Henri Louis, Prince of Guéméné
Encyclopedia
Henri Louis de Rohan, Prince of Guéméné (Henri Louis Marie; 30 August 1745 – 24 April 1809), was a French courtier
and the penultimate Grand Chamberlain of France
.
, a member of the House of Rohan, which claimed ancestry relating to the Dukes of Brittany. He was the only son of the family's main branch chief, Jules Hercule Mériadec de Rohan, Prince of Guéméné, whereas his mother Marie Louise Henriette Jeanne de La Tour d'Auvergne (daughter of Charles Godefroy de La Tour d'Auvergne
) had an illegitimate child with her lover, Charles Edward Stuart
.
Jules Hercule gave his surname to his wife's son, however Charles Godefroy de Rohan (1748–1820) was handed over to his paternal family, the Stuarts
.
On 15 January 1761, he married his second cousin, Victoire Armande Josèphe de Rohan, daughter of Charles de Rohan, Prince de Soubise and Princess Anna Teresa of Savoy. The couple had five children, four of whom survived into adult age. The family owned the Hôtel de Rohan-Guémené on the Place des Vosges
.
In 1775 Henri Louis was appointed Grand Chamberlain of France by Louis XVI, inasmuch as his uncle Godefroy Charles Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, duke of Bouillon
gave up that charge. The Princess of Guéméné also inherited a charge; she was appointed Governess of Royal Children
.
From 1780's on Henri Louis and his family was involved in personal and political scandals. In 1782, Henri Louis's mistress, Countess Thérèse Lucy de Dillon, the first wife of Arthur Dillon and a friend of his wife, succumbed to tuberculosis
at 30 years; in the same year the Prince declared bankruptcy, with a debt of 33 million livres. He and Victoire abdicated their charges at the court and left Versailles
. Their proprieties were sold, including the Hôtel de Rohan-Guéméné and their Mansion at Montreuil.
At the death of his father in law, he was the legal heir to the title Prince of Soubise
.
During the French Revolution, Henri Louis and his father, wife and children fled to Sychrov Castle
in Bohemia
, in the modern Liberec Region of the Czech Republic
, where he died in 1809, at the age 63 years. However, his mother was guillotine
d in 1793.
Courtier
A courtier is a person who is often in attendance at the court of a king or other royal personage. Historically the court was the centre of government as well as the residence of the monarch, and social and political life were often completely mixed together...
and the penultimate Grand Chamberlain of France
Grand Chamberlain of France
The Grand Chamberlain of France was one of the Great Officers of the Crown of France, a member of the Maison du Roi , and one of the Great Offices of the Maison du Roi during the Ancien Régime...
.
Biography
Henri Louis was born in ParisParis
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...
, a member of the House of Rohan, which claimed ancestry relating to the Dukes of Brittany. He was the only son of the family's main branch chief, Jules Hercule Mériadec de Rohan, Prince of Guéméné, whereas his mother Marie Louise Henriette Jeanne de La Tour d'Auvergne (daughter of Charles Godefroy de La Tour d'Auvergne
Charles Godefroy de La Tour d'Auvergne
Charles Godefroy de La Tour d'Auvergne was a French nobleman and member of the powerful House of La Tour d'Auvergne.-Biography:...
) had an illegitimate child with her lover, Charles Edward Stuart
Charles Edward Stuart
Prince Charles Edward Louis John Casimir Sylvester Severino Maria Stuart commonly known as Bonnie Prince Charlie or The Young Pretender was the second Jacobite pretender to the thrones of Great Britain , and Ireland...
.
Jules Hercule gave his surname to his wife's son, however Charles Godefroy de Rohan (1748–1820) was handed over to his paternal family, the Stuarts
House of Stuart
The House of Stuart is a European royal house. Founded by Robert II of Scotland, the Stewarts first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 14th century, and subsequently held the position of the Kings of Great Britain and Ireland...
.
On 15 January 1761, he married his second cousin, Victoire Armande Josèphe de Rohan, daughter of Charles de Rohan, Prince de Soubise and Princess Anna Teresa of Savoy. The couple had five children, four of whom survived into adult age. The family owned the Hôtel de Rohan-Guémené on the Place des Vosges
Place des Vosges
The Place des Vosges is the oldest planned square in Paris.It is located in the Marais district, and it straddles the dividing-line between the 3rd and 4th arrondissements of Paris.- History :...
