Guigues V of Albon

Who was Guigues V of Albon?

Guigues V was the Count of Albon and Grenoble from 1142 until his death. He was the first to take the title Dauphin du Viennois.

Guigues V was the son of Guigues IV and Margaret of Mâcon. He inherited when he was considered too young to rule on his own and so his mother controlled the regency until 1153. In that year Guigues took the reins of government and immediately set about to avenge his father, who had been killed in a surprise attack by the Count of Savoy, Humbert III, during the siege of Montmélian eleven years earlier. Guigues V besieged Montmélian a second time, but was driven off by Humbert's relief force. Peace was finally achieved by the intervention of the Bishop of Grenoble, Hugh II.

Two years later, on 13 January 1155, Guigues was in Rivoli, near Turin, to recognise the suzerainty of the Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick Barbarossa, for his lands. The emperor in return confirmed the count of Albon in the possession of certain territories his ancestors had acquired through litigation, and granted him a mint at Râme in the Embrunais and the right to coinage in Cézanne.

Guigues died without male heirs at Vizille in 1162. He left a daughter, Beatrice, who inherited his lands and titles.