Jean De La Fontaine is believed to have descended from Jean de la Fontaine who fought in the first Crusade under Godfrey at Jerusalem in 1099 and who established the de la Fontaine family at Fontenay, anciently prominent in Normandy, Anjou, Maine, Poitou and Picardy which maintains descent from Arthur, Duke of Brittany.
When the call came to liberate the Holy Land from the infidel, Chevalier Fontaines joined the 3rd Crusade under their king Philip Augustus and Richard "Coeur de Lion" of England. During the battle before Acre which began April 13 and lasted until July 8 in the year 1191, Chevalier Fontaine speared to death an armored elephant which attacked him. The Saracens fought with elephants, whose snouts were wrapped with brass. Just by wielding their snouts, they could kill a dozen men. For this brace deed, Chevalier was awarded an elephant's head with tusks elevated for the crest of his Coat of Arms. Another Fontaine won a naval battle, which gave them for the lower part of their silver shield, a three-masted ship with sails spread and a pennant at the prow.
Much of the information for the early Fontaine is taken from the book "From Rags to Riches to Respectability - a Fontaine Family" written by Winston F. Fontaine and published for the author by Alabama Ancestors, Mobile, Alabama, 1787.
Jean De La Fontaine, Lord of Seville, born WFT Est. 1297-1367 in France; died WFT Est. 1334-1443. He married Buyonne De Monthibault WFT Est. 1323-1399.
Buyonne De Monthibault, born WFT Est. 1303-1370; died WFT Est. 1334-1449.
Child of Jean De La Fontaine and Buyonne De Monthibault is:
i. Guy De La Fontaine, born WFT Est. 1334-1396 in France; died WFT Est. 1371-1473; married Buyonne De Audigne.
