Charles, Georges, Edmond, Jacques and all the others: the Friedel family constitutes a dynasty of first class scholars. From atomic theory to supraconductivity, from natural history to chemistry, from cristallography to the physics of solids, the discoveries of this lineage of gentlemen have marked science during these last two centuries. Jacques Friedel, former president of l Académie des Sciences, recounts here the saga of this big family , his family.