Escors

12th and 13th centuries

During the 12th and 13th centuries, European countries were involved in the Crusades for the recovery of the Holy Land.

The Escors family participated in the Crusades organised by France during the 13th century. This family possesses a military coat of arms which incorporates the Sotuer (Saint Andrew's Cross or Saltire), two black Ermines and two gold Bezantées. The gold Bezantées were adopted by those who participated in military interventions in the Byzantine Empire. They were related to the House of Champagne, the House of Ségur (with whom they united by marriage in 1281), Borda (La Borde/de Borda), and Neuilly. Gilbert d'Escors (see "prominent members") was granted lands held in Barony in the Principality of Achaea.

The Escors family continued their strong ties with France and remained loyal to Navarrese-French Royal Houses. Members of this lineage (see "prominent members", Gofredo d'Escors) governed regions at the frontier with Castile and Aragón in representation of the Royal Houses of Champagne and Capet.

16th century

The 16th century was a time of political and religious unrest in Europe. Castille and Aragón speedily conquered the Kingdom of Navarre in 1512, led by the second Duke of Alba under the orders of Ferdinand II of Aragon. After the invasion, Spain controlled the Iberian part while the Northern part (Lower Navarre) was controlled by French-Navarrese Royal Dynasties. Henry II of Navarre, descendent of the House of Albret, tried to re-unify the Kingdom of Navarre. However, Navarre was permanently divided after the Battle of the Castle of Maya (1521–1522), which took place in the ancestral home of the House of Escors. During the 16th century, a direct confrontation between Protestants and Catholics led to the French Wars of Religion (1562-1598). This religious tension was taken advantage of by the Duke Henry of Guise in an attempt to obtain the throne of France. To achieve this, he formed an alliance with Phillip II and Pope Sixtus V called the Catholic League.

The Escors family remained faithful to Henry II of Navarre during the Spanish attacks that culminated with the destruction of the Castle of Maya (1521-1522). This ended all hope of re-unification of Navarre. The family lost properties during the ensuing partition. The correspondence (1580-1585) between Henry III of Navarre (Henry IV of France and Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy indicates that the Escors family was involved in negotiations between Henry, the Duke and Philip II of Spain over the return of their properties (see fragment of the letter). This correspondence occurred during the negotiations to end the war between France and Spain and for the release of the Lords François de la Noue and La Turenne from Spanish custody. .

18th - 19th centuries

As with the other Navarrese Noble Houses such as Goyeneche, they supported Philip of Anjou (Philip V of Spain) during the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1703). This resulted in unconditional support from Phillip V to the Navarrese Nobility, tax exemptions and other privileges.

As a consequence of the French Revolution (1789-1799), the defeat of the Spanish Army by the French in the Battle of the Baztan Valley (1794) and the French invasion during the Spanish Independence War (1808–14), the Escors family moved to the provinces of Lerida and Gerona, Spain. During this time of conflict, other branches emigrated abroad to Austria and the United Kingdom where this lineage ended in 1970. The French invasion during the Spanish Independence War was detrimental for their relatives, the House of Borda, whose Palace was occupied by French troops. This resulted in the Borda family going broke, and its lineage disappeared from Navarre without direct descendants. Most likely, something similar took place with the Escors family, with the difference that one branch appeared in Gerona, possibly as refugees.

The few surviving members of the Escors family arrived to Cádiz at the end of the 18th century.

Surviving branches

As of 2012 approximately 50 members of this family remain, principally distributed in the Spanish provinces of Cádiz, Seville and Navarre, all direct descendants of the republican major of Arcos de la Frontera (Cádiz) Don Andres Escors Garrucho (See prominent members).

In Spain, fewer than 5 individuals carry the Escorz or Eskorz family name. Some survivors live in México, possibly descendants of Don Manuel Antonio De Escorz, who was the treasurer of a military expedition at the frontier of Chihuahua, Mexico, in 1774.

The "House of Escors" (Casa Escortzea in euskera, built in 1610), and the Palaces Borda, Arrechea, Echenique and Goyeneche still remain in Navarre, as well as the remains of the Templar's properties in Vaour and Penne.

