Beaujeu, Rhône

Beaujeu (Bôjor/Biôjœr in Arpitan) is a commune of the Rhône department in eastern France.

It lies between Mâcon and Lyon.

Beaujeu gives its name to the famous wine region of Beaujolais (Biôjolês), a former province of France 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.