Eléanor de Roucy de Roye
Encyclopedia
Eléanor de Roucy de Roye, princesse de Condé (24 February 1535 – 23 July 1564) was the eldest daughter and heiress of Charles, seigneur (sire) de Roye and de Muret, comte de Roucy. Her mother, Madeleine de Mailly, dame de Conti, was the daughter of Louise de Montmorency
and half-sister of Admiral
Coligny
, d'Andelot
, and Cardinal
de Châtillon
. Eléanor was the first wife of Louis I de Bourbon, prince de Condé
; as such, she was the sister-in-law of Antoine of Navarre
and aunt
of King Henry IV
.
Eléanor inherited the county of Roucy through her father and the lordship of Conti through her mother. On 22 June 1551, she married Louis I de Bourbon, prince de Condé
at age sixteen. They had eight children, of whom only two, Henri
and François
, were to have progeny.
During the first of the French Civil Wars, especially between 1560 and 1563, Eléanor and her mother were engaged in important political activities in support of her husband, the Prince of Condé. Twice while Condé was a prisoner of the ultra-catholic Guise family
, his wife and mother-in-law systematically reinforced his alliances with Protestant German princes and with Elizabeth I of England
. Armed with this support, Eléanor made negotiations by letter and by direct contact with the regent, Catherine de' Medici
; the outcome was the Peace of Amboise and the release of her husband.
Eleonore was a loyal spouse, a devoted mother, and, above all, a fervent believer in the Reformed (Protestant) faith. She died on 23 July 1564, her final hours filled with loving admonitions to her family as well as prayers and meditations.
Louise de Montmorency
Louise de Montmorency was a French noblewoman from the ancient House of Montmorency. She was the younger sister of Anne de Montmorency, Constable of France, and the mother of Gaspard de Coligny, Admiral of France....
and half-sister of Admiral
Admiral of France
The title Admiral of France is one of the Great Officers of the Crown of France, the naval equivalent of Marshal of France.The title was created in 1270 by Louis IX of France, during the Eighth Crusade. At the time it was equivalent to the office of Constable of France. The Admiral was responsible...
Coligny
Gaspard de Coligny
Gaspard de Coligny , Seigneur de Châtillon, was a French nobleman and admiral, best remembered as a disciplined Huguenot leader in the French Wars of Religion.-Ancestry:...
, d'Andelot
François de Coligny d'Andelot
François d'Andelot de Coligny was one of the leaders of French Protestantism during the French Wars of Religion...
, and Cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
de Châtillon
Odet de Coligny
Odet de Coligny was a French cardinal of Châtillon, bishop of Beauvais, son of Gaspard I de Coligny and Louise de Montmorency, and brother of Gaspard and François, Seigneur d'Andelot.-Birth:...
. Eléanor was the first wife of Louis I de Bourbon, prince de Condé
Louis I de Bourbon, prince de Condé
Louis de Bourbon was a prominent Huguenot leader and general, the founder of the House of Condé, a cadet branch of the House of Bourbon.-Life:...
; as such, she was the sister-in-law of Antoine of Navarre
Antoine of Navarre
Antoine de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme was head of the House of Bourbon from 1537 to 1562, and jure uxoris King of Navarre from 1555 to 1562.-Family:...
and aunt
Aunt
An aunt is a person who is the sister or sister-in-law of a parent. A man with an equivalent relationship is an uncle, and the reciprocal relationship is that of a nephew or niece....
of King Henry IV
Henry IV of France
Henry IV , Henri-Quatre, was King of France from 1589 to 1610 and King of Navarre from 1572 to 1610. He was the first monarch of the Bourbon branch of the Capetian dynasty in France....
.
Eléanor inherited the county of Roucy through her father and the lordship of Conti through her mother. On 22 June 1551, she married Louis I de Bourbon, prince de Condé
Louis I de Bourbon, prince de Condé
Louis de Bourbon was a prominent Huguenot leader and general, the founder of the House of Condé, a cadet branch of the House of Bourbon.-Life:...
at age sixteen. They had eight children, of whom only two, Henri
Henri I de Bourbon, prince de Condé
Henri de Bourbon-Condé was a French Prince du Sang and Huguenot general like his more prominent father, Louis I, Prince of Condé....
and François
François de Bourbon, prince de Conti
François de Bourbon, Prince de Conti was the third son of Louis I de Bourbon, Prince de Condé, who founded the House of Condé, and his first wife Eléanor de Roucy de Roye...
, were to have progeny.
During the first of the French Civil Wars, especially between 1560 and 1563, Eléanor and her mother were engaged in important political activities in support of her husband, the Prince of Condé. Twice while Condé was a prisoner of the ultra-catholic Guise family
House of Guise
The House of Guise was a French ducal family, partly responsible for the French Wars of Religion.The Guises were Catholic, and Henry Guise wanted to end growing Calvinist influence...
, his wife and mother-in-law systematically reinforced his alliances with Protestant German princes and with Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
. Armed with this support, Eléanor made negotiations by letter and by direct contact with the regent, Catherine de' Medici
Catherine de' Medici
Catherine de' Medici was an Italian noblewoman who was Queen consort of France from 1547 until 1559, as the wife of King Henry II of France....
; the outcome was the Peace of Amboise and the release of her husband.
Eleonore was a loyal spouse, a devoted mother, and, above all, a fervent believer in the Reformed (Protestant) faith. She died on 23 July 1564, her final hours filled with loving admonitions to her family as well as prayers and meditations.