Hugh VIII of Lusignan

Who was Hugh VIII of Lusignan?

Hugh VIII the Old of Lusignan or Hugh III of La Marche or Hugues VIII le Vieux de Lusignan was the eldest son of Hugh VII and of Sarrasine or Saracena de Lezay. He became Seigneur de Lusignan, Couhé, and Château-Larcher and Count of La Marche on his father's death in 1151. Born in Poitou, 1106–1110 or some time after 1125, he died in Holy Land in 1165 or 1171.

He married in 1140/1141 Bourgogne or Burgondie de Rancon, Dame de Fontenay, daughter of Geoffroi or Geoffroy de Rancon, Seigneur de Taillebourg and wife Fossefie, Dame de Moncontour, by whom he also became Seigneur de Fontenay: she died on April 11, 1169. In 1163 or 1164 he went on pilgrimage and on crusade to the Holy Land and participated in the Battle of Harim, where he was taken prisoner.

His children were:

Hugues de Lusignan, Co-Seigneur de Lusignan in 1164, married before 1162 Orengarde N, who died in 1169, leaving an infant son Hugues who was to become Hugh IX of Lusignan, and an infant son Raoul who was to become Raoul I de Lusignan

Robert de Lusignan, died young c. 1150

Geoffrey or Geoffroy I de Lusignan, Seigneur of Moncontour and Seigneur de Soubise, Seigneur de Vouvent, de Mervent by first marriage, Count of Jaffa and Ascalon on July 28, 1191, who fought in the Siege of Acre. According to the Chronicle of Ernoul, when told that Guy had become king of Jerusalem Geoffrey said: "He'll be God next!". Married firstly before 1200 Eustache de Chabot, Dame de Vouvent et Dame de Mervent, and secondly c. 1202 Humberge de Limoges, daughter of Aimar VI, Vicomte de Limoges and wife Sarra de Cornouailles, and had one son by each marriage: