De LUSIGNAN

(1) Hugh I, "le vieux", de Lusignan, born about 900. Married an unknown woman and had son Hugh. (2) Hugh II, "le cher", de Lusignan, born 935. Son of Hugh I and an unknown woman. Married an unknown woman and had son Hugh. (3) Hugh III, "le blanc", de Lusignan, born 960. Son of Hugh II and an unknown woman. Married Arsendis and had son Hugh. (4) Hugh IV, "le brun", de Lusignan, born 985. Died 1030. Son of Hugh and Arsendis. Married Adelaide de Thouars and had son Hugh. (5) Hugh V, "le debonnair", de Lusignan, born 1015. Died October 8th, 1060. Son of Hugh IV and Adelaide. Married Almodis de la Marche and had son Hugh. (6) Hugh VI, "le diable", de Lusignan, born 1039. Died 1102, while on 1st Crusade. Son of Hugh V and Almodis. Married Hildegarde de Thouars and had son Hugh. (7) Hugh VII, "le brun", de Lusignan, born 1090. Died 1144. Son of Hugh VI and Hildegarde. Married Sarazine (who some say was an Armenian woman!) and had son Hugh. Accompanied Louis VII of France on Crusade. (8) Hugh VIII, "le vieux", de Lusignan, born 1106. Died 1172 in Palestine. Son of Hugh VII and Sarazine. Married an unknown woman and had son Hughes. (9) Hughes de Lusignan, born 1141. Died 1169. Son of Hugh VIII and an unknown woman. Married Orengarde and had son Hugh. (10) Hugh IX, "le brun", de Lusignan, born 1163. Died 1219. Son of Hughes and Orengarde. Married Mathilde and had son Hugh. (11) Hugh X, "le brun", de Lusignan, born 1183. Died 1246. Son of Hugh IX and Mathilde. Married Isabella Taillefer (who was originally bethrothed to his father, Hugh IX, but who instead married King John) and had son Hugh. (12) Hugh XI de Lusignan, born 1222. Died 1260 in Egypt on Crusade. Son of Hugh X and Isabella. Married Yolande de Dreux and had son Hugh. (13) Hugh XII, "le brun", de Lusignan, born 1240. Died 1270 on Crusade. Son of Hugh XI and Yolande. Married Jeanne de Fougeres and had daughter Jeanne. (14) Jeanne de Lusignan, born 1262. Died September 14th, 1323. Daughter of Hugh XII and Jeanne. Married Piers de Geneville.

Note: While the origins of this family is obscure, according to legend it is descended of a young lord and Melusine, a forest spirit. The legend goes that Melusine agreed to marry this young lord, with the stipulation that he never see her on a Saturday. After they had been wed for some time, with a son and heir, the lord's curiosity overcame him, and spied on her secretly. To his astonishment, she had become a snake -- a symbol of water -- from the hips downward. His surprise betrayed him, and Melusine let out a shriek and flew away (as she had quite literally sprouted bat-wings), never to be seen again. -- Jessica.