.
In 1775 Henri Louis was appointed Grand Chamberlain of France by Louis XVI, inasmuch as his uncle Godefroy Charles Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, duke of Bouillon
Duke of Bouillon
The Duke of Bouillon is a title of nobility. Until the nineteenth century, the Duke of Bouillon was the ruler of the semi-sovereign Duchy of Bouillon , a small state located between Luxembourg, Champagne, and the Three Bishoprics and centered on Bouillon.- History of the Duchy of Bouillon :The...
gave up that charge. The Princess of Guéméné also inherited a charge; she was appointed Governess of Royal Children
Governess of the Children of France
In France, the Governess of the Children of France , was charged with the education of the children and grand children of the monarch. The holder of the office was taken from the highest ranking nobility of France...
.
From 1780's on Henri Louis and his family was involved in personal and political scandals. In 1782, Henri Louis's mistress, Countess Thérèse Lucy de Dillon, the first wife of Arthur Dillon and a friend of his wife, succumbed to tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
at 30 years; in the same year the Prince declared bankruptcy, with a debt of 33 million livres. He and Victoire abdicated their charges at the court and left Versailles
Versailles
Versailles , a city renowned for its château, the Palace of Versailles, was the de facto capital of the kingdom of France for over a century, from 1682 to 1789. It is now a wealthy suburb of Paris and remains an important administrative and judicial centre...
. Their proprieties were sold, including the Hôtel de Rohan-Guéméné and their Mansion at Montreuil.
At the death of his father in law, he was the legal heir to the title Prince of Soubise
Prince of Soubise
-Prince of Soubise:...
.
During the French Revolution, Henri Louis and his father, wife and children fled to Sychrov Castle
Sychrov Castle
Sychrov Castle can be found near village Sychrov in the Liberec Region of the Czech Republic. It is unique example of Neo-Gothic castle from second half of 19th century. Large park surrounds the castle.-History:...
in Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
, in the modern Liberec Region of the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, where he died in 1809, at the age 63 years. However, his mother was guillotine
Guillotine
The guillotine is a device used for carrying out :executions by decapitation. It consists of a tall upright frame from which an angled blade is suspended. This blade is raised with a rope and then allowed to drop, severing the head from the body...
d in 1793.
Issue
- Charlotte Victoire Joséphe Henriette de Rohan (17 November 1761 - 15 December 1771), died aged ten
- Charles Alain Gabriel de Rohan, Duke of Montbazon, Rohan and Guéméné; Prince of GuéménéPrince of GuéménéThe fiefdom of Guéméné was bought on 26 May 1377, for 3,400 sous d'or by Jean de Rohan, Viscount of Rohan. From his second marriage to The fiefdom of Guéméné was bought on 26 May 1377, for 3,400 sous d'or by Jean de Rohan, Viscount of Rohan. From his second marriage to The fiefdom of Guéméné was...
(Versailles, 18 January 1764 - Paris, 24 April 1836); married in 1781:- Louise Aglae de Conflans d'Armentieres (1763–1819); had issue.
- Marie Louise Joséphine de Rohan (13 April 1765 - Paris, 21 September 1839); married in 1780:
- A cousin Charles Louis Gaspard de Rohan, Duke of Montbazon (1765–1843) and had issue.
- Louis Victor Meriadec de Rohan, Duke of RohanDuke of Rohan-House of Rohan:-House of Chabot:-House of Rohan-Chabot:The title prince de Léon is used a a courtesy title until the succession of the duke....
and BouillonDuke of BouillonThe Duke of Bouillon is a title of nobility. Until the nineteenth century, the Duke of Bouillon was the ruler of the semi-sovereign Duchy of Bouillon , a small state located between Luxembourg, Champagne, and the Three Bishoprics and centered on Bouillon.- History of the Duchy of Bouillon :The...
(Paris, 20 July 1766 - Czech Republic, 10 December 1846) married in 1800:- A niece Berthe de Rohan (1782–1841); had no issue.
- Jules Armand Louis de Rohan (Versailles, 20 October 1768 - Czech republic, 13 January 1836); married in 1800:
- Princess Wilhelmine Catherine Frédérique Biron von Kurland, Duchess of Sagan (1781–1839); had no issue.