- Marguerite, Duchess of Rohan
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Marguerite Duchess of Rohan
Princess of Léon
Engraving of Madame de Rohan Spouse Henri Chabot Issue Anne, Princess of Soubise
Louis, Duke of Rohan, Prince of Léon
Jeanne Pelagie, Princess of EpinoyFull name Marguerite de Rohan Father Henri de Rohan Mother Marguerite de Béthune Born 1617 Died 9 April 1684
Paris, France[1]Marguerite de Rohan (1617 – 9 April 1684) was a French noblewoman and Duchess of Rohan in her own right. She married Henri Chabot for love and the couple produced 4 children. A great heiress, she inherited the Duchy (later principlaity) of Soubise which was given to her daughter Anne.[1]
Contents
Biography
She was the only child of Henri de Rohan, Duke of Rohan and Marguerite de Béthune, a daughter of Maximilien de Béthune.
Her family claimed ancestry from the regining Dukes of Brittany and at the French court, were allowed the rank of Foreign Princes. This entitled them to the style of Highness and other privileges at court.
Appealing to the Queen Regent Anne of Austria, in 1645 Louis XIV issued a certificate that willed Marguerite the right to keep her status, her dignity of a princess, should she marry Henri Chabot. When the Marquis of Seneterre interrogated her on these matters, she replied: I do not know if I shall be able to decide to marry him, but I do feel that I could not bear it if he married someone else.[1]
Her youngest daughter, Jeanne Pelagie from a 19th century engraving
Previously, her hand had been asked by Louis de Bourbon, Count of Soissons and cousin of the King Henri IV; she refused. Other candidates included the Duke of Nemours as well as the Duke of Saxe-Weimar. Eventually, she married Henri in Paris on 6 June 1645. The couple were the parents of six children, four of which would have progeny.[1]
By her marriage, she brought her dowry to her husband as well as all her possessions and titles, with the condition that the children bear the name and coat-of-arms of Rohan only. Later the children decided to call themselves Rohan-Chabot and thereby did not honour the clauses of the marriage-contract.
The marriage of a Rohan to a meer noble man of no fortune, was seen as a mésalliance for the powerful Rohans who were one of the oldest families in France. Her husband was created Duke of Rohan in 1648.
Titles she held in her own right were; Duchess of Rohan, Princess of Léon, Duchess of Frontenay, Countess of Porhoët, Marquise of Blain, Dame of Lorges, Countess of Porhoët amongst others.[1]
The Ducal Peerage of Rohan was re-established for Chabot in 1648. Marguerite, Duchess of Rohan in her own right, as a widow was named guardian of her children by royal letters of 10 June 1655.
She died in Paris on 9 April 1684 at the age of 67.[1]
Descendants
Marguerite has various descendants throughout Europe; Through her son she is a direct male line ancrestress of Josselin de Rohan, a present member of the Senate of France.
Through her daughter Anne, she is an ancestor of the Princes of Guéméné, another line of the House of Rohan as well as the present Prince of Monaco.
Issue
- X de Rohan-Chabot
- Marguerite Gabrielle Charlotte de Rohan-Chabot (d.17 June 1720) married Malo de Coëtquen, Marquis de Coëtquen and had issue;
- Anne Julie de Rohan-Chabot (1648 – 4 February 1709), Princess of Soubise married François de Rohan and had issue; was mistress of Louis XIV;
- Gilone de Rohan-Chabot (?) died in infancy;
- Louis de Rohan-Chabot, Duke of Rohan, Prince of Léon (3 November 1652 – 17 August 1727) married Marie Elisabeth du Bec-Crespin de Grimaldi and had issue;
- Jeanne Pelagie de Rohan-Chabot (d.18 August 1698) married Alexandre Guillaume de Melun, Prince of Epinoy and had issue; was grand mother of Anne Julie de Melun, Princess of Soubise was wife of Jules de Rohan, a grandson of the above Anne.[1]
Ancestry
Ancestors of Marguerite, Duchess of Rohan 16. Pierre II de Rohan, Seigneur of Frontenay, Viscount of Carentan 8. René de Rohan, Viscount of Rohan 17. Anne de Rohan, heiress of Rohan 4. René de Rohan, Viscount of Rohan 18. John III of Navarre 9. Isabel d'Albret of Navarre 19. Catherine of Navarre 2. Henri de Rohan, Duke of Rohan 20. Jean de Parthenay L'Archeveque, Seigneur of Soubise 10. Jean de Parthenay-L'Archeveque, Seigneur of Soubise 21. Michelle de Sanbonne du Fresne 5. Catherine de Parthenay-L'Archeveque 22. François Bouchard, Seigneur of Aubeterre 11. Antoinette Bouchard d'Aubeterre 23. Isabelle de Saint-Seigne 1. Marguerite de Rohan 24. - 12. François de Béthune 25. - 6. Maximilien de Béthune, Duke of Sully 26. - 13. Charlotte Dauvet 27. - 3. Marguerite de Béthune 28. - 14. Jacques de Cochefilet, Count of Vaucelas 29. - 7. Rachel de Cochefilet 30. Jean Arbaleste, Sieur of La Borde-le-Vicomte 15. Marie Arbaleste 31. Madelaine de Feugerais Titles, styles, honours and arms
Titles and styles
- 1617 – 13 April 1639 Her Highness Mademoiselle de Rohan
- 13 April 1639 – 27 February 1655 Her Highness the Duchess of Rohan, Princess of Léon
- 27 February 1655 – 9 April 1684 Her Highness the Dowager Duchess of Rohan, Dowager Princess of Léon
References and notes
- ^ a b c d e f g van de Pas, Leo. "Marguerite de Rohan, Duchess of Rohan, Princess of Léon". Genealogics .org. http://www.genealogics.org/getperson.php?personID=I00010402&tree=LEO. Retrieved 2010-04-07.
Categories:- 1617 births
- 1684 deaths
- 17th-century French people
- House of Rohan
- Dukes of Rohan
- French Suo jure nobility
- French duchesses
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