Jacques Marie Géraud de Crussol

Jacques Marie Géraud de Crussol (19 November 1868 – 20 June 1893), styled Duke of Crussol from 1872 to 1878, was a French nobleman and explorer who kept a diary of his African expedition that was published posthumously by his mother, the renowned Duchess d'Uzès.

Early life Crussol was born in the 7th arrondissement of Paris on 19 November 1868. He was the eldest son of Emmanuel de Crussol, 12th Duke of Uzès (1852–1878) and Anne de Rochechouart de Mortemart. His younger brother was Louis Emmanuel de Crussol. His sisters both married Dukes, Simone Louise Laure de Crussol (who married Honoré d'Albert, 10th Duke of Luynes), and Mathilde Renée de Crussol d'Uzès (who married François de Cossé Brissac, 11th Duke of Brissac). His mother inherited the Château de Boursault and a large fortune from her great-grandmother, Madame Clicquot Ponsardin, the founder of the Veuve Clicquot, and his maternal grandparents were Louis de Rochechouart and Marie Clémentine de Chevigné.

His father, who had been elected to the legislature in 1871, died in 1878 and 10 year-old Jacques became the 13th Duke of Uzès and the head of the House of Crussol.

African expedition Reportedly to teach the young Duke how to escape an idle life, respect his rank, and accomplish great things, his mother decided to organize an expedition to Africa. The goal was to reach Abyssinia in the Horn of Africa and deliver Khartoum, which had been in the hands of the Mahdists since 1884.

Personal life

Crussol was reportedly the lover of the demimonde, Émilienne d'Alençon, whom he wished to marry. Alençon, a dancer and actress, had made her début at the Cirque d'été in 1889. On 26 May 1891, he was present at the ball organized at 25 boulevard des Invalides in the Faubourg Saint-Germain, disguised as a Muscovite lord with Alençon present, which was said to be an impetus for his mother to organize his expedition to Africa.

His body was returned to France, via Lisbon (accompanied by his brother, then styled Count of Crussol, and brother-in-law, the Duke of Luynes), and his funeral was held at the Uzès. After his early death, the dukedom passed to his younger brother, Louis Emmanuel.