Gabriel de Rochechouart, duc de Mortemart

Gabriel de Rochechouart, duc de Mortemart was born in 1600, died in Paris on December 26 1675: He was a friend of th French King Louis XIII. The two grew up together and his family were to play a vast part in the history and families of France in the Ancien Régime.

Life

Gabriel de Rochechouart de Mortemart, was the son of Gaspard de Rochechouart, marquis de Mortemart and Louise de Maure, comtesse de Maure . When his father died he took the title of "Marquis de Mortemart": he was the second holder of the title.

By 1650, with his prominent position at court, (his son a friend of the king: his wife a Lady in Waiting to Anne of Austria), Louis XIV raised the Marquisate to a Dukedom and he was then known as the Duc de Mortemart.

Marriage and Children

In 1632, Gabriel married Diane de Grandseigne, born in 1615 and died February 11 1666. She was the daughter of Jean de Grandseigne, marquis de Marsillac and Catherine de La Béraudière, known as "dame de Villenon".

The couple had 5 children:

*Gabrielle, Born in 1633;
**Married Claude Léonor Damas de Thianges, Marquis de Thianges and had issuse,
*Louis Victor de Rochechouart, titled as "Marquis de Vivonne" and born on August 25 1636; "enfant d'honneur" and a friend of Louis XIV in his youth
*Françoise, Born at "Lussac-les-chateaux" on October 5 1640;
**Better known as Mistress to Louis XIV with the title of Françoise-Athénaïs, marquise de Montespan. Had issuse with her husband but line extinct. Had children with Louis XIV and are today part of the House of Orléans.
*Marie Madeleine Gabrielle, Born in 1645;
**Abbesse de Fontevrault,
*Marie Christine - took a religious path in life, few details of which exist.

Later life

Gabriel lived with his mistress, many years younger than he, for the remainder of his life at his vaious residences till he died in Paris: he had been made a holder of the chevalier de l'ordre du Saint Esprit and as a result o his daughters influence over Louis XIV , he had been made the Governor of Paris. He died a very wealthy man.

Other Titles

*Pair de France - he was also made a Peer of France.
*Prince de Tonnay-Charente,
*Vicomte de Rochechouart 980 (the oldest title in France),
*Marquis de Montpipeau (granted by Louis XIII)
*Comte de Limoges, 1661,
*Duc de Vivonne, 1668.

He also ownd the following Lands in France which were lordships:

*Paroisses de Montrol,
*Nouic,
*Blond,
*Vaulry,
*Beuilaufa,
*Le Fraisse,
*Javerdat,
*la Baronnie de Saint-Victurnien,
*Châtellenie d'Oradour-sur-Glane, des Terres,

*The Baronies of "Châtellenies de Lussac" and "Verrières et Dienné".