Louis Antoine de Pardaillan de Gondrin
Encyclopedia
Louis Antoine de Pardaillan de Gondrin (5 September 1665 – 2 November 1736), marquis of Antin, Gondrin and Montespan (1701), then 1st Duke of Antin
(1711) was a French nobleman. He was painted by the great Rigaud
.
, marquis of Montespan, and Madame de Montespan, he was carefully raised by his father at the Château de Bonnefont in Gascogne with his older sister, Marie Christine
who while the family were living there. He came to court in 1683. He then set out on a military career, with his father gaining him a commission as lieutenant.
Thanks to his 1686 marriage, he was able to enter the circle of the Grand Dauphin. His wife, Julie Françoise de Crussol (1669–1742) was a grand daughter of Charles de Sainte-Maure, Duke of Montausier
and a great grand daughter of the famous marquise de Rambouillet
.
He was also an ally of his half-brothers the Duke of Maine
and the Count of Toulouse
, legitimised bastard children of the marquise de Montespan and Louis XIV
. However, despite his best efforts, he was unable to win the king's favour and, after he made an error in maneuvering his troops at the battle of Ramillies
he was even dismissed from the army in 1707.
Yet, later in 1707, Madame de Montespan's death brought her son Louis Antoine the bequest of Château de Petit-Bourg
at Évry-sur-Seine and, more importantly, royal favour when he was finally rewarded by being made governor of the Orléanais
(1707) then head of the Bâtiments du Roi
(1708). In the latter role he gained particular access to the king.
In 1711, Louis XIV promoted the marquisate of Antin into a "duché-pairie", and in 1724 d'Antin became a knight of the Ordre du Saint-Esprit.
An excellent organiser with a natural aptitude for command, he knew how to please and how to smooth out difficulties, enriching himself greatly from the Law system
. As head of the Bâtiments, the duke of Antin supervised works on Versailles. A confident to Louis XIV and his architectural projects (such as the Salon d'Hercule), he managed to complete them under Louis XV
.
Antin opened new marble mines in southern France, such as that at Beyrède, which supplied a marble that was named "brèche d'Antin" after him, which was the preferred marble of Louis XIV and used for several of Versailles' fireplaces, such as the monumental one in the Salon d'Hercule.
In 1692 he bought the château de Bellegarde
at Bellegarde
, which he rebuilt at the start of the 18th century. He also rebuilt the gardens at château de Petit-Bourg
before 1715, then around 1720 commissioned a new château from Pierre Cailleteau
(known as "Lassurance"), whose construction was completed after the duke's death by Jacques V Gabriel. His Paris hôtel was in what is now the Chaussée-d'Antin
, giving that area its current name. Under the Régence
the duke of Antin came into political responsibilities. With the Polysynody
he became president of the Council of Matters (Conseil du dedans).
After the suspension of the councils he remained on the Regency Council, in a purely honorific position which he left on 22 February 1722 at the same time as the other dukes and marshals. From 1722 onwards he retired more and more, that year renouncing his title of duke in favour of his grandson, and died in 1736 at his Paris Mansion in the Chaussée-d'Antin
. His Paris mansion was later the hôtel de Richelieu, Paris seat of the Duke of Richelieu.
Duke of Antin
The duchy of Antin was a French duchy created in 1711 by the promotion of the marquisate of Antin into a "duché-pairie"...
(1711) was a French nobleman. He was painted by the great Rigaud
Hyacinthe Rigaud
Hyacinthe Rigaud was a French baroque painter of Catalan origin whose career was based in Paris.He is renowned for his portrait paintings of Louis XIV, the royalty and nobility of Europe, and members of their courts and considered one of the most notable French portraitists of the classical period...
.
Biography
The legitimate son of Louis Henri de Pardaillan de GondrinLouis Henri de Pardaillan de Gondrin
Louis Henri de Pardaillan de Gondrin , marquis of Montespan, was a French nobleman. He is most notable as the husband of Louis XIV's mistress Madame de Montespan.-Life:...
, marquis of Montespan, and Madame de Montespan, he was carefully raised by his father at the Château de Bonnefont in Gascogne with his older sister, Marie Christine
Marie Christine de Pardaillan de Gondrin
Marie Christine de Pardaillan de Gondrin was the eldest legitimate child of Françoise de Rochechouart de Mortemart and her husband, the Marquis of Montespan. She died in her teens and never married.-Biography:...
who while the family were living there. He came to court in 1683. He then set out on a military career, with his father gaining him a commission as lieutenant.
Thanks to his 1686 marriage, he was able to enter the circle of the Grand Dauphin. His wife, Julie Françoise de Crussol (1669–1742) was a grand daughter of Charles de Sainte-Maure, Duke of Montausier
Charles de Sainte-Maure, duc de Montausier
Charles de Sainte-Maure, duc de Montausier was a French soldier and the governor of the dauphin, Louis le Grand Dauphin, the eldest son and heir of Louis XIV, King of France....
and a great grand daughter of the famous marquise de Rambouillet
Catherine de Vivonne, marquise de Rambouillet
Catherine de Vivonne, marquise de Rambouillet , known as Madame de Rambouillet, was a society hostess and a major figure in the literary history of 17th-century France.-Biography:...
.
He was also an ally of his half-brothers the Duke of Maine
Louis-Auguste de Bourbon, duc du Maine
Louis Auguste de Bourbon, Legitimé de France was the eldest legitimised son of the Louis XIV of France and his maîtresse-en-titre, Madame de Montespan...
and the Count of Toulouse
Louis-Alexandre de Bourbon, Comte de Toulouse
Louis Alexandre de Bourbon, comte de Toulouse , duc de Penthièvre , d'Arc, de Châteauvillain and de Rambouillet , , was the son of Louis XIV and of his mistress Madame de Montespan...
, legitimised bastard children of the marquise de Montespan and Louis XIV
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
. However, despite his best efforts, he was unable to win the king's favour and, after he made an error in maneuvering his troops at the battle of Ramillies
Battle of Ramillies
The Battle of Ramillies , fought on 23 May 1706, was a major engagement of the War of the Spanish Succession. For the Grand Alliance – Austria, England, and the Dutch Republic – the battle had followed an indecisive campaign against the Bourbon armies of King Louis XIV of France in 1705...
he was even dismissed from the army in 1707.
Yet, later in 1707, Madame de Montespan's death brought her son Louis Antoine the bequest of Château de Petit-Bourg
Château de Petit-Bourg
The château de Petit-Bourg is located in Évry-sur-Seine .The first château known on the site of Petit-Bourg, on the Seine, overlooking the Forêt de Sénart, began in the 17th century for André Courtin, Canon of Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris and was completed about 1635 for Jean Galland...
at Évry-sur-Seine and, more importantly, royal favour when he was finally rewarded by being made governor of the Orléanais
Orléanais
Orléanais is a former province of France, around the cities of Orléans, Chartres, and Blois.The name comes from Orléans, its main city and traditional capital. The province was one of those into which France was divided before the French Revolution...
(1707) then head of the Bâtiments du Roi
Bâtiments du Roi
The Bâtiments du Roi was a division of Department of the household of the Kings of France in France under the Ancien Régime. It was responsible for building works at the King's residences in and around Paris.-History:...
(1708). In the latter role he gained particular access to the king.
In 1711, Louis XIV promoted the marquisate of Antin into a "duché-pairie", and in 1724 d'Antin became a knight of the Ordre du Saint-Esprit.
An excellent organiser with a natural aptitude for command, he knew how to please and how to smooth out difficulties, enriching himself greatly from the Law system
John Law
John Law may refer to:*John Law *John Law DD was an English mathematician*John Law *John Law , Hong Kong film director...
. As head of the Bâtiments, the duke of Antin supervised works on Versailles. A confident to Louis XIV and his architectural projects (such as the Salon d'Hercule), he managed to complete them under Louis XV
Louis XV of France
Louis XV was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1 September 1715 until his death. He succeeded his great-grandfather at the age of five, his first cousin Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, served as Regent of the kingdom until Louis's majority in 1723...
.
Antin opened new marble mines in southern France, such as that at Beyrède, which supplied a marble that was named "brèche d'Antin" after him, which was the preferred marble of Louis XIV and used for several of Versailles' fireplaces, such as the monumental one in the Salon d'Hercule.
In 1692 he bought the château de Bellegarde
Château de Bellegarde
The Château de Bellegarde is a 14th century château located at Lamonzie-Montastruc in Dordogne in France. Its interiors date to the 20th century.-External links:*, Base Mérimée...
at Bellegarde
Bellegarde, Loiret
Bellegarde is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France....
