Maison Deman

Major investigation · Empire, Brabant, Namur and Wallonia

From Barbarossa to Johnny, Carole and Sandrine Deman

A history shared with their Lebon, Tagliafero and Wauthy cousins and related families — twenty-seven generations, eight centuries and one documentary link still open.

BHistorical sources and edited recordsCRoute transmitted by the family treeTAncestry confirmed by JohnnyOpenDe La Hamaide–Jacquet link to document

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From the emperor drowned in Anatolia to the families of Wagnelée and Villers-la-Ville.

In 1190, an emperor vanished in an Anatolian river. More than eight centuries later, his name appears in Johnny Deman’s family tree. Between them stand the Hohenstaufen, Brabant, Artois, Namur, De La Hamaide, Jacquet and Wauthy families. This page does not turn that route into a gilded legend: it shows what the records establish, what the tree transmits, and the exact point where research still has work to do.

Artistic reconstruction of Frederick Barbarossa and his army in Anatolia
Barbarossa in Anatolia. Artistic reconstruction created for the family project; not an authenticated portrait.

The emperor on the move

Frederick I of Hohenstaufen, known as Barbarossa, was born around 1122. Elected King of the Romans in 1152 and crowned emperor in 1155, he sought to restore imperial authority, particularly in Italy. His struggle with the Lombard cities and the papacy shaped his reign; after Legnano, the Peace of Constance recognised broad urban autonomy.

Late in life he led the German army of the Third Crusade. On 10 June 1190, he drowned in the Saleph, now the Göksu, in Anatolia. He was not the last Holy Roman Emperor.

The tree’s route across 27 generations

This list follows one route preserved in Johnny’s family tree. The historical reality of the people named does not by itself prove every parent-child link between them.

  1. Frederick I Barbarossac. 1122–10 June 1190 · emperor
  2. Philip of Swabiac. 1177–1208 · King of the Romans
  3. Marie of Hohenstaufenc. 1200–1235 · wife of Henry II of Brabant
  4. Matilda of Brabant1224–1288 · wife of Robert I of Artois
  5. Robert II of Artois1250–1302
  6. Philip of Artois1269–1298
  7. Marie of Artoisc. 1291–1364 · Countess of Namur
  8. William the Rich of Namur1324–1391
  9. John III of Namurdied 1 March 1429
  10. Jean de Namur, Lord of Trivièresnatural son · died between 1502 and 1508
  11. Antoine de NamurLord of Trivières
  12. Philippe de Namurknight and Lord of Trivières
  13. Marie II de Namur1523–1603 · wife of Jacques/Jean II de La Hamaide
  14. Charles de La Hamaidec. 1543–1596 · governor of Binche
  15. Jeanne/Jenne de La Hamaideroute retained in the tree · exact identity still open
  16. Jean Jacquet1611–1684 · bailiff of Saint-Amand
  17. Marie Jacquet1633–1702 · definite mother of Armand Wauthi
  18. Armand Wauthi1658–1694
  19. François Wauthiez, or Wathy1692–1779
  20. François Joseph Wauthy1730–1814
  21. Nicolas Joseph Wauthiez1762–1820
  22. Armand Joseph Wauthy1805–1885
  23. Hubert Joseph Wauthy1844–1902
  24. Amand Joseph Wauthy1887–1955
  25. Paula Wauthy1919–2008
  26. Annie Lebonborn in 1953 at Marbais
  27. Johnny Demanborn in 1972 at Nivelles

Jean of Trivières: the recovered Namur link

Artistic reconstruction of a 1502 record concerning Jean de Namur
Jean de Namur and the 1502 record. Artistic reconstruction; the written references, not the image, support the finding.

A published 1437–1438 record names Philippe, Lord of Dhuy and Bayart, alongside his brother Jean, Lord of Trivières, both natural sons of the late Count John of Namur. Jean personally sold the fief of Selles on 7 May 1502; on 28 December 1508 his son Pierre was called heir of the late Jean. The former 1455 death date is therefore rejected.

The 1602 lock: Jeanne Marie or Marie?

The investigation dated 2 September 2026 identified AD Nord 8B1/30791, sub-file 2. Its catalogue describes a contract dated 26 September 1602 between Marie de Gulpen and six children, including Jeanne Marie de La Hamaide, as well as the 1596 family partition and Charles and Marie’s marriage contract.

Yet a Marie de La Hamaide, daughter of the same couple, married Pierre de Tenremonde in 1602. Their funerary monument at Bachy confirms the couple. The Pattou chart held locally depicts Marie and Jeanne separately, but remains a secondary compilation.

From lordships to the families of Wagnelée

Artistic reconstruction of Wagnelée between farmland and mine
Wagnelée, between field and mine. Artistic reconstruction of the transition from old lineages to rural and working lives.

From Armand onward, spelling shifts — Wauthi, Wauthiez, Wathy, Wauthy — while titles give way to labourers, chain makers, farmers and miners. The route reaches Amand Joseph Wauthy, Paula Wauthy, Annie Lebon and finally Johnny.