Catherine-Charlotte de Gramont
Encyclopedia
Catherine Charlotte de Gramont (1639 – 4 June 1678) was a French noblewoman and Princess of Monaco as the wife of Louis I of Monaco
and a mistress
of Louis XIV of France
.
Antoine de Gramont
and Françoise Marguerite du Plessis, a niece of Cardinal Richelieu. Catherine Charlotte's elder brother was Armand de Gramont
, the celebrated Count of Guiche, known for his arrogance and good looks, who was successively the lover of Philippe of France, Duke of Orléans
and Henrietta of England, husband and wife.
In 1660, Catherine married Louis de Grimaldi, the 2nd Duke of Valentinois
and heir to the throne of Monaco, who is described as "a glorious and avaricious Italian". They had six children.
of Louis XIV, where Catherine Charlotte held the position of lady-in-waiting
to Henrietta of England, sister-in-law and former lover of Louis XIV. Her aunt, Suzanne Charlotte de Gramont, marquise de Saint Chaumont, was also a member of Henrietta's household as the governess of her two daughters, Marie Louise and Anne Marie.
Catherine Charlotte's beauty did not go unnoticed. She was renowned for her beauty and wits, and attracted many lovers, including the king, the marquis de Villeroi
, and her cousin, "the little Lauzun". Madame de Sévigné described her as "greedy for pleasure", and she was nicknamed Catherine the Torrent
.
The king, who was losing interest in his mistress, Louise de la Vallière
, began an affair with Catherine Charlotte that lasted only a few months. Catherine Charlotte's husband, Louis I, Prince of Monaco
, diplomatically left court and went off to war. In reality this was part of a plot designed by Henrietta of England to distract the king from Louise so that she might gain him back for herself. Louis XIV did in fact leave Catherine Charlotte after a few months, not to go back to Henrietta, but in favor of Madame de Montespan. Some gossip has it that, during this short affair, Catherine also had an intimate relationship with Henrietta.
She was forced to return to Monaco in 1668 after having been banished from court for her affairs. In 1672, she returned to the French court, where she spent the rest of her life.
Catherine Charlotte died in Paris
on 4 June 1678, aged 39.
Louis I, Prince of Monaco
Louis I, Prince of Monaco was Prince of Monaco from 1662 until 1701.Louis Grimaldi was the elder son of Prince Hercule of Monaco and Maria Aurelia Spinola....
and a mistress
Royal mistress
A royal mistress is the historical position of a mistress to a monarch or senior Royal. Some mistresses have had considerable power. The prevalence of the institution can be attributed to the fact that royal marriages were until recent times conducted solely on the basis of political and dynastic...
of Louis XIV of France
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...
.
Biography
She was the eldest daughter of MarshalMarshal of France
The Marshal of France is a military distinction in contemporary France, not a military rank. It is granted to generals for exceptional achievements...
Antoine de Gramont
Antoine III de Gramont
Antoine III Agénor de Gramont-Toulongeon, duc de Gramont, comte de Guiche, comte de Gramont, comte de Louvigny, Souverain de Bidache, was a French military man and diplomat...
and Françoise Marguerite du Plessis, a niece of Cardinal Richelieu. Catherine Charlotte's elder brother was Armand de Gramont
Armand de Gramont, comte de Guiche
Armand de Gramont, Comte de Guiche was a French nobleman, adventurer, and one of the greatest playboys of the 17th century....
, the celebrated Count of Guiche, known for his arrogance and good looks, who was successively the lover of Philippe of France, Duke of Orléans
Philippe I, Duke of Orléans
Philippe of France was the youngest son of Louis XIII of France and his queen consort Anne of Austria. His older brother was the famous Louis XIV, le roi soleil. Styled Duke of Anjou from birth, Philippe became Duke of Orléans upon the death of his uncle Gaston, Duke of Orléans...
and Henrietta of England, husband and wife.
In 1660, Catherine married Louis de Grimaldi, the 2nd Duke of Valentinois
Duke of Valentinois
Duke of Valentinois , formerly Count of Valentinois, is a title of nobility, originally in the French peerage. It is currently one of the many hereditary titles claimed by the Prince of Monaco despite its extinction in French law in 1949...
and heir to the throne of Monaco, who is described as "a glorious and avaricious Italian". They had six children.
The court of Louis XIV
In 1662, she became Princess of Monaco. She visited Monaco in 1662, where she stayed for three years, after which she returned to the French court. The Prince and Princess of Monaco spent more time in Paris than they did in Monaco. The couple were well-established at the royal courtRoyal court
Royal court, as distinguished from a court of law, may refer to:* The Royal Court , Timbaland's production company*Court , the household and entourage of a monarch or other ruler, the princely court...
of Louis XIV, where Catherine Charlotte held the position of lady-in-waiting
Lady-in-waiting
A lady-in-waiting is a female personal assistant at a royal court, attending on a queen, a princess, or a high-ranking noblewoman. Historically, in Europe a lady-in-waiting was often a noblewoman from a family highly thought of in good society, but was of lower rank than the woman on whom she...
to Henrietta of England, sister-in-law and former lover of Louis XIV. Her aunt, Suzanne Charlotte de Gramont, marquise de Saint Chaumont, was also a member of Henrietta's household as the governess of her two daughters, Marie Louise and Anne Marie.
Catherine Charlotte's beauty did not go unnoticed. She was renowned for her beauty and wits, and attracted many lovers, including the king, the marquis de Villeroi
Nicolas de Neufville de Villeroy
Nicolas V de Neufville de Villeroy was a French nobleman and marshal of France. He was marquis then 1st duke of Villeroy and peer of France, marquis d'Alincourt and lord of Magny, and acted as governor of the young Louis XIV. His son François succeeded him as duke...
, and her cousin, "the little Lauzun". Madame de Sévigné described her as "greedy for pleasure", and she was nicknamed Catherine the Torrent
Torrent
Torrent may refer to:Animals:* Torrent Duck, a species of the family Anatidae* Torrent frog, various unrelated frogs* Torrent salamander, a family of salamanders* Torrent Robin, a bird species* Torrent fishComputers and Internet:...
.
The king, who was losing interest in his mistress, Louise de la Vallière
Louise de La Vallière
Louise de La Vallière was a mistress of Louis XIV of France from 1661 to 1667. She later became the Duchess of La Vallière and Duchess of Vaujours in her own right...
, began an affair with Catherine Charlotte that lasted only a few months. Catherine Charlotte's husband, Louis I, Prince of Monaco
Louis I, Prince of Monaco
Louis I, Prince of Monaco was Prince of Monaco from 1662 until 1701.Louis Grimaldi was the elder son of Prince Hercule of Monaco and Maria Aurelia Spinola....
, diplomatically left court and went off to war. In reality this was part of a plot designed by Henrietta of England to distract the king from Louise so that she might gain him back for herself. Louis XIV did in fact leave Catherine Charlotte after a few months, not to go back to Henrietta, but in favor of Madame de Montespan. Some gossip has it that, during this short affair, Catherine also had an intimate relationship with Henrietta.
She was forced to return to Monaco in 1668 after having been banished from court for her affairs. In 1672, she returned to the French court, where she spent the rest of her life.
Catherine Charlotte died in 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...
on 4 June 1678, aged 39.
Issue
- Antoine Grimaldi (1661–1731) Prince of Monaco, married Marie of LorraineMarie of LorraineMarie of Lorraine was a princess of the House of Lorraine and Princess of Monaco as wife of Antonio I of Monaco. She was the mother of Louise Hippolyte Grimaldi, the only sovereign Princess of Monaco....
. - Maria Teresa Carlotta Grimaldi (1662–1738) died unmarried.
- Anna Hippolyte Grimaldi (1667–1700) married Jacques de Crussol (1675–1739) Duke of Uzès.
- François Honoré Grimaldi (1669–1748), Archbishop of Besançon.
- Giovanna Maria Grimaldi
- Aurelia Grimaldi
Titles and styles
- 1639 – 30 March 1660 Mademoiselle de Gramont
- 30 March 1660 – 10 January 1662 Her Serene Highness the Hereditary Princess of Monaco
- 10 January 1662 – 4 June 1678 Her Serene Highness the Princess of Monaco