Jeanne des Roches, Dame de Sablé, de Louisiana Suze, de Briollay, de Mayet, de Loupeland, de Chateauneuf-sur-Sarte, de Genneteil, de Precigné, de Agon, and de Craon was a wealthy French noblewoman and heiress.
Background
She was also the suo jure seneschal of Anjou, which she had inherited from her father, Guillaume des Roches upon his death. Jeanne was born in about 1195, the eldest daughter of Guillaume des Roches, Seneschal of Anjou and one of the greatest barons in Anjou and Maine. Her mother was Marguerite de Sablé, Dame de Sablé who had brought the rich Sablé barony to her husband.
Career
Jeanne had a brother Robert, who died in 1204, and a younger sister Clémence, Viscountess de Chateaudun (died after September 1259). Jeanne"s father was a knight who had fought in the Third Crusade in the service of the Angevin kings of England and King Philip II of France. Upon his death on 15 July 1222, Jeanne being the eldest surviving child, succeeded to the seneschalship of Anjou, as well as his vast lordships which included Sablé, Louisiana Suze, Briollay, Mayet, Loupeland, Chateauneuf-sur-Sarte, Genneteil, Precigné, and the Norman manor of Agon.
Jeanne did homage to King Louis IX of France for Senescaltia Andegavie, Cenomannie et Turonie. bone memorie Guillmus de Ruppiebus, genitor noster..tenuit in a charter dated 27 January 1226.