Suzanne Henriette of Lorraine
Encyclopedia
Suzanne Henriette of Lorraine (1 February 1686 – 19 October 1710) was a member of the House of Lorraine
and was the Duchess of Mantua by marriage. Her husband Ferdinand Charles Gonzaga was the last Gonzaga
Duke of Mantua.
and his third wife Françoise de Montault de Navailles. Her two older half brothers, Henri
and Emmanuel Maurice
were successively Dukes of Elbeuf. As a member of the House of Lorraine, she was entitled to the style of Highness and is sometimes called "Princess Suzanne Henriette".
Ferdinando Carlo Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua and Montferrat sought her hand as she was a member of a ducal house. She married Gonzaga in Milan
on 8 November 1704 accompanied by her grandmother Catherine Henriette de Bourbon
. To the French, her husband was known as Charles de Gonzagne.
The Prince of Condé (son of le Grand Condé) had proposed his daughter Marie Anne, Mademoiselle d'Eghien to marry Ferdinando Carlo Gonzaga, ruler of the Duchies of Mantua and Montferrat
. He had lost his first wife Anna Isabella Gonzaga
and subsequent first cousin in August 1703 and was childless. Gonzaga however did have illegitimate children with his mistress Eleonora Parma, a line which died out in the mid 18th century and were not able to inherit Mantua. The couple were married in Milan
on 8 November 1704. Only eight months later, her husband died on 5 July 1708 leaving her a widow at the age of 18.
She returned to France and was later involved in a lawsuit between the Duke of Lorraine
and Princess of Condé
regarding the heir to the Guise fortune. Residing in Paris, she died there in 1710 at the age of 24. She was buried at the Carmel du faubourg Saint-Germain in her grand fathers crypt, the maréchal de Navailles. Saint-Simon
noted that she died after a long illness in the flower of her death and was considered to have been a beauty at the time. He also said that her "bizarre" marriage had been the cause of her sad life.
House of Lorraine
The House of Lorraine, the main and now only remaining line known as Habsburg-Lorraine, is one of the most important and was one of the longest-reigning royal houses in the history of Europe...
and was the Duchess of Mantua by marriage. Her husband Ferdinand Charles Gonzaga was the last Gonzaga
House of Gonzaga
The Gonzaga family ruled Mantua in Northern Italy from 1328 to 1708.-History:In 1433, Gianfrancesco I assumed the title of Marquis of Mantua, and in 1530 Federico II received the title of Duke of Mantua. In 1531, the family acquired the Duchy of Monferrato through marriage...
Duke of Mantua.
Biography
Lorraine was the penultimate daughter of Charles of Lorraine, Duke of ElbeufCharles III, Duke of Elbeuf
Charles de Lorraine was the third Duke of Elbeuf and member of the House of Lorraine. He succeeded his father Charles II, Duke of Elbeuf, to the Duchy-Peerage of Elbeuf. His mother was an illegitimate daughter of Henry IV of France and Gabrielle d'Estrées...
and his third wife Françoise de Montault de Navailles. Her two older half brothers, Henri
Henri, Duke of Elbeuf
Henri de Lorraine was the Duke of Elbeuf and member of the House of Lorraine. He succeeded his father Charles de Lorraine to the Duchy-Peerage of Elbeuf...
and Emmanuel Maurice
Emmanuel Maurice, Duke of Elbeuf
Emmanuel Maurice de Lorraine was Duke of Elbeuf and Prince of Lorraine. He succeeded his older brother Henri de Lorrraine as duke...
were successively Dukes of Elbeuf. As a member of the House of Lorraine, she was entitled to the style of Highness and is sometimes called "Princess Suzanne Henriette".
Ferdinando Carlo Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua and Montferrat sought her hand as she was a member of a ducal house. She married Gonzaga in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
on 8 November 1704 accompanied by her grandmother Catherine Henriette de Bourbon
Catherine Henriette de Bourbon
Catherine Henriette de Bourbon, Légitimée de France was an illegitimate daughter of King Henri IV and his long-term maîtresse en titre Gabrielle d'Estrées. She married into the Princely House of Guise.-Early years:...
. To the French, her husband was known as Charles de Gonzagne.
The Prince of Condé (son of le Grand Condé) had proposed his daughter Marie Anne, Mademoiselle d'Eghien to marry Ferdinando Carlo Gonzaga, ruler of the Duchies of Mantua and Montferrat
Montferrat
Montferrat is part of the region of Piedmont in Northern Italy. It comprises roughly the modern provinces of Alessandria and Asti. Montferrat is one of the most important wine districts of Italy...
. He had lost his first wife Anna Isabella Gonzaga
Anna Isabella Gonzaga
Anna Isabella Gonzaga , was a Duchess consort of Mantua and Montferrat and heir of the Duchy of Guastalla and Luzzara Reggiolo; married in 1671 to Ferdinando Carlo Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua and Montferrat...
and subsequent first cousin in August 1703 and was childless. Gonzaga however did have illegitimate children with his mistress Eleonora Parma, a line which died out in the mid 18th century and were not able to inherit Mantua. The couple were married in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
on 8 November 1704. Only eight months later, her husband died on 5 July 1708 leaving her a widow at the age of 18.
She returned to France and was later involved in a lawsuit between the Duke of Lorraine
Leopold, Duke of Lorraine
Leopold , surnamed the Good, was Duke of Lorraine and Bar from 1690 to his death.-Early life:Leopold Joseph Charles Dominique Agapet Hyacinthe was the son of Charles V, Duke of Lorraine, and his wife Eleonora Maria Josefa of Austria, a half-sister of Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor.At the time of...
and Princess of Condé
Anne Henriette of Bavaria
Anne Henriette of Palatinate-Simmern, in France known as Anne Henriette of Bavaria was a Princess of Palatinate-Simmern by birth and by her marriage in 1663, the Duchess of Enghien and then the Princess of Condé...
regarding the heir to the Guise fortune. Residing in Paris, she died there in 1710 at the age of 24. She was buried at the Carmel du faubourg Saint-Germain in her grand fathers crypt, the maréchal de Navailles. Saint-Simon
Louis de Rouvroy, duc de Saint-Simon
Louis de Rouvroy commonly known as Saint-Simon was a French soldier, diplomatist and writer of memoirs, was born in Paris...
noted that she died after a long illness in the flower of her death and was considered to have been a beauty at the time. He also said that her "bizarre" marriage had been the cause of her sad life.
Titles and styles
- 1 February 1686 – 8 November 1704 Her Highness Princess Suzanne Henriette of Lorraine
- 8 November 1704 – 5 July 1708 Her Highness The Duchess of Mantua
- 5 July 1708 – 19 October 1710 Her Highness The Dowager Duchess of Mantua