Comte de Grignan
Encyclopedia
François Adhémar de Monteil, Comte
de Grignan (1632 – 1714) was a French
aristocrat, remembered chiefly for being Lieutenant-Governor of Provence and the beloved son-in-law of Madame de Sévigne.
in 1632. He was the eldest of 11 children. At the death of his father, on 4 August 1668, he inherited the title of Count of Grignan. While still young, he engaged upon a military career. In 1654, he became colonel of the Champagne Regiment. Two years later, he became Captaine-Lieutenant of the soldiers of the Household Cavalry of Queen Anne of Austria
.
He was married three times, first to Angélique-Claire d'Angennes, daughter of the Marquis de Rambouillet. They had two daughters. Angélique died in 1665. One year later, Grignan married Marie-Angélique du Puy-du-Fou who died shortly after giving birth to a son, who died in infancy. As a 36-year-old twice-widower, he met and fell in love with the 23-year-old daughter of the illustrious Madame de Sévigné, Françoise-Marguerite de Sévigné
.
On 4 December 1668, Madame de Sévigné wrote to her cousin Bussy, “At long last, the prettiest girl in France is marrying – not the prettiest boy – but one of the most honest men in the kingdom: he is Monsieur de Grignan.”
Grignan, was indeed remarkably ugly (his ugliness being a frequent family joke), yet tall, graceful, athletic, and charming. He married Mademoiselle de Sévigné in Paris on 27 January 1669. That same year, Louis XIV named Grignan the lieutenant general of the King in Provence. Grignan was thus obliged to leave Paris and return to his family castle in the south of France.
For nearly forty years afterward, he and Madame de Grignan lived an extravagant vice-regal existence in Provence. Every year, he presided at the opening of the Etats at Lambesc, seated on a throne-like chair with the Archbishop of Aix on his right and the Intendant of Provence on his left.
In 1673, Grignan laid siege to the city of Orange, reclaiming the territory for France. Louis XIV upon hearing the news of Grignan's victory, was heard remarking at dinner "Je suis fort content de Grignan (I am very happy with Grignan)."
M. de Grignan died at the age of 83 in an inn on the road from Lambesc
to Marseilles. He was buried in Marseilles in the Chapelle de notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel.
Comte
Comte is a title of Catalan, Occitan and French nobility. In the English language, the title is equivalent to count, a rank in several European nobilities. The corresponding rank in England is earl...
de Grignan (1632 – 1714) was a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
aristocrat, remembered chiefly for being Lieutenant-Governor of Provence and the beloved son-in-law of Madame de Sévigne.
Life
François de Castellane-Ornano-Adhémar de Monteil de Grignan was born in Provençal village of GrignanGrignan
Grignan is a commune in the Drôme department in the Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France.It has a magnificent Renaissance castle and is mentioned in the letters that Madame de Sévigné wrote to her daughter, Madame de Grignan, in the 17th century....
in 1632. He was the eldest of 11 children. At the death of his father, on 4 August 1668, he inherited the title of Count of Grignan. While still young, he engaged upon a military career. In 1654, he became colonel of the Champagne Regiment. Two years later, he became Captaine-Lieutenant of the soldiers of the Household Cavalry of Queen Anne of Austria
Anne of Austria
Anne of Austria was Queen consort of France and Navarre, regent for her son, Louis XIV of France, and a Spanish Infanta by birth...
.
He was married three times, first to Angélique-Claire d'Angennes, daughter of the Marquis de Rambouillet. They had two daughters. Angélique died in 1665. One year later, Grignan married Marie-Angélique du Puy-du-Fou who died shortly after giving birth to a son, who died in infancy. As a 36-year-old twice-widower, he met and fell in love with the 23-year-old daughter of the illustrious Madame de Sévigné, Françoise-Marguerite de Sévigné
Françoise-Marguerite de Sévigné
Françoise-Marguerite de Sévigné, Comtesse de Grignan was a French aristocrat, remembered for the letters that her mother, Madame de Sévigne, wrote to her.-Life:...
.
On 4 December 1668, Madame de Sévigné wrote to her cousin Bussy, “At long last, the prettiest girl in France is marrying – not the prettiest boy – but one of the most honest men in the kingdom: he is Monsieur de Grignan.”
Grignan, was indeed remarkably ugly (his ugliness being a frequent family joke), yet tall, graceful, athletic, and charming. He married Mademoiselle de Sévigné in Paris on 27 January 1669. That same year, Louis XIV named Grignan the lieutenant general of the King in Provence. Grignan was thus obliged to leave Paris and return to his family castle in the south of France.
For nearly forty years afterward, he and Madame de Grignan lived an extravagant vice-regal existence in Provence. Every year, he presided at the opening of the Etats at Lambesc, seated on a throne-like chair with the Archbishop of Aix on his right and the Intendant of Provence on his left.
In 1673, Grignan laid siege to the city of Orange, reclaiming the territory for France. Louis XIV upon hearing the news of Grignan's victory, was heard remarking at dinner "Je suis fort content de Grignan (I am very happy with Grignan)."
M. de Grignan died at the age of 83 in an inn on the road from Lambesc
Lambesc
Lambesc is a commune in the Bouches-du-Rhône department in the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur region in southern France.Lambesc is located in the heart of Provence at the foot of the Côtes mountain range, near the Alpilles. The village has a strong historical and cultural heritage, being home to the...
to Marseilles. He was buried in Marseilles in the Chapelle de notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel.