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De Fontane belonged to the highest French aristocracy, though they were not titled, but they had a bit of blood from king Philip II Augustus. I believe that the kind of de Fontain, started from the younger branch of the counts of Abbeville, when her heirs received the community Fontain-sur-Somme, from where they have that name. The house of Abbeville comes from the house of the counts of Ponthieu. Fontaines-sur — Somme was part of the County of Flanders at this time and much later-France.
De Fontaines-one of the oldest and most famous families in the French province of Picardy, stretching from the Pas de Calais to the border of modern Belgium. The counts of Abbeville chose as their coat of arms a large silver shield with three small shields of squirrel fur. The founder of the new branch, Guillaume (Wilhelm) de Fontaine, returning through Hungary from the first crusade, replaced the silver shield with gold. Later the ermine border was added to the coat of arms.
Guillaume was in the first wave of the Crusader army in Constantinople. The first purpose of the crusaders on the road to the Holy country was Nicaea, the capital of the Seljuk Turks, captured by them in 1077 near Byzantium. In may and June, 1,097 crusaders approached Nicaea and stormed the city. Guillaume was in Robert von Flandern's army. The Turks fought fiercely, but they underestimated the number and strength of the enemy. The crusaders also had a lot of dead bodies and countless wounded, but finally, Nicaea was taken. Guillaume de Fontaine received after this battle coat of arms, which today can be seen in Versailles in the hall Kreuzziige
The first crusade successfully ended with the seizure of Jerusalem and the formation of three Crusader States: the Kingdom of Jerusalem, the Principality of Antioch and the County of Edessa.
During the First crusade in 1096, in Asia Minor, Guillaume de Fontaine also participated in the battle with the Seljuks of Suliman Ibn Kutalmis. It is known that he was still living in 1119, and was married to Charlotte de May, and they had at least three children: Enguerran (Ferdinand), Mr. roul d Arena, and Margaret, left for Thierry, Seigneur de Linga. Their names are mentioned in the Church books from 1142-1176 years.
On their land Enguerran built the Abbey Abbey-d-Apang-Les-Abbeville (which later became known as the Church of the Holy Tungsten), severely affected by the bombing, as the city of Abbeville during the Second World war.
Of the five children Anguera his eldest son Aleum, became famous as a talented military leader, although his two brothers, Rawle d Arena and Gautier, or Vautier (Walter), of knightly prowess, it is also not inferior. Their younger brother, Nicholas, became a Bishop in Cambri. And they had a sister Jeanne.
Aleum, sir des Fontaine de lone de Longpre de Neuvill-AUX-Bois and other lands, married laurette de Saint-valéry, daughter of Bernard III, Seigneur de Saint-valéry, a relative of the French king. (It is interesting to note that it was from St. Valerie in 1066 that William of Normandy went to conquer England.) In 1185, the French king appointed Aleum de Fontaine Butler Abbeville, who received a Charter for the city the year before, and the commander and protector of the castle and the Abbeville. Before Aleaum became Crusader, he was the second burgomaster in the history of Abbeville, where today his coat of arms can be seen in the town hall.
Going into the third crusade, king Philip II Augustus of Aleum appointed one of his commanders. Together with the king and Jean, Duke of pottier, Aleum went to Palestine. When Philip II Augustus, because of his health was forced to return to France, he appointed the commanders of the French crusaders Hugo III Duke of Burgundy and Aleum de Fontaine.
After the end of the third crusade Aleum remained in Palestine and later joined the participants of the fourth crusade (1202-1204). He participated in the conquest of Constantinople, where he died in 1205. Before his death, Aleum de Fonteyn handed over all the relics and jewels he had collected in the Holy Land to his chaplain named Wolbert, on condition that he handed them to his wife Loretta Saint-Valerie, señore de Fonteyn. She was instructed to give everything to the Church in Lompre, Aleum is built, and from these funds to Finance scholarships to twelve young graduate students – that was the will of the deceased that his widow did. At first, the scholarship Fund was headed by the said chaplain Woolbert, and then two sons of the late Aleum. In the rich collection been so many partial remains of saints that the temple in Londre was called “KOR-St” – the temple Relics of the Saints. In this temple Loretta in a few years found eternal rest next to the tomb of Aleum.
