Duchy of La Vallière
Encyclopedia
The Duchy of La Vallière (duché de La Vallière) was a French peerage
created on 13 May 1667 by Louis XIV
for his one time mistress Louise Françoise de La Baume Le Blanc
. It became extinct de facto
in 1780 at the death of Louise's great-nephew Louis César de La Baume Le Blanc
, the famous bibliophile
and military man.
The Lordship of La Vallière (seigneurie de La Vallière) had been owned by Louise's family since the lifetime of her great grandfather Laurent Le Blanc. Laurent's only son, Jean took on the name of La Baume Le Blanc in his lifetime. He was also the baron de La Papelardière. Louise was given the title after she was displaced by Madame de Montespan
who also had children with Louis.
When Louise left court, she gave the two duchies to her only daughter Marie Anne de Bourbon
, Mademoiselle de Blois and widow of Louis Armand de Bourbon, prince de Conti
. Widowed in 1685 aged 19 and childless. In 1698 Marie Anne gave the title to her cousin, Charles François de La Baume Le Blanc. Till then, Charles François had been styled the marquis de La Vallière.
After 1698 he took the ducal title as well as the duchy of Vaujous. When his son, Louis César
was born in 1708, he was styled as duc de Vaujours till the death of Charles François in 1739 when he succeeded to the Duchy of La Vallière. Louis César, close to Louis XV
and his mistress Madame de Pompadour
, was the great bibliophile
who assembled a great library. He was a first cousin of Louis Jean Marie de Bourbon a grandson of Madame de Montespan and Louis XIV.
Louis César had one child who was daughter; his daughter, Adrienne Emilie Félicité de La Baume Le Blanc, married the Duke of Châtillon (descendant of in 1756 and succeeded to the title and was styled as duchesse de Châtillon et de La Vallière. At her death the title became extinct her eldest daughter, Amable Emilie, marrying the duc de Crussol (another descendant of Madame de Montespan) and the youngest, Louise Emmanuelle to Charles Bretagne Marie de La Trémoille
.
The arms of the Duke of La Vallière (from 1723) were blazoned, coupé de gueules et d'or au lion léopardé coupé d'argent et de sable ("per fess gules and or a lion passant per fess argent and sable").
Peerage of France
The Peerage of France was a distinction within the French nobility which appeared in the Middle Ages. It was abolished in 1789 during the French Revolution, but it reappeared in 1814 at the time of the Bourbon Restoration which followed the fall of the First French Empire...
created on 13 May 1667 by 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...
for his one time mistress Louise Françoise de La Baume Le Blanc
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...
. It became extinct de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
in 1780 at the death of Louise's great-nephew Louis César de La Baume Le Blanc
Louis César de La Baume Le Blanc
Louis César de La Baume Le Blanc, duc de Vaujours, duc de La Vallière was a French nobleman, bibliophile and military man...
, the famous bibliophile
Bibliophilia
Bibliophilia or bibliophilism is the love of books. Accordingly a bibliophile is an individual who loves books. A bookworm is someone who loves books for their content, or who otherwise loves reading. The -ia-suffixed form "bibliophilia" is sometimes considered to be an incorrect usage; the older...
and military man.
History
Louise de La Vallière, known as Mademoiselle de La Vallière was the mistress of Louis XIV from 1661 to 1667. Louise was the mother of six of Louis' children even though only two of them survived infancy. The duchy was given the subsidiary title of Duke of Vaujours (duc de Vaujours).The Lordship of La Vallière (seigneurie de La Vallière) had been owned by Louise's family since the lifetime of her great grandfather Laurent Le Blanc. Laurent's only son, Jean took on the name of La Baume Le Blanc in his lifetime. He was also the baron de La Papelardière. Louise was given the title after she was displaced by Madame de Montespan
Françoise-Athénaïs, marquise de Montespan
Françoise Athénaïs de Rochechouart de Mortemart, marquise of Montespan , better known as Madame de Montespan, was the most celebrated maîtresse en titre of King Louis XIV of France, by whom she had seven children....
who also had children with Louis.
When Louise left court, she gave the two duchies to her only daughter Marie Anne de Bourbon
Marie Anne de Bourbon
Marie Anne de Bourbon, Légitimée de France was the eldest legitimised daughter of King Louis XIV of France and Louise de La Vallière. At the age of thirteen, she was married to Louis Armand de Bourbon, Prince of Conti and as such was the Princess of Conti by marriage...
, Mademoiselle de Blois and widow of Louis Armand de Bourbon, prince de Conti
Louis Armand I, Prince of Conti
Louis Armand I de Bourbon was Prince of Conti from 1666 to his death, succeeding his father, Armand de Bourbon. As a member of the reigning House of Bourbon, he was a Prince du Sang....
. Widowed in 1685 aged 19 and childless. In 1698 Marie Anne gave the title to her cousin, Charles François de La Baume Le Blanc. Till then, Charles François had been styled the marquis de La Vallière.
After 1698 he took the ducal title as well as the duchy of Vaujous. When his son, Louis César
Louis César de La Baume Le Blanc
Louis César de La Baume Le Blanc, duc de Vaujours, duc de La Vallière was a French nobleman, bibliophile and military man...
was born in 1708, he was styled as duc de Vaujours till the death of Charles François in 1739 when he succeeded to the Duchy of La Vallière. Louis César, close to 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...
and his mistress Madame de Pompadour
Madame de Pompadour
Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, Marquise de Pompadour, also known as Madame de Pompadour was a member of the French court, and was the official chief mistress of Louis XV from 1745 to her death.-Biography:...
, was the great bibliophile
Bibliophilia
Bibliophilia or bibliophilism is the love of books. Accordingly a bibliophile is an individual who loves books. A bookworm is someone who loves books for their content, or who otherwise loves reading. The -ia-suffixed form "bibliophilia" is sometimes considered to be an incorrect usage; the older...
who assembled a great library. He was a first cousin of Louis Jean Marie de Bourbon a grandson of Madame de Montespan and Louis XIV.
Louis César had one child who was daughter; his daughter, Adrienne Emilie Félicité de La Baume Le Blanc, married the Duke of Châtillon (descendant of in 1756 and succeeded to the title and was styled as duchesse de Châtillon et de La Vallière. At her death the title became extinct her eldest daughter, Amable Emilie, marrying the duc de Crussol (another descendant of Madame de Montespan) and the youngest, Louise Emmanuelle to Charles Bretagne Marie de La Trémoille
Charles Bretagne Marie de La Trémoille
Charles Bretagne Marie de La Trémoille , 8th duc de Thouars, was a French soldier and the son of Jean Bretagne Charles de La Trémoille and his wife, Marie-Maximilienne, princess of Salm-Kyrburg....
.
The arms of the Duke of La Vallière (from 1723) were blazoned, coupé de gueules et d'or au lion léopardé coupé d'argent et de sable ("per fess gules and or a lion passant per fess argent and sable").
Duchesses of La Vallière (1667-1675)
| Name | | Portrait | Lifespan | | Parents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louise Françoise de La Baume Le Blanc 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... Mademoiselle de La Vallière 1667-1675 |
 |
6 August 1644 – 7 June 1710 |
Laurent de La Baume Le Blanc Françoise Le Provost |
Duchesses of La Vallière (1680-1698)
| Name | | Portrait | Lifespan | | Parents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marie Anne de Bourbon Marie Anne de Bourbon Marie Anne de Bourbon, Légitimée de France was the eldest legitimised daughter of King Louis XIV of France and Louise de La Vallière. At the age of thirteen, she was married to Louis Armand de Bourbon, Prince of Conti and as such was the Princess of Conti by marriage... Légitimée de France Mademoiselle de Blois Princess of Conti 1680-1698 |
2 October 1666 - 3 May 1739 |
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... Louise Françoise de La Baume Le Blanc 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... |
Dukes of La Vallière (1698-c.1780)
| Name | | Portrait | Lifespan | | Parents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charles François de La Baume Le Blanc 1698-1739 |
c. 1665- 22 August 1739 |
Jean François de La Baume Le Blanc Gabrielle Glé de La Cotardais |
|
| Louis César de La Baume Le Blanc Louis César de La Baume Le Blanc Louis César de La Baume Le Blanc, duc de Vaujours, duc de La Vallière was a French nobleman, bibliophile and military man... 1739-1780 |
9 October 1708 - 16 November 1780 |
Charles François de La Baume Le Blanc Marie Thérèse de Noailles |
|
| Adrienne Emilie Félicité de La Baume Le Blanc 1780–? styled duchesse de La Vallière |
29 September 1740 - ? | Louis César de La Baume Le Blanc Louis César de La Baume Le Blanc Louis César de La Baume Le Blanc, duc de Vaujours, duc de La Vallière was a French nobleman, bibliophile and military man... Jeanne Julie Françoise de Crussol d'Uzès |