Person:Francois de Bearn-Bonasse (1)

François de Béarn-Bonasse was seigneur de la Bastide-Villefranche, de Saint-Dos and de Gerderest. In 1558 he received his commission from Antoine de Bourbon, King of Navarre.

François married Marie de Sacaze, the daughter of Pedro de Sacaze. Pedro de Sacaze was a wealthy textile merchant from Aragon who had established dye works for wool in the town of Nay. The construction of the "Maison Carrée de Nay" is attributed to these three, Pedro se Sacaze, François de Béarn-Bonasse and Marie (de Sacaze) de Béarn-Bonasse. Originally owned by Pedro the building on the property was probably destroyed in the fire of 1543. Pedro later acquired the adjoining property establishing the footprint for what we know today as the Maison Carrée de Nay. However Pedro de Sacaze died in 1556 leaving the property to his daughter, Marie, and son-in-law, François.

During the French Wars of Religion, in 1567 François votes with the majority, following Claude Regin, Bishop of Oloron, etc., to defend the Catholic religion. François de Béarn-Bonasse was Captain of 50 lances during the Wars of Religion. After being named a gentleman of King Charles IX of France (reigned 1560 to 1574), he stood with his faith and other Catholics against the Huguenot forces of Jeanne d'Albret, Queen of Navarre (mother of future King Henri IV of France and III of Navarre). Although on opposite sides of the conflict, Jeanne d'Albret and François de Béarn-Bonasse were 4th cousins. Their common ancestor being Jean I de Foix (also known as Jean de Grailly). Jeanne descending from Jean I de Foix's heir Gaston IV de Foix and François descending from Jean I de Foix bastard son, Bernard de Béarn. François died at the siege of Tarbes in 1570 as he and his Catholic forces defended the city against Huguenot forces. (see reference 1)

1. ↑ MÉMOIRES DE LA SOCIÉTÉ ARCHÉOLOGIQUE DU MIDI DE LA FRANCE
   Tome LVII / p.94, 1997.

   La fortune de guerre du capitaine Bonasse devait s'achever durant le siège de Tarbes où il fut tué le 15 avril 1570 lors de la prise de la ville par Montamat.

2.   History of Maison Carrée de Nay (website)
   http://www.maison-carree-nay.fr/histoire, 3 Feb 2018.
3. ↑ Journal de Pierris de Casalivetery Notaire Royal, in Archives Historiques de la Gascogne
   p.31, 1908.

   Jean de Béarn, seigneur de La Bastide-Villefranche, d'Auterrive et de Mascouette, qui était, en 1538, sous la tutolle de Charles de Gramont, archevêque de Bordeaux et primat d'Aquitaine ; il mourut après le 16 janvier 1554 et avant le 15 mars 1559, sans postérité de son mariage avec Françoise de Dure, ayant, par testament, légué 1.000 livres à M. de Gramont et institué son héritier universel François de Béarn, dit de Bonasse, son cousin germain, second fils de noble Bertrand, bâtard de Béarn, dit de Bonasse, seigneur de Bescat, et de Marie de Bescat.

4. ↑ https://books.google.com/books?id=ec4LAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA291&dq=Jacques+de+Bearn+Bonasse&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjDxKb0uMDKAhWptIMKHX5wB04Q6AEIQDAF#v=onepage&q&f=false, in Société de Borda, dix-neuvième année (1894)
   p.291, 1894.

   Translation: "The Béarn-Bonnasse had bought it (ed. seigneurie de Sendos) thirty-three years ago, in 1565, from Gabriel de Béarn, Viscount of Juilhac and Baron of Gerderest."

5. ↑ Estimated birth year based on estimated marriage year.