Marie Sophie de Courcillon
Encyclopedia
Marie Sophie de Courcillon (6 August 1713 – 4 April 1756) was a French noblewoman and Duchess of Rohan-Rohan
as well as Princess of Soubise
by marriage. She was the grand daughter of Philippe de Courcillon, better known as the marquis de Dangeau. She was praised for being a cultured woman for the age and held a fashionable salon at the Hôtel de Soubise
in Paris. She was painted by Nattier.
Through her paternal grandmother, Princess Sophia of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort, she was a cousin of the ruling Landgrave
s of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort
, originally a county of the Holy Roman Empire
. Another first cousin was Ernest Leopold, Landgrave of Hesse-Rotenburg
.
Her first cousins included Charles Philippe d'Albert de Luynes
, Duke of Luynes; she was a second cousin Charles Louis d'Albert de Luynes
another famous memoir writer of the court of Louis XV.
Mademoiselle de Courcillon was married twice. Firstly to Charles François d'Albert d'Ailly, son of Louis Auguste d'Albert de Luynes and Marie Anne Romaine de Beaumanoir. The couple married on 17 January 1729. She was thus known as the Duchess of Pecquigny.
The couple had a daughter who died young and little information exists. Soon after, Louis Auguste himself died and Marie Sophie was a widow at the age of 17.
Her second husband was Hercule Mériadec de Rohan, Duke of Rohan-Rohan, son of François de Rohan, Prince de Soubise and the beautiful Anne de Rohan-Chabot
. Hercule Mériadec was a widower, his first wife Anne Geneviève de Lévis
dying in 1727. The couple were married in Paris on 2 September 1732.
The duke of Rohan-Rohan
was a member of the House of Rohan and had the prestigious rank of Foreign Prince
s at Versailles. This entitled Marie Sophie, styled as the "Princess of Rohan" (Madame la princesse de Rohan) the style of Highness
.
The bride was some forty four years younger than the groom; Marie Sophie was closer to her daughter in law the Princess of Guéméné
(1704–1780).
To celebrate the union, her husband commissioned Germain Boffrand
to redecorate the interior of the Hôtel de Soubise
, the Paris
ian townhouse of the Rohan's. She kept a fashionable salon at the hôtel
.
In 1737, it was she who presented Anne Marie Louise de La Tour d'Auvergne
to the court at Versailles. Anne Marie Louise was wife of Charles de Rohan, Prince of Soubise - grandson of Hercule Mériadec and his heir.
Her husband died in 1746 in Paris. She was the mistress of Armand de Vignerot du Plessis, who lost his last wife Élisabeth Sophie de Lorraine
in 1740. She died in Paris at the age of 42.
With her the Courcillon family died out. She was buried on 7 April 1756 at the Église de La Merci in Paris, the traditional burial place of the Soubise line of the House of Rohan in the presence of her late husbands grandchildren the Archbishop of Bordeaux
, the Cardinal de Rohan.
Duchess of Rohan-Rohan
-Duchess of Rohan-Rohan:...
as well as Princess of Soubise
Princess of Soubise
- Princess of Soubise :...
by marriage. She was the grand daughter of Philippe de Courcillon, better known as the marquis de Dangeau. She was praised for being a cultured woman for the age and held a fashionable salon at the Hôtel de Soubise
Hôtel de Soubise
The Hôtel de Soubise is a city mansion entre cour et jardin , located at 60 rue des Francs-Bourgeois, in the IIIe arrondissement of Paris....
in Paris. She was painted by Nattier.
Biography
Marie Sophie was the only child of Philippe Egon de Courcillon (1684–1719) styled as the marquis de Courcillon and his wife Françoise de Pompadour, Duchess of La Valette. Her paternal grandfather was Philippe de Courcillon, the famous marquis de Dangeau and memoir writer of the court of Louis XIV.Through her paternal grandmother, Princess Sophia of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort, she was a cousin of the ruling Landgrave
Landgrave
Landgrave was a title used in the Holy Roman Empire and later on by its former territories. The title refers to a count who had feudal duty directly to the Holy Roman Emperor...
s of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort
Löwenstein-Wertheim
Löwenstein-Wertheim was a county of the Holy Roman Empire, part of the Franconian Circle. It was formed from the counties of Löwenstein and Wertheim ....
, originally a county of the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
. Another first cousin was Ernest Leopold, Landgrave of Hesse-Rotenburg
Ernest Leopold, Landgrave of Hesse-Rotenburg
Ernst Leopold of Hesse-Rotenburg was landgrave of Hessen-Rheinfels-Rotenburg between 1725 and 1749.Born in Langenschwalbach, he was a son of landgrave William of Hesse-Rotenburg and Maria Anna of Löwenstein-Wertheim .He died in Rotenburg in 1749.-Marriage and issue:He married his first cousin...
.
Her first cousins included Charles Philippe d'Albert de Luynes
Charles Philippe d'Albert de Luynes
Charles Philippe d’Albert de Luynes held the title Duke of Luynes from 1712 to 1758. He wrote an important memoir of life at the court of Louis XV....