Bernard I d'Escors

Bernard I d'Escors, the first documented member of this family, was an abbot of Saint Savin-en Lavedan's Abbey. The Abbey of Saint Savin-en-Lavedan is a benedictine monastery built during Charlemange's conquests in the South of France, in the County of Bigorre (Duchy of Aquitaine). It is still present in Saint Savin-en-Lavedan after a major restoration that took place in 1855. It is unclear whether Bernard I d'Escors was the first Abbot from 940-944 AD as it appears in some documents, or even if he was a member of the clergy. In the Saint Savin-en Lavedan's Meillon and Duriers' cartulaires, he is not listed as the first Abbot, and they even raise doubts about his existence. However, it is known that Bernard was possibly associated to the Abbey from 945-957 AD through records of his various donations in favour of the Convent.

Sir d'Escors-Galop

Sir d'Escors-Galop (Escorgalop, Escorsgalop), Templar Knight and Prosecutor of the Church in Saint-Paul-de-Mamiac (born about 1130). He possessed properties in Vaour, Penne and Auriol, France, in the name of the Order of the Temple. The Order of the Temple grew increasingly powerful and rich by incrementing its usually tax-exempt patrimony. Particularly, Sir d'Escors was granted tax exemption for his properties in 1178, which incremented the strength of the Templars of Vaour and Penne. Eventually, these strategies carried out by Templar Knights led to a significant increase in power and influence, which was perceived by the Pope Clement V and the French King Philip IV of France as a threat. Two centuries after their foundation, the Templar Knights were arrested and their properties confiscated, resulting in the dissolution of the Order between 1307 and 1314.

Baron Gilbert d'Escors / Guibert de Cors, Lord of Lisarea

Gilbert d'Escors was a baron of the Principality of Achaea mentioned in the Chronicle of the Morea and considered by some later historians as Lord of Lisarea. Gilbert d'Escors was married to Margaret of Nully, daughter of the Lord of Passavas John of Nully.

Gilbert is also mentioned in the Aragonese version of the Chronicle of Morea in the list of fiefs, although a specific name for his fief is not given. It is also mentioned there that he built the Castle of Mitopoli. He died in the battle of Mount Carydi (1258) in Greece, won by the Prince William II Villehardouin against an alliance between the Republic of Venice and other barons of Central Greece including the Lord of Athens and Thebes, Guy I de la Roche. His descendant Margaret of Baux married Peter of Luxembourg, becoming ancestors of, among others, the Tudor (and all English monarchs after Henry VII of England) and Bourbon lineages (after Francois de Bourbon, Count of Vendome) and the Stuarts of Scotland (after Mary Stuart). Although this genealogy is widely accepted, it depends on whether Gilbert was the father of a lady of Lisarea called Marguerite (or Jeanne), who married Geoffrey of Briel, a hypothesis challenged by the historian of the medieval Peloponnese, Antoine Bon.

Gofredo de Escors / Jofre d'Escors / Jofre de Escors

Gofredo de Escors (born about 1220-1240), "Merino", Governor of the "Castellanía de Estella" (1282-1286) and owner of the Old Castle of Estella. With the implementation of the House of Champagne as Kings of Navarre, the administration of the frontier between Navarre and the Kingdom of Castile was carried out as a "Castellanía". This implied the government of a fortified Castle with its associated lands, with a nominated Governor ("Castellano") as representant of the King. In the Middle Ages, the King delegated a Judge ("Merino") in a territory where he had broad jurisdiction, particularly in matters of finance. Don Gofredo was Governor of the "Castellanía de Estella" ("Merindad de Estella") and the appointed "Merino" of Joan I of Navarre (from the House of Champagne) and Philip I the Fair (Philip IV of France, from the House of Capet). He was particularly effective in the administration of the Castellanía de Estella, which included a significant population of Jewish and Frank settlers.