Three sons of Loretta and Aleum was too valiant knights. Two eldest sons – Hugo Seigneur de Fontaine, and his brother Vauthier Mr. Alencar, in 1214 participated in the historic battle of Bouvine, where Philip II Augustus defeated the army of the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire of the Distillate IV, count Flandersbio Reno and the English king John Lackland. The name of the third son of Aleum and Loreta – Henri is included in the lists of the glorious seniors of the Kingdom in the Amiens Cathedral. Aleum and Loretta had a son and three daughters.
Among the grandchildren of Aleum, the first, the most prominent was Pierre de Fontaine, one of the main advisers of Ludwig the Saint. About it Ludovig a Saint once said the hook: “Monsieur Pierre de Fontaine and (some names) are my saviors.”
Over time, de Fontaine, like most other noble families of medieval France, began to experience financial difficulties. In 1244 they sold part of their land to Abbeville burgher, in 1270 they had to sell even more land, and in 1289 they sold part of their land to British king Edward I.
One of de fontanov founded a new branch de Fontaine de Neuvill-AUX-Bois. Then began further offshoots. One younger branch had replaced the old coat of arms of the new blue shield with six bees, and three fountains; to this branch belonged to the first who settled in Russia at des Fontaines. This branch settled in one need not look far, and later in Udine, Ile-de-France. The American branch originates from the branch de Fontaine Newville-AU-Bois: the first known to us de Fontaine in America was James Jr., the son of pastor James Sr.-he fled from France to Virginia in 1717, and his descendants moved from there to South Carolina.
The senior branch of the des of approximately fontanov ended in 1301 when the head just kind of left woman – Jeanne de Fontaine, Madame de Longpre-on-Cor-Sept. Younger branches existed before the end of the 18th century. By that time, if you count from Guillaume-first, rod de fontanov in France consisted of 21 generation.
Perhaps the most distinguished of all kind were Renaud de Fontaine, who with his father and uncle fought on the battlefield of Agincourt (1415). In this battle perished almost the whole flower of French chivalry on the battlefield were killed ten thousand of the French. This battle, which Shakespeare described in his drama “Henry V”, was one of the bloodiest for all the middle ages. Among the few survivors was Renaud de Fontaine, who then valiantly fought in the hundred years war (1337 -1453). 31 Aug 1421 under the Mans-on-Vimer he was captured, but soon ransomed. This "worthy and powerful Senor", as the chronicle calls him, participated in the siege of the Sideboard. He attacked the British when they appeared near his native Newville, and repulsed their attempt to Wade Somme between Abbeville and St. Valerie. It is known that only in one battle, he captured 800 people. He participated in the siege of Compiègne, when the Duke of Burgundy Philip the Good captivated Jeanne d'arc in 1430. (At that time Burgundy, like Picardy, fought on the side of the British). When Renault de Fontaine appeared on the battlefield near Royan, the enemy, seeing him in a hurry retreated. In 1455, the king appointed him as his representative (senchal) and Governor of the Duchy of Valois, a province owned by the crown. Throughout his life, Reno was still a bachelor.
Almost to the end of the Kingdom of France a de Fontane faithfully served his king, most cavalry officers. Some of them served in the order of the Hospitallers, when these knights monks, retreating from the Holy Land, Cyprus and Rhodes, settled in Malta. And one of de fontanov, a priest, was defrocked for marrying the lady of his heart.
In the 16th century some of them became followers of Calvin, Huguenots there. Fleeing the most severe persecution, they sought refuge in Protestant countries: in the neighboring Netherlands, in America, and in South Africa, in Scandinavia and Prussia.
The founder of the Russian branch, Pierre de Fontaine, fled from France in 1696 to the Netherlands. His grandson's name was already Pierre des Fontaines and in all documents it was listed as Ivan Petrovich. He moved to Arkhangelsk with his whole family – his wife, her daughter from the first marriage Sofia Halle and sister Maria des Fontanes. Some money from the des of Fontaines was, so on arrival in Arkhangelsk, he bought a house. The first ten years of Ivan Petrovich "was in the service with the office of foreign merchants, "Arthur Kelly and Co.", and then became enrolled as a "foreign broker" and entered 2 in the Guild of foreign guests. From 1793 to 1796 Ivan Petrovich des Fontaines was Elected in the city Council from the foreign guests. In 1799, he announced a capital of 8005 rubles and was "...chosen for the maintenance and storage of state wine." Ivan Petrovich des Fontaines belonged to the Calvinist reformed Church /Dutch/, and he had three sons and five daughters. He died in 1805 at the age of 48, leaving behind a widow and six children with minimal means of living.
Catherine married Moses Moiseyevich Clapton /his family came from Liverpool/ Anna married James Daniel Bailey, officer of the Russian Imperial Navy, and lived in St. Petersburg. Maria married someone sheele from the Netherlands, who came to Russia during the "economic downturn" in Amsterdam and was a very successful entrepreneur. In Mymax, he built a shipyard and sugar factory, and in 1830 signed up for the third Guild of the Arkhangelsk merchants, and soon became a merchant of the first Guild, a companion of a number of timber enterprises.
Major achievements in commercial matters was able to achieve a younger son of the Dutchman Abram I. des Fontaines. In early 1831, Abram Ivanovich and his wife Anna Moiseevna accepted Russian citizenship and joined the Archangelsk third Guild merchant class. Becoming a Russian citizen, Abram Ivanovich was given broad access to social activities and left a noticeable trace in the history of the city.
Like his father, he began his service in the simplest positions: first as a clerk in the trading house of Franz Scholz and Felix Clarke, and then as a forwarder of foreign ships. The last place of service allowed the young entrepreneur to establish ties with foreign merchants and start an independent business: trade edible supplies, supply them with foreign ships.
In 1832, Abram I. des Fontaines periphials in the second Guild merchant, and in 1833, together with the Arkhangelsk second Guild merchant Pyotr Karlovich Larcom traded partnership formed by them "A. des Fontaines and Lyurs". Apparently, luck accompanied them in all their endeavors and, in order to expand their trading activities, in early 1836 the companions became merchants of the first Guild. In 1838 a third companion to conduct jointly commercial cases was adopted by Nikol'skiy (Nikol'sk is a city in Vologda province) merchant of the first Guild Ilya Y. Gribanov. Since that time their Association became known as the "Gribanov, Fontaines and Lyurs".
In 1847, Abram Ivanovich and his family were elevated to Hereditary honorary citizenship. At the beginning of 1848, in connection with the release of "the partnership of Peter Karlovich Lyursa" and on the occasion of making it to the first Guild merchant son of Vladimir Ilyich Gribanova the partnership was renamed yet again (this time permanently) at "Gribanov, Fontaines Ko". And the marriage of Vladimir Gribanov, daughter of Abram I. des of Fontaines Anna strongly contributed to the strengthening they have created the trading house. Marriage Anne des Fontaines son of Elijah Gribanova was signed for purely commercial reasons — to strengthen commercial operations: Fontaines in Arkhangelsk and Gribanova in Nikol'sk, Velikiy Ustyug and Totma. And the result of this marriage was the Foundation of a prosperous company "Trade house of Fontaines, Gribanov Ko". Fontaines family is designated repeatedly as the commercially most successful family of the French name in Russia.
Since 1837, Abram served in various public positions free of charge for 30 years. Only one Committee to oversee the marriage of goods at the port of Archangel, he worked, with some interruptions, for over 20 years. The climax of his public work of Abram ten of Fontaines began service in the office of the mayor of Arkhangelsk — from 1853 to 1859, the years for which disposal of the civil Governor of Arkhangelsk on 24 Feb 1860 merchant was allowed to wear a retired uniform of the mayor.
For his zealous service in public positions, Abram Ivanovich was awarded three gold medals "for diligence" (to be worn around his neck: on Anninsky, Vladimir and Alexander ribbons), the order of St. Stanislaus II and III degrees, St. Anna III degrees and others, Highly awarded to him in 1845, 1851 and 1856. For assistance in sending provisions to the city of kolu and for the donation of 500 rubles for distribution to the poorest residents of The city (in 1854 the city of Kola was bombed by the English frigate "Miranda" and almost completely burned) Abram des Fonteynes was declared the Highest gratitude.
On the Highest command Abram Ivanovich as the Mayor, was present on August 26, 1856 at a ceremony of Sacred coronation of the Sovereign of Emperor Alexander II in Moscow and was awarded the big silver coronation medal. He met Alexander II in Arkhangelsk, when the Emperor in the fourth year of his reign, examined the North-Eastern region of his Empire and visited the city of Arkhangelsk and the Solovetsky monastery. For meritorious public service Abram I. des Fontaines was awarded the title of counselor of Commerce. For many years he headed the Board of the Arkhangelsk state Bank. At different times, Abram Ivanovich was a member of the Board of Trustees of the reform school, the Mariinsky women's gymnasium, a children's shelter, opened in the latter at his own expense, a Department of 8 people.
The newspaper "Arkhangelsk province news" rightly noted in the obituary dedicated to the memory of the merchant: "Abram Ivanovich deserved utter respect for citizens, not by obsequiousness and flattery, and unconditional observance of public interests." The author of the publication called the deceased " a worthy citizen of our city»
Edward des Fontaines, son of Abram I., having completed the course of study in the Evangelical school, fifteen years old at the request of parents took Russian citizenship August 27, 1845, and the following month was assigned to the capital of his father. As the merchant's son was directly involved in the activities of the trading house "Gribanov, Fontaines Ko".
At the age of nineteen, he was sent by the father for three years abroad in Hamburg and London to improve knowledge in foreign languages and practical acquaintance with commercial business in the offices of partners of the trading house "Gribanov, Fontaines Ko".
In 1857, Eduard Abramovich married the merchant's daughter Vilgelmina Petrovna, a nee Dressen. Over the years of their happy married life they became the parents of eight children.
In the commercial Affairs of the trading house, led by his father and son-in-law Vladimir Gribanov, Edward proved to be a diligent and zealous assistant, for which he was accepted as a full companion in 1858. In 1869, Abram I., struck by a serious illness, handed over all authority to the son. On September 20, 1873, Abram died, and Eduard Abramovich became a full partner in the partnership, having rewritten the first Guild of the Archangelsk merchants for 1874.
As well as his father, Eduard Abramovich willingly and gratuitously participated in work of various city services, since 1868: in 1868-1870 by the Arkhangelsk Head, then was elected Vowel of the Arkhangelsk city Council and served in this position 20 years (1871=1891).
"For excellent service" Eduard Abramovich was awarded the order of St. Stanislav of the second degree, the sign of the "red cross", the order of St. Anne of the second degree.
Charitable activity has always been a distinctive feature of the Russian merchants. Following the example of his father, Eduard Abramovich made numerous donations for the benefit of the poor, the sick and orphans, not especially by announcing his noble deeds, always without delay responding to all the requests of the needy. And he took an active part in the activities of various care and charity organizations.
Like most residents of the German settlement, Eduard Abramovich was a parishioner of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.Catherine. In 1892 he was elected Church warden, and in 1894 the Honorary Patron of the Evangelical society.
As a result of the unfavorable combination of circumstances trading house "Gribanov, Fonteynes and Co", which existed for more than forty years, began to suffer heavy losses and, in coordination with a companion, Vladimir Ilyich Gribanov, Eduard Abramovich stopped commercial business, closing the office in 1889. The following year he became seriously ill, attempts of treatment made in the best clinics of the capital turned out to be inconclusive, and on August 15, 1901 Eduard Abramovich died in the hands of his children. The coffin with the body of the deceased was brought back from Peterhof to Arkhangelsk. The funeral took place at the cemetery of the Evangelical society. "Rest in peace, our gallant fellow citizen," so ended an obituary on the death of Edward Abramovich, published in the newspaper "Arkhangelsk province news".