Beaujeu () is a commune of the Rhône department in eastern France. It lies southwest of Mâcon and northwest of Lyon, on the river Ardière.
Beaujeu gives its name to the famous wine region Beaujolais and the former province Beaujolais (Biôjolês), of which it is the historical capital. However it was overtaken in the 14th century by Villefranche-sur-Saône, which remains the main commercial centre of the region.
History Beaujolais was a semi-autonomous fiefdom of the Lords of Beaujeu. The barony was acquired in the 9th century by Guillaume, Comte du Lyonnais and Count of Forez; on his death, his son Bérard became the first Lord of Beaujeu.
List of rulers Lords: Berard of Beaujeu + c. 966 Guichard I of Beaujeu c. 966-977 Humbert I of Beaujeu + c. 977-1016 Guichard II of Beaujeu c. 1016-1050 Guichard III of Beaujeu c. 1050-1070 Humbert II of Beaujeu c. 1070-1102 Guichard IV of Beaujeu 1102-1137 Humbert III of Beaujeu 1137-1174 Humbert IV of Beaujeu 1174-1202 Guichard V le Grand of Beaujeu 1202-1216 Humbert V of Beaujeu 1216-1250 Isabelle de Beaujeu 1250-1297 (married Renaud) Renaud I of Forez, count of Forez 1250-1297 Louis de Beaujeu 1250-1295 Guichard VI of Beaujeu 1295-1331 Edouard I of Beaujeu 1331-1351 (Marshal of France) Antoine of Beaujeu 1351-1374 Edouard II of Beaujeu 1374-1400 (+1400 without succession)
After the death of Edouard II, the barony passed to his uncle Louis II, Duke of Bourbon and was used as a title first by members of the Bourbon family and then by the House of Orléans. In 1522, Francis I of France confiscated the title and gave it to his mother Louise of Savoy, but it reverted to the French crown on her death in 1531.
Population
See also
Communes of the Rhône department
References