Editing Château de Montsoreau (section)

=== Middle Ages ===
The first written source describing the site under the name ''Restis'' dates back to the 6th century.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Congrès Archéologique de France|last=Prigent|first=Dominique|publisher=Société Française d'Archéologie|year=2003|location=Paris|pages=255}}</ref> It was transformed into a fortified castle by [[Counts of Blois|Eudes, the First count of Blois]], in 990. In 1001, it was taken by the Anjou realm,<ref>{{Cite book|title=Le comte d'Anjou et son entourage au XIe siècle|last=Guillot |first=Olivier |year=1972|location=Paris |pages=310}}</ref> and [[Fulk III, Count of Anjou|Foulques Nerra]] gave it to Gautier I of Montsoreau. Gautier I belonged to one of the most pre-eminent families of Anjou.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Le comte d'Anjou et son entourage au XIe siècle|last=Guillot |first=Olivier |year=1972|location=Paris |pages=32}}</ref> Thus, the ''Castrum Monsorelli'' became one of the forty fortified castles in Anjou and one of the few to be given the title of lordship at the turn of the year 1000. A town developed quickly near the castle, and in the ''narratio de commendatione Turonice provincie'', edited by Salmon in 1854, the site was mentioned as one of ''oppidis munitissimi et populosis'' by the second half of the 11th century<ref>{{Cite book|title=Le comté d'Anjou sous Henri Plantagenêt et ses fils|last=Boussard |first=Jean |year=1938|location=Paris |pages=11}}</ref> Written sources from the 12th century attested to a right to raise taxes<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Montsoreau : un château, un port|last=Manase|first=Victor|journal=Bull. Soc. Des Amis du Pays Lochois|location=Loches|pages=87–99}}</ref>

When the [[order of Fontevraud]] was settled in 1101, [[Fontevraud Abbey]] was supervised by Gautier de Montsoreau, who took direct orders from the Count of Anjou.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Notice historique sur le château et la commune de Montsoreau|last=Raimbault|publisher=Arch. Départementales du Maine-et-Loire|year=1965|location=Angers|pages=304–314}}</ref> Gautier's stepmother, [[Hersende of Champagne|Hersende de Champagne]], was the first prior and co-founder of the Abbey with [[Robert of Arbrissel|Robert d'Arbrissel]].

Guillaume IV de Montsoreau was on Geoffrey Plantagenet's side against his brother [[Henri II Plantagenet]], the future King of England, and [[Eleanor of Aquitaine]]'s husband. The latter besieged the ''castrum'' and took it at the end of August 1152, despite its fortification.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Les anciens seigneurs de Montsoreau|last=Desme de Chavigny|first=Olivier|year=1888|location=Tours|pages=18}}</ref> He captured Guillaume and his defenders. Guillaume IV, however, was restored to the castle later. An order of King Henry II of England (about 1068) concerning the landscape project of the Loire was signed by Guillaume de Montsoreau and his son Guillaume. In 1171, Guillaume's son gave the Turpenay monks the right to build tax-free houses inside the ''castrum''. Gauthier, his eldest son, had no sons and so the lordship passed to the Savary de Montbazon family, on the marriage of his daughter Ferrie in 1213<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://daniel.derigal.free.fr/Oxygene%202014/n90883.htm|title=Pierre II de Montbazon|last=Derigal|first=Daniel|date=2017|website=daniel.derigal.free.fr|access-date=11 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803161837/http://daniel.derigal.free.fr/Oxygene%202014/n90883.htm|archive-date=3 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> to Pierre II Savary de Montbazon, lord of [[Montbazon]].

After his victory at Bouvines, Philippe-Auguste chose him in 1214, with Guy Turpin, archdeacon of Tours, to negotiate peace with King John. The second house of Montsoreau disappeared in 1362, with the wedding of the only daughter of Renaud VII and Guillaume II de Craon.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://thierryhelene.bianco.free.fr/drupal/?q=node/88|title=Les sires de Montsoreau|last=Bianco|first=Thierry and Hélène|date=2000|website=thierryhelene.bianco.free.fr}}</ref> The fourth house, one of the Chabot family, lasted only a few decades.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Histoire de la maison royale de France|last=de Sainte-Marie|first=Anselme|publisher=La compagnie des libraires|year=1728|location=Paris|pages=563}}</ref>

In 1450, to pay off debts, Louis II Chabot sold his domains of Montsoreau and Coutancière to his brother-in-law Jean II de Chambes,<ref>Jean II de Chambes épouse Jeanne Chabot, première dame d'honneur de la reine, le 17 mars 1445</ref> who undertook to rebuild the castle at Montsoreau.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=UNESCO|date=22 May 2017|title=Charles VII et Louis XI|url=http://www.valdeloire.org/Connaitre/Au-fil-de-l-histoire/Le-Val-de-Loire-siege-du-pouvoir-royal/Charles-VII-et-Louis-XI|website=valdeloire.org}}</ref> A descendant of Angoumois old noble family (near the city of Angoulême), Jean II de Chambes began in [[Charles VII of France|Charles VII]] service as an esquire in 1426,<ref name="bachelier.free.fr">{{Cite web|url=http://g.bachelier.free.fr/chambes.htm|title=Chambes|last=Bachelier|date=2000|website=bachelier.free.fr}}</ref> the years before the interview between the King and [[Joan of Arc|Jeanne d'Arc]] in the [[Château de Chinon|Castle of Chinon]]. Baker in chief, Councillor and Chamberlain, he became in 1444 "first master of ostel" of the King;<ref name="bachelier.free.fr" /> at the same time he associated with [[Jacques Cœur|Jacques Coeur]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Les affaires de Jacques Coeur, journal du procureur Dauvet|last=Mollat|first=M.|year=1952|location=Paris|pages=483, 618}}</ref> Jean II de Chambes received a considerable amount of money that was owed to him.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://racineshistoire.free.fr/LGN/PDF/Craon.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://racineshistoire.free.fr/LGN/PDF/Craon.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=Jean II de Chambes|date=2001|website=geneanet}}</ref> He performed diplomatic missions as an ambassador to [[Venice]] in 1459 to prepare a new crusade.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Dictionnaire de biographie française|last=du Romant d'Amat|first=Prévost|year=1959|location=Paris|pages=243}}</ref> His lordships of Montsoreau and Argenton, but also his governorship of La Rochelle and Lord Provost and Captain of Niort, Talmont-sur-Gironde and Aigues-Mortes assured him revenues.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://g.bachelier.free.fr/chambes.htm|title=De Chambes|last=Bachelier|date=12 February 2005|website=bachelier.free.fr}}</ref>