Maestre Simon d'Escors / Simon d'Escorsi

Maestre Simon d’Escors, who was documented with multiple surname variations including d'Escorsi/d'Escorssi/d'Escorçi/d'Escorçy/d'Escourçy/d'Esconu/de Escorri/de Storti/de Escociaco/Descorti. He was the Abbot of Falces (Navarre), Judge of the High Court of Navarre ("Cort"), Lieutenant, and Counsellor of Charles II of Navarre (1332-1387). Simon d'Escors assisted the King and his brother the Infante Louis of Évreux in governmental and financial matters, at least since 1358. He also assisted the Queen of Navarre in diplomatic negotiations with the Kingdoms of Castille, Aragon, Aquitaine and France in representation of the King and the infante. Importantly, Simon d'Escors was key for the financing of the war against Castille, and negotiating agreements between the Kingdoms of Navarre and Aragon in 1367 against the Kingdom of Castille. Simon d'Escors represented the King and Queen of Navarre as their ambassador in the negotiation with the Prince of Wales and Aquitaine Edward of Woodstock, Peter I of Castille and the King of Aragon and Henry of Trastamara. In these negotiations Charles II of Navarre supported Edward of Woodstock, for the defense of the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Navarre.

Although highly regarded by the King of Navarre, he was also a controversial figure with judicial processes in France and Navarre. Simon d'Escorsi participated in the execution of Charles II's testament (1387).

The Lord of the House of Borda and Escorz, Don Martin de Borda y Escorz

The Lord of the House of Borda and Escorz, Don Martin de Borda y Escorz (1622, Maya). The Baztanese House of Borda played a key role in the industrial development of the Kingdom of Navarre during the 18th century, before its permanent incorporation in Spain. Don Martin de Borda y Escorz was founder of the Borda lineage of Maya, and owner of the Palaces Borda and Arrechea. His successor, Juan de Borda had a confrontation with the prosecutor of the Kingdom of Navarre, and was required to prove his Nobility in 1702 by documenting his ancestry from the Houses of Borda, Escorz, Arrechea and Echenique. Juan's descendant Don Joaquín Vicente de Borda y Goyeneche obtained his nobility letter in a similar fashion in 1775 in order to join the Order of Charles III. This process was common in Navarre until 1841 when the Institutions of the Kingdom disappeared ("Ley de Modificacion de Fueros"). This cost Navarre its sovereignty, becoming a Spanish province. Nevertheless, the House of Borda from Baztan reached a high social status, including a seat in the General Court. They achieved this through a well-thought out marriage strategy with the main Baztanese Noble Houses (Escorz, Echenique, Arrechea and Goyeneche), and their profitable businesses.

Joan (Juan) De Escorz

In 1610-11, Joan (Juan) De Escorz, together with Don Juan Miguel De Orlians, designed and constructed the main entrance in the Renaissance style of the temple "La Colegiata de Santa María la Mayor" (Bolea, Huesca, Spain). This entrance was crafted in the Mannerism style, which originated in Italy and was employed in works of art from the Renaissance to the beginnings of the Baroque periods. "La Colegiata de Santa María la Mayor" was built between 1541 and 1559 and declared Spanish National Artistic and Historical Monument in 1983.

Don Andres Escors Garrucho

Don Andres Escors Garrucho (1875–1947), industrialist and Republican Major of Arcos de la Frontera (Cádiz, 1931–36) The first "actions of War" against the Second Spanish Republic acknowledged by Republican President Niceto Alcalá-Zamora took place in Arcos and Jerez de la Frontera during Andres Escors' mandate. These actions consisted of two attacks against the Spanish Civil Guard, ending with the assassination of the Ensign José Díaz Pérez on the 18th of January 1936. Clearly Republican, Don Andrés supported the families of the killed Civil Guard and especially the Civil Guard Corp as a Republican Institution. Therefore, his mandate as a Republican Major ended a few months later with the beginning of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). The Escors family lost a major part of their patrimony after the Civil War and during General Francisco Franco's dictatorship. Because of his contributions during his mandate as a Republican major, a street in Arcos de la Frontera was named after him.

Other family members and relatives

Jean d'Escorçy, Commandant of the Order of Hospitallers

Tissandier d’Escors

Seigneur Martin d’Escors

Jean de Mailly, Seigneur de Talmas and Baron d'Escors

Louis de Sancerre, Baron d'Escors

Fictional characters

One of the Knights from King Arthurs' Round Table, Sir Degove who features in a "The Vulgate Version of the Arthurian Romances", derived from the verse literary history of Britain "Roman de Brut" is also known as Sir d'Escor, d'Ester but also as Des Cors, and "Escors" as named in the "Chronicles" by Ramon Muntaner.

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