The House of la Forest has for cradle the castle of this name and the big fief, which depended on it, close to the city of Yenne, in the part of Bugey over the Rhone River, at feet of the "Mont du Chat".
It goes back up to the tenth century, which is noted in the letters patent of nobility from the king Louis XV, elevating the barony of Divonne to the status of earldom.
Nicolas de la FOREST, abbot of Tamié in Savoy, worked on the genealogy of his family; it goes back up to very remote times, mentioning the names of the women who entered it, beginning with Amé de la FOREST, married to Marie of GROLEE. This Amé de la FOREST going with Amédée III, Count of Savoy, on his way to Rome in 1110 for the coronation of Henri V, Emperor of Germany. The direst line is established since this time.
Guichenon (history of the Bresse district, 1st part, p. 5 1) quotes a Chrestien de la FOREST, prior of Saint Pierre of Mâcon (1180).
M.T. Chapperon (Chambéry, in the end of 14-th century) mentions reports) the certificate of sale of Chambéry (1232), by Berlion of Chambéry to Thomas de Savoie, count of Maurienne. Among the witnesses appear: a Seyssel, a la Rivoire, a Montgellaz, a Sigomon of Chambéry, and four la Forest (Berlion, Torenus, Sogomon, Martin, etc....
In the Hautecombe's records, there is a mention of Vincent de la FOREST, son of Pierre of THE FOREST, who sold (1254) to this abbey the rights that he had on the parish of Chanaz. The previous year, Sigomont de la FOREST had signed recognition of fief in favor of same abbey of Hautecombe.
A decree of the Parliament of Paris (1298) appoints several considerable persons of this time; among them we find Jean de l FOREST, from Bugey. This is mentioned in Guichenon and in Tillet (Recueil du rang des grands de France).
Titres
Comtes de la Forest (from immemorial times). - Comtes de Verel, de Dulin and of Pont-de-Beauvoisin (1594). - Comtes de Rumilly (1699). - Comtes de Divonne (1749). - Baron d' Aspremont, de la Val-d'Isère, de la Bastie d'Albanais, de Bonvillards - Lords du Chastelard, de Gramont, Saint-Sorlin de Cuchet, de Rougemont, de la Barre, de Soumont (alias Somont), etc.
Illustration en Savoie
Aynard de la Forest, bailiff of Bugey (1334), his son Thomas was one of the participants of the famous Chambéry's tournament of 1348. - Two governors of the children of Savoy. - Two senior chaplains of Savoy. - One Minister of State. - One general marshal of all the cavalry of Savoy and Piedmont. - One captain of the archers of the Duke of Savoy's Guard. - Several ambassadors, four of which in the Court of France. - Several governors of the city and County of Nice, in 1482 - Several Grand chamberlains of Savoy. - Senior Chaplain of Savoy - An Archbishop of Chambéry - Several prelates and mitered abbots - General prosecutor of the order of Citeaux, reformer and abbot of the Trappist monastery of Tamié.
Illustration en France
Four general officers. - Several superior officers. - Gentlemen of the King's chamber). - The honors of the Court (on 1773 and 1787). - The hereditary peerage (1827). - A commander and five knights of Malta. - Several knights of Saint Louis.
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