The name of an old French family which is derived from a castle 1 in the province of Angoumois (department of Charente), which was in its possession in the 11th century. Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1494-1517), godson of King Francis was made count in 1515. At the time of the wars of religion the family fought for the Protestant cause. Francois (1588-1650) was created duke and peer of France by Louis XIII. in 1622. His son Francois was the author of the Maxims, and the son of the latter acquired for his house the estates of La Roche-Guyon and Liancourt by his marriage with Jeanne Charlotte du Plessis-Liancourt. Alexandre, duc de La Rochefoucauld (d. 1762), left two daughters, who married into the Roye branch of the family. Of the numerous branches of the family the most famous are those of Roucy, Roye, Bayers, Doudeauville, Randan and Estissac, which all furnished distinguished statesmen and soldiers.