MEYER - The family is from German origins et the spelling of its name varied somewhat thoughout the centuries (Mayer, Meier, Meyer, etc.).   The name is derived from Latin  "Major Domus" and named a "land/property administrator," a function exercised by quality people. The name of the family of the Count de Meyer can be traced to the Fricktal region, an Austrian land conquered by French troops after the revolution and later after the treaty of Vienna, to become the the "Canton of Fricktal". Afterwards, it became  became part of the canton of Argovie (Switzerland).

Coat of arms of the Count Jules de Meyer (1828-1907): bestowed by Pope Léon XIII
1 & 4 quartered of silver with sand lion holding a sword, azur blue at 2 & 3 quartered with Florentine cross with the motto: "Fidei et vertuti" = "Faith & courage."

Jules de Meyer took the place of his father under the Pontifical banner in 1852. He received all of his military ranks as a result of his bravery in the field, up to the rank of Colonel and Commander of the "Swiss Carabiniers."  At 28 years old , already cited 3 times by the troops, decorated and rewarded with the rank of Captain.  He received the rank of Commander after having heroically defended the St. Paul gate in Rome and after the famous  encounter on "Monti Pairoli" on October 23 1869 with the brothers Cairoli (Garibaldi supporters), and the rank of Colonel after the historic battle at the head of the "Swiss Carabiniers." defending the neighboring St. Jean gate of the "Scala Santa" (Piazza S. Giovanni in Laterano) in Rome.

Commander de Meyer took part in the campaigns of Castelfidardo and of Mentana in 1867; the latter he reclaimed the St. Paul gate, which had fallen in the hands of the insurgents.  He received the military medals of  Castelfidardo and Mentana;  he was gravely wounded seven times..  Knight of the Order of  "Pius IX," of the "Order of St. Sylvester," of the Order of "St. Gregory the Great" with pension, Knight of the "Order of St. Georges," bestowed by the King of Naples.

With his young wife, Maria POCOBELLI (1950-1930), they had to find a refuse at the Vatican, because the Garibaldi forces had place a  reward on his head.   Maria did not want to leave her husband alone in this new peril and accompanied him through Italy, given that with each step they risked imprisonment or death.  Thanks to the recommendations of  Monsignor de Mérode, arms minister of his Holiness Pius IX, they were able to stay with the bishops of various cities until reaching the Swiss border.  Maria and Jules de Meyer first lived in Soleure and later in Fribourg (Switzerland) where he was named Commander of the Fribourg Police force "Gendarmerie fribourgeoise," from 1882 to1902.

Of his own initiative (motu propio), his Holiness Pope Leo XIII, conferred upon Jules Meyer the nobility title of Count with hereditary transference (primo genitur).  A few days before Count de Meyer's death, his Holiness Pius X sent a  personal message and his benediction to comfort him in the hour of his illness. He died on the 23rd of July 1907 in Fribourg and was buried at the St. Léonard cemetery.

Descendance MEYER from Oeschgen (Fricktal), canton of Argovie (Switzerland)

[Jean-Marie Musy] [Benoît Musy]   [Pierre Musy]   [Luigi Musy] [Family Musy]   [Musy from Grandvillard]
  [Musy from Albeuve] [Family Comte - Musy] [Musy Romont] [Musy from Brazil] [Menoud - Glasson family]
  [Family Heusch]   [Count Jules de Meyer]   [Holocaust Rescuers]   [General Horace Porter]   [Albeuve - Switzerland]
   [Homage to J-M Musy - Albeuve]   [Grandvillard - Switzerland] [Saint Pius X]   [Pius XI] [Castle of Middes]
  [General Alfred van Caubergh] [Fernando Muñoz, Duke of Riansares]