, which he rebuilt at the start of the 18th century. He also rebuilt the gardens at château de Petit-Bourg
Château de Petit-Bourg
The château de Petit-Bourg is located in Évry-sur-Seine .The first château known on the site of Petit-Bourg, on the Seine, overlooking the Forêt de Sénart, began in the 17th century for André Courtin, Canon of Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris and was completed about 1635 for Jean Galland...
before 1715, then around 1720 commissioned a new château from Pierre Cailleteau
Pierre Cailleteau
Pierre Cailleteau was a French architect, also known as "Lassurance". He is not to be confused with his son Jean Cailleteau, also known as "Lassurance" who is sometimes nicknamed "Lassurance le Jeune" to distinguish from his father.Biography:...
(known as "Lassurance"), whose construction was completed after the duke's death by Jacques V Gabriel. His Paris hôtel was in what is now the Chaussée-d'Antin
Rue de la Chaussée-d'Antin
The rue de la Chaussée-d'Antin, in the IXe arrondissement of Paris was the street that gave this new quarter of Paris its generic name. It runs north-northwest from the Boulevard des Italiens to the Église de la Sainte-Trinité sited to provide a focal object at its upper end...
, giving that area its current name. Under the Régence
Régence
The Régence is the period in French history between 1715 and 1723, when King Louis XV was a minor and the land was governed by a Regent, Philippe d'Orléans, the nephew of Louis XIV of France....
the duke of Antin came into political responsibilities. With the Polysynody
Polysynody
Polysynody was the system of government in use in France between 1715 and 1718 and in which each minister was replaced by a council....
he became president of the Council of Matters (Conseil du dedans).
After the suspension of the councils he remained on the Regency Council, in a purely honorific position which he left on 22 February 1722 at the same time as the other dukes and marshals. From 1722 onwards he retired more and more, that year renouncing his title of duke in favour of his grandson, and died in 1736 at his Paris Mansion in the Chaussée-d'Antin
Rue de la Chaussée-d'Antin
The rue de la Chaussée-d'Antin, in the IXe arrondissement of Paris was the street that gave this new quarter of Paris its generic name. It runs north-northwest from the Boulevard des Italiens to the Église de la Sainte-Trinité sited to provide a focal object at its upper end...
. His Paris mansion was later the hôtel de Richelieu, Paris seat of the Duke of Richelieu.
Issue
On 21 August 1686 he married Julie Françoise de Crussol, daughter of the Duke of Uzès and granddaughter of the duke of Montausier. Their children were:- Louis de Pardaillan de Gondrin (1689-1712), marquis of Gondrin, whose first wife was Marie Victoire de NoaillesMarie Victoire de NoaillesMarie Victoire Sophie de Noailles, Countess of Toulouse , was the daughter of Anne Jules de Noailles, the 2nd Duke of Noailles, and his wife, Marie-Françoise de Bournonville...
and had issue; - Pierre de Pardaillan de GondrinPierre de Pardaillan de GondrinPierre de Pardaillan de Gondrin was a French bishop.-Life:The son of the duc d'Antin and grandson of Madame de Montespan, Pierre de Pardaillan de Gondrin was a doctor of theology and canon of Paris and of Strasbourg...
(1692-1733), bishop-duke of Langres and member of the Académie françaiseAcadémie françaiseL'Académie française , also called the French Academy, is the pre-eminent French learned body on matters pertaining to the French language. The Académie was officially established in 1635 by Cardinal Richelieu, the chief minister to King Louis XIII. Suppressed in 1793 during the French Revolution,...
, never married.
Works
- Mémoires, published by Just de NoaillesAntonin Claude Dominique Just de NoaillesAntonin Claude Dominique Just de Noailles , 7th Prince of Poix then 4th Spanish Duke of Mouchy, 3rd French duke of Mouchy and duke of Poix, was a French politician.-Biography:...
, duc de MouchyDuc de MouchyThe title of duke of Mouchy was a French peerage held by members of a cadet branch of the Noailles family.The founder of the branch, Philippe, comte de Noailles , was the younger brother of Louis, 4th duc de Noailles and a marshal of France....
, Paris, Société des bibliophiles français, 1821 - Discours de ma vie et de mes pensées, 1822
- Le duc d'Antin et Louis XIV : rapports sur l'administration des bâtiments, annotés par le Roi, published with a preface by Jules Guiffrey, Paris, Académie des bibliophiles, 1869