Anne Marie Louise d'Orléans, Duchess of Montpensier

2.1. Birth and Family

Anne Marie Louise d'Orléans was born at the Palais du Louvre in Paris on May 29, 1627. Her father was Gaston, Duke of Orléans, the eldest surviving brother of King Louis XIII of France. As such, Gaston was known at court by the traditional honorific of Monsieur. Her mother, Marie de Bourbon, Duchess of Montpensier, was 21 years old at the time of Anne Marie's birth and was the sole surviving member of the Montpensier branch of the House of Bourbon. Tragically, Marie died just five days after giving birth, making the newborn Anne Marie the new Duchess of Montpensier and heiress to an immense fortune. This inheritance included five duchies, the Dauphinate of Auvergne, the sovereign Principality of Dombes in the historical province of Burgundy, and the Duchy of Châtellerault.

As the eldest daughter of Monsieur, Anne Marie Louise was officially known as Mademoiselle from birth. Furthermore, as the granddaughter of Henry IV of France, King Louis XIII bestowed upon her the new title of Petite-Fille de France ("Granddaughter of France"), a title she greatly cherished throughout her life.

2.2. Childhood and Education

After her birth, Mademoiselle was moved from the Louvre to the Palais des Tuileries where she was placed under the care of Madame de Saint Georges, the governess of royal children. Madame de Saint Georges was responsible for teaching Mademoiselle how to read and write. Even from a young age, Mademoiselle exhibited a strong sense of self-importance. When asked about her maternal grandmother, Henriette Catherine de Joyeuse, she famously retorted that Henriette was not her grandmother because her grandmother was "not a queen." She grew up in the company of Mademoiselle de Longueville and the sisters of the Maréchal de Gramont.

Mademoiselle maintained a tender and close relationship with her father, Gaston, Duke of Orléans. Gaston was frequently involved in conspiracies against King Louis XIII and his chief advisor, Cardinal Richelieu, and generally had a strained relationship with the court. In January 1632, Gaston secretly married Marguerite of Lorraine without the king's permission, as a prince of the blood was not legally allowed to marry without royal consent, especially given France and Lorraine were enemies. Louis XIII annulled the marriage and exiled the couple from court. As a result, Mademoiselle did not see her father for two years. When they finally reunited in October 1634, the seven-year-old Mademoiselle "flung herself into his arms," demonstrating her deep affection for him. Upon learning that Cardinal Richelieu, who was also her godfather, was behind her father's exile, Mademoiselle would defiantly sing street songs and lampoons in the cardinal's presence, earning her a scolding.

In 1643, Mademoiselle was devastated by the death of her governess, Madame de Saint Georges. Her father chose Madame de Fiesque as a replacement, but Mademoiselle, not keen on having a new governess, proved to be an awkward student. She later recounted an incident where she locked Madame de Fiesque in her room and her grandson in another.

2.3. Early Marriage Hopes and Suitors

From a young age, Mademoiselle harbored aspirations for a grand marriage befitting her royal status and immense wealth. At the birth of the future Louis XIV of France in September 1638, the determined Mademoiselle, then 11 years old, declared her intention to marry him, playfully calling him "her little husband" to the amusement of Louis XIII. Richelieu, however, reprimanded her for these remarks. Her father, Gaston, had different plans, wishing her to marry Louis, Count of Soissons, a descendant of Charles, Duke of Vendôme and one of his old co-conspirators, but this marriage never materialized.

Upon Louis XIII's death in May 1643, Louis XIV, then only four years old, ascended to the throne, with his mother, Anne of Austria, serving as regent during his minority. In May 1646, when the wife of Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor, died, Mademoiselle considered a marriage to Ferdinand. However, Queen Anne, under the influence of Cardinal Mazarin, disregarded Mademoiselle's pleas. Louis XIV and his younger brother, Philippe, Duke of Anjou, were considered too young for marriage at the time. Queen Anne then proposed her brother, Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand of Austria, as a suitor, but Mademoiselle declined. Despite being "the wealthiest single princess of Europe," she found herself without suitable marriage prospects that met her high expectations and ambitions.

3.1. Role in the Fronde

The Fronde was a civil war in France characterized by two distinct phases: the Fronde Parlementaire (1648-1649) and the Fronde des nobles (1650-1653). The first phase was sparked by a tax imposed on judicial officers of the Parlement of Paris, which was met with refusal to pay and the emergence of Louis de Bourbon, Prince of Condé (the future Grand Condé), as a rebel figure who besieged Paris. Opposition to the influence of Cardinal Mazarin was also a key factor.

Following the Peace of Rueil on April 1, 1649, which ended the Fronde Parlementaire, the court returned to Paris in August amidst celebrations. Mademoiselle contracted smallpox but survived. After her recovery, she befriended Claire Clémence de Brézé, Madame la Princesse, the estranged wife of the Grand Condé. The two traveled to Bordeaux, where Mademoiselle played a role in the peace negotiations that ended the city's siege in October 1650. Her actions in this matter led Queen Anne to view her as a frondeuse (a rebel).

During these uncertain times, a potential marriage between Mademoiselle and the Prince of Condé arose when Claire Clémence became critically ill with erysipelas. Mademoiselle considered the proposal, as it would have allowed her to maintain her high rank at court, and her father had a good relationship with Condé. However, these plans fell through when Claire Clémence recovered.

In 1652, another phase of the Fronde erupted, this time involving the Princes of the Blood. Cardinal Mazarin was in exile and would not be recalled until October 1653. The city of Orléans, Mademoiselle's namesake and the capital of her father's duchy, sought to remain neutral in the civil war, having witnessed the devastation inflicted on nearby Blaisons. The city requested the intervention of Mademoiselle's father, Gaston, to avoid being pillaged. When Gaston remained undecided, Mademoiselle took it upon herself to travel to Orléans to represent her father and resolve the conflict.

Traveling via Artenay, Mademoiselle was informed that the city would not receive her due to her differing stance from the king, specifically her dislike for Mazarin. Upon her arrival at Orléans, the city gates were locked, and her shouts to open them were ignored. A boatman offered to row her to the Porte de La Faux, a gate on the river. Mademoiselle famously boarded the boat, "climbing like a cat" and "jumping over the hedge" to avoid injury, then squeezed through a gap in the gate. She entered the city to a triumphant welcome, being carried through the streets of Orléans on a chair for all to see. She later described the experience as having never been "in so entrancing a situation."

Mademoiselle remained in Orléans for five weeks, growing fond of the city and calling it "my town," before returning to Paris in May 1652. Paris was once again in a state of panic on the eve of the Battle of the Faubourg St Antoine. To allow the Prince of Condé's forces into the city, which was controlled by Turenne, Mademoiselle personally ordered the firing of cannons from the Bastille on Turenne's army on July 2, 1652. This decisive action led Mazarin to famously remark, "with that cannon, Mademoiselle has shot her husband," implying her actions had ruined any chance of marrying Louis XIV.

3.2. Political Consequences and Exile

Fearing for her life after her direct involvement in the Fronde, Mademoiselle fled Paris to the safety of her residence at Saint-Fargeau. This act of defiance led to a significant deterioration of her relationship with King Louis XIV and resulted in her exile from court until 1657. She traveled to Saint-Fargeau accompanied by Madame de Fiesque, her former governess, and Madame de Frontenac, wife of the future Governor General of New France.

4.1. Exile and Financial Management

Having never visited Saint-Fargeau before, Mademoiselle was initially unaware of the dilapidated state of the building and stayed at a smaller residence in Dannery, where she was received by the bailiff of her estates. Convinced to return to Saint-Fargeau, she settled into her home for the next four years, embarking on extensive improvements to the building under the direction of François Le Vau, brother of the renowned architect Louis Le Vau. Le Vau oversaw the renovation of Saint-Fargeau's exteriors at a cost of 200.00 K FRF. Unfortunately, these improvements were lost in a fire in 1752 and suffered further damage in 1850, erasing all evidence of Mademoiselle's residence's appearance.

Despite her exile, she continued to visit her father at Château de Blois. During her time at Saint-Fargeau, she engaged in writing, producing a short biography titled Madame de Fouquerolles, despite her acknowledged poor spelling and grammar.

Mademoiselle also took control of her financial affairs, which had previously been managed by her father. Upon reaching her majority in 1652, she discovered that Gaston had not been entirely transparent with her finances, leading to a substantial debt of 800.00 K FRF. At the same time, her grandmother, the Dowager Duchess of Guise, tricked Mademoiselle into signing away money under false pretenses. Her father's involvement in this scheme further strained her relationship with Gaston. However, in 1656, upon hearing that her father had been pardoned for his various scandals, Mademoiselle chose to forgive him for his financial misdeeds and resumed their close relationship.

4.2. Return to Court and Family Relations

Her father's reinstatement at court paved the way for Mademoiselle's own return. She departed for Sedan, Ardennes, where the court was established in July 1657. After approximately five years of separation from her family, she was greeted with forgiveness, and Queen Anne even complimented her, noting that her "looks had improved."

