GOUFFIER

gouffier, the name of a great french family, which owned the estate of bonnivet in poitou from the 14th century. _guillaume gouffier_, chamberlain to charles vii., was an inveterate enemy of jacques coeur, obtaining his condemnation and afterwards receiving his property (1491). he had a great number of children, several of whom played a part in history. artus, seigneur de boisy (c. 1475-1520) was entrusted with the education of the young count of angouleme (francis i.), and on the accession of this prince to the throne as francis i. became grand master of the royal household, playing an important part in the government; to him was given the task of negotiating the treaty of noyon in 1516; and shortly before his death the king raised the estates of roanne and boisy to the rank of a duchy, that of roannais, in his favour. adrien gouffier (d. 1523) was bishop of coutances and albi, and grand almoner of france.