Claix by William de Claix
V4 Page 100
William 1290 A receipt of dowry paid by Odon
Archives civile Alleman to the husband of Marguerite
V4 Page 84 Alleman, William de Claix
William 1295 A donation made by william de Claix to
Inventaire-Sommaire Sybille, Lady of St Joule on behalf of his son
Des Archives Isere of everything he owns at castle Claix
Page 281
Marquis De Claix 1329 Guy de Grollee obtained a sentence by the
Dictionaries de la noblesse Marquis in favor of Isabelle of France
V 14 Page 272 the wife of the Dauphine
Amblard/Hughes 1339 In 1339 there were 140 fortified houses in the
Dictionaries Historique. Graisvaudan bailiwick and 950 gentlemen.
Chronolgique Amblard and Hughes de Claix listed
Raymon 1339 Raymon de Claix in the company of other
Oeuvres Diverses Nobles is summoned by command of the
Page 449 Dauphine on the 27th of March to appear
in the land of Avison
Francois 1340 Humbert II 4th August 1340 enfeofs
Armorial du Dauphine William de Roin, the house of Renage
Francois de Claix was the former owner
Aimon 1340 The canons of the church of Grenoble inc
Bulletin V20 Aimon affix their seals in the election of a
Dean
Aimon 1345 Humbert II names and sets the auditors
Inventaire-sommaire Aimon is listed as one of seven
Des Archives de Isere
Page 80
Aimon. 1346 Humbert II names accountants to examine his
Oeuvres Diverese rights and income and to close the accounts
Page 473 Aimon named as accountant
Bertrand 1352 Mentioned in an order paying 3 cents per day
Inventaire-Sommaire each auditor.
De Archives de Isere
Page80
Bertrand 1353 Bertrand de Claix treasurer to the
Ref as above Dauphine
Page 80
Michel/Beatrix 1364 On December 14th a recognition is passed
Bulletin de la Societe in favour of Michel and Beatrix de Clais
Humbert 1370 The difficulties between Humbert de
Inventaire-Sommaire Claix and the Bishop of Grenoble were
Des Archives des Isere resolved on the 28th of may 1370
Page 80
Humbert 1389 Humbert de Claix was presented to the
Bulletin de la Societe Bishop of Grenoble to be parish priest of
Scientifique du Dauphine St Christopher des Echelles
Vol 12
Guigues 1407 At a trial before Grenoble officials
Inventaire-Sommaire Guigues de Claix Lord of Gieres is chosen
De Archives Historique to arbitrate
De l’Hospitale de
Grenoble
Francois 1421 October 21st 1421, recognitions passed by
Inventaire-Sommaire the inhabitants of Bourg d’Isons for taxes
Des archives de Isere owed to the late Mond Betrand, knight
Page 304 which they then paid to Catherine his
daughter wife of Francois de Claix and then
to her children Michel and Beatrix
Clais Castle
Clais Castle
Clais Castle
Clais Castle
Clais
Clais
The village and castle of Clais
The village and castle of Clais
The village and castle of Claix are located 10 km south west of Grenoble, close to the Drac river.
In the Middle Ages, the village was surrounded by fortified walls.
The fiefdom of Clais was based on Clais castle.
Information from 1339 reports that the Castle of Claix was on a high rock and the state of revenues and properties depend on the castle.
The nobles residing in the castle were Boson de Porte, Guigues de Engenes, Francois de Marchisii and Amblard de Claix who each had a fortified house.
In 1223 the castle was reported to be in bad repair.
In 1298 the bishop of Grenoble, William de Clais ceded his rights to the castle and fiefdom to the Dauphine.
In 1299 the castle belonged to Guigues Alleman after an exchange of fiefdoms with the Dauphine.
In 1530 the castle was in ruins, the castle is now in private hands.
Armorials
Armorials
In the, Armorial du Dauphine, the Claix coat of arms of the Marquis de Clais is described as,
Gueles a la tour d’argent donjonnee de Trois petites de meme.
The illustration below is of the coat of arms of the monastery of St Andre, the Claix version has three smaller towers as well as the larger tower.
Another coat of arms is described in 1250.
Claix or Clay, D’Argent au chevron d ‘azur accompany de 3 croix treflees de meme.
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