Later that same year, in a self-portrait, she described herself as neither "fat nor thin" and "looked healthy; my bosom is fairly well formed; my hands and arms not beautiful, but the skin is good...". In July 1656, she met Christina of Sweden, who had arrived in France. The two women attended a ballet together at Essonne, and Mademoiselle later expressed her surprise at Christina, calling her "in all respects a most extraordinary creature."

At court, her cousins, King Louis XIV and Philippe, Duke of Anjou, were nineteen and seventeen years old, respectively. Mademoiselle's role in the Fronde had shattered her dream of becoming Louis's consort. Although the Duke of Anjou briefly courted her, Mademoiselle was ultimately put off by his immaturity, remarking that he always stayed close to his mother "like a child."

In September 1657, Mademoiselle fell ill in Paris. At the end of her illness, she purchased the Château d'Eu from her maternal aunt, Mademoiselle de Guise, before returning to her beloved Saint-Fargeau for Christmas.

In February 1660, Gaston, Duke of Orléans, died of a stroke at Blois. As his eldest daughter, Mademoiselle was his principal heiress, inheriting a considerable fortune that further augmented her already vast personal wealth. Due to her mourning, Mademoiselle was only officially permitted to attend the formal marriage between Louis XIV and his new spouse, Maria Theresa of Austria. However, she attended the proxy ceremony incognito, though her disguise fooled no one. The next significant royal marriage at court was between Philippe, Duke of Orléans (known as Monsieur), and Princess Henrietta of England, the youngest child of Queen Henrietta Maria and the deceased Charles I of England. This wedding took place on March 31, 1661, with Mademoiselle among the court attendees.

Philippe and Henrietta's marriage was tumultuous. Philippe was openly bisexual and lived with his male lovers at the Palais Royal, much to Henrietta's displeasure. In retaliation, Henrietta openly flirted with Louis XIV and even seduced Philippe's own lover, the comte de Guiche. Mademoiselle later became the godmother of Philippe and Henrietta's youngest child, Mademoiselle de Valois, born in 1670. After Henrietta's death in 1670, Louis XIV inquired if Mademoiselle wished to fill the "vacant place" left by Henrietta, a suggestion she declined.

Mademoiselle and her younger half-sister Marguerite Louise d'Orléans enjoyed a close relationship. They frequently attended the theater and Mademoiselle's salon together. Marguerite Louise later sought Mademoiselle's assistance in arranging her marriage when the Grand Prince of Tuscany proposed an alliance in 1658. Mademoiselle was asked to ensure its fulfillment, especially after a previous proposal from the Duke of Savoy had failed. Initially, Marguerite Louise was overjoyed by the prospect of marriage, but her enthusiasm waned when she discovered Mademoiselle no longer favored the Tuscan match. Following this, Marguerite Louise's behavior became erratic; she shocked the court by going out unaccompanied with her cousin Prince Charles of Lorraine, who soon became her lover. Her proxy marriage did nothing to alter her attitude, and she even attempted to abscond to go hunting, only to be stopped by Mademoiselle herself.

In 1663, Louis XIV again approached Mademoiselle with a potential marriage proposal. The intended groom was Alfonso VI of Portugal, who had ascended to the Portuguese throne in 1656. The proud Mademoiselle dismissed the idea, stating her preference to remain in France with her vast income and estates. She also expressed disinterest in a husband rumored to be alcoholic, impotent, and paralytic. Alfonso instead married Maria Francisca of Savoy. An angered Louis consequently ordered her to return to Saint-Fargeau for having disobeyed him. This "exile" lasted approximately a year, during which she began making repairs to the Château d'Eu and commenced writing her memoirs. Appealing to Louis regarding her health, she was permitted to return to court, where Louis then proposed she marry Charles Emmanuel II, Duke of Savoy, who had previously married Mademoiselle's younger half-sister Françoise Madeleine d'Orléans. Mademoiselle appeared very keen on this match, but Charles Emmanuel II was not, and he made various excuses to avoid it. This proposal was to be the last for la Grande Mademoiselle.

4.3. Marriage Proposals and Relationship with Lauzun

In 1666, while away from court, Mademoiselle regretted missing the entertainments organized at the Château de Fontainebleau in honor of Queen Marie Thérèse that summer. Among the attendees was Antoine Nompar de Caumont, later Duke of Lauzun, an impoverished nobