Hugh VI of Lusignan

Who was Hugh VI of Lusignan?

Hugh VI, called the Devil, was the Lord of Lusignan and Count of La Marche, the son and successor of Hugh V of Lusignan and Almodis de la Marche. He participated in the Crusade of 1101.

Despite his piety, Hugh was in constant conflict with the abbey of St. Maixent. On numerous occasions his disputes with the monks grew so violent that the duke of Aquitaine, the bishops of Poitiers and Saintes, and Pope Paschal II were forced to intervene. From these conflicts Hugh was dubbed "le diable", the devil, by the monks of St. Maixent.

In 1086 the Castilian army was destroyed in battle by the Almoravids. Hugh's Catalan half-brother, Berenguer Ramon II, Count of Barcelona was threatened by the Almoravids. Hugh VI undertook an expedition to Spain in 1087 along with another half-brother, Raymond IV of Toulouse, to assist the count of Barcelona.

Hugh took the cross for the First Crusade, along with his brothers Raymond and Berenguer. He participated in the Crusade of 1101.

From his marriage c. 1065 to Hildegarde or Ildégarde de Thouars, daughter of Aimery IV of Thouars, Vicomte de Thouars, and wife Aurengarde de Mauleon, Hugh had a son and successor, Hugh VII of Lusignan.