John, Count of Chalon

Who was John, Count of Chalon?

John, called the Old, was a French nobleman, the Count of Auxonne and Chalon-sur-Saône in his own right and regent of the County of Burgundy in right of his son, Hugh III.

He was the son of Stephen III of Auxonne and Beatrice, Countess of Chalon.

On June 5, 1237, he exchanged his inherited patrimony of Auxonne and Chalon with Hugh IV, Duke of Burgundy for the following territories: Salins, Belvoir, Vuillafans, Ornans, Montfaucon, Arlay, the castle of Clées in Vaud, Chaussin, and Orgelet. He thus became one of the most powerful nobles in the county.

Although he gave charters to the towns in his territory, he also welcomed the Dominican friars as inquisitors.

The possession of Salins, with its salt production, gave John the fortune necessary to extend his territories. To protect the trade routes, he built the following fortresses: Le Pin, Montmahoux, Saint-Anne, Arguel, and Nozeroy, where he normally resided.

To avoid the customs imposed by the Count of Pontarlier, he bought the forests in the region around Pontarlier and Jougne, which he logged, creating new roads. He founded the towns of Châtelblanc, Chaux-Neuve, and Rochejean, the last of which contains his name.