, Duke of Luynes; she was a second cousin Charles Louis d'Albert de Luynes
Charles Louis d'Albert de Luynes
Charles Louis d'Albert de Luynes was a French nobleman and member of the House of Albert...
another famous memoir writer of the court of Louis XV.
Mademoiselle de Courcillon was married twice. Firstly to Charles François d'Albert d'Ailly, son of Louis Auguste d'Albert de Luynes and Marie Anne Romaine de Beaumanoir. The couple married on 17 January 1729. She was thus known as the Duchess of Pecquigny.
The couple had a daughter who died young and little information exists. Soon after, Louis Auguste himself died and Marie Sophie was a widow at the age of 17.
Her second husband was Hercule Mériadec de Rohan, Duke of Rohan-Rohan, son of François de Rohan, Prince de Soubise and the beautiful Anne de Rohan-Chabot
Anne de Rohan-Chabot
Anne de Rohan-Chabot was a French noble. A member of the House of Rohan, she was wife of the Prince of Soubise. It was she would bought the lordship of Soubise into the junior line of the Rohans. She was a short term mistress of Louis XIV...
. Hercule Mériadec was a widower, his first wife Anne Geneviève de Lévis
Anne Geneviève de Lévis
Anne Geneviève de Lévis was a French noblewoman. She was Duchess of Rohan-Rohan and Princess of Soubise by marriage. Anne Geneviève was the only child of Madame de Ventadour, governess of the young Louis XV. She married twice and had children with her second husband...
dying in 1727. The couple were married in Paris on 2 September 1732.
The duke of Rohan-Rohan
Duke of Rohan-Rohan
-Duke of Rohan-Rohan:...
was a member of the House of Rohan and had the prestigious rank of Foreign Prince
Foreign Prince
Foreign Prince is the English translation of prince étranger, a high, though somewhat ambiguous, rank at the French royal court of the ancien régime.-Terminology:...
s at Versailles. This entitled Marie Sophie, styled as the "Princess of Rohan" (Madame la princesse de Rohan) the style of Highness
Highness
Highness, often used with a possessive adjective , is an attribute referring to the rank of the dynasty in an address...
.
The bride was some forty four years younger than the groom; Marie Sophie was closer to her daughter in law the Princess of Guéméné
Louise de Rohan
Louise de Rohan was a French noblewoman and Princess of Guéméné by marriage.-Biography:...
(1704–1780).
To celebrate the union, her husband commissioned Germain Boffrand
Germain Boffrand
Germain Boffrand was one of the most gifted French architects of his generation. A pupil of Jules Hardouin-Mansart, Germain Boffrand was one of the main creators of the precursor to Rococo called the style Régence, and in his interiors, of the Rococo itself...
to redecorate the interior of the Hôtel de Soubise
Hôtel de Soubise
The Hôtel de Soubise is a city mansion entre cour et jardin , located at 60 rue des Francs-Bourgeois, in the IIIe arrondissement of Paris....
, the Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
ian townhouse of the Rohan's. She kept a fashionable salon at the hôtel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
.
In 1737, it was she who presented Anne Marie Louise de La Tour d'Auvergne
Anne Marie Louise de La Tour d'Auvergne
Anne Marie Louise de La Tour d'Auvergne was a French noblewoman and the wife of Charles de Rohan. She was Marchioness of Gordes and Countess of Moncha in her own right as well as Princess of Soubise by marriage...
to the court at Versailles. Anne Marie Louise was wife of Charles de Rohan, Prince of Soubise - grandson of Hercule Mériadec and his heir.
Her husband died in 1746 in Paris. She was the mistress of Armand de Vignerot du Plessis, who lost his last wife Élisabeth Sophie de Lorraine
Élisabeth Sophie de Lorraine
Élisabeth Sophie of Lorraine was a French noblewoman and the second wife of Armand de Vignerot du Plessis, the famous womaniser the Duke of Richelieu.-Biography:...
in 1740. She died in Paris at the age of 42.
With her the Courcillon family died out. She was buried on 7 April 1756 at the Église de La Merci in Paris, the traditional burial place of the Soubise line of the House of Rohan in the presence of her late husbands grandchildren the Archbishop of Bordeaux
Ferdinand Maximilien Mériadec de Rohan
Ferdinand Maximilien Mériadec de Rohan was an Archbishop of Bordeaux starting in 1769, and Prince-Archbishop of Cambrai from 1781. He was the son of Hercule Meriadec de Rohan, prince de Guéméné and Louise-Gabrielle Julie de Rohan; brother of cardinal de Rohan, and Jules, prince de Guéméné.Mériadec...
, the Cardinal de Rohan.
Ancestry
Titles and styles
- 6 August 1713 – 17 January 1729 Mademoiselle de Courcillon
- 17 January 1729 – 14 July 1731 the Duchess of Pecquigny
- 14 July 1731 – 2 September 1732 the Dowager Duchess of Pecquigny
- 2 September 1732 – 26 January 1749 Her Highness the Princess of Rohan
- 26 January 1749 – 4 April 1756 Her Highness the Dowager Princess of Rohan