Counts Of Foix, a French family conspicuous from the 11th to the beginning of the 16th century.-Raymond Roger reigned from 1188 to 1223. He engaged in the third crusade among the followers of Philip Augustus, and distinguished himself by his bravery at the taking of Acre. After his return to France he sided with the count of Toulouse and the Albigenses against the crusading forces led by Simon de Montfort, and contributed to the raising of the siege of Toulouse, during which Montfort was killed.-His son, Roger Bernard II., styled the Great, who succeeded him in 1223, followed his example, but in 1229 was forced into submission to the king and the pope.-Roger Bernard III. (1265-1302) gained considerable reputation as a troubadour, but was unsuccessful in his wars with the kings of France and Aragon; he was several times imprisoned.-Gaston II. (1315-1343) did good service to Philip VI. of France in his war with the English, and assisted Alfonso XI. of Castile against the Moors.-Gaston III., son of the preceding, succeeded his father in 1343, when only 12 years old. He was called Phoebus on account either of his light hair or of a sun he bore on his escutcheon.

He signalized himself against the English in Guienne and Languedoc, and in 1356 was imprisoned for a while at Paris for complicity in the intrigues of Charles the Bad of Navarre, his brother-in-law. On his release he fought bravely in the ranks of the Teutonic knights against the Prussians. Returning to France in 1358, he contributed to the defeat and destruction of the rebellious Jacquerie, who were besieging the royal chateau at Meaux. In 1362, by victory over the count d'Armagnac, he secured for himself possession of Beam; and the magnificence of his court at Orthez and afterward at Pau was admired by Froissart. In 1380 he was appointed governor of Languedoc by Charles V., but his dignity was contested by the duke of Berry, whom he defeated at Revel. Gaston Phoebus was a famous huntsman, and left a book entitled Miroir de Phebus, cles deduicts de la chasse des bestes sautaiges et des oyseaux de proie (fol, Paris, 1507).-Gaston IV. (died in 1472) made himself conspicuous by services as well as hostility to both Charles VII. and Louis XI. He married Eleo-nora, princess and afterward queen regnant of Navarre, who died in 1479; and her heiress Catherine de Foix marrying Jean d'Albret in 1484, the county of Foix was henceforth united with Navarre under that house.

Her rights to the county were, however, long disputed by her uncle, Jean de Foix, viscount of Nar-bonne. A son of the latter was the hero and victim of the battle of Ravenna (April 11, 1512). (See Gaston de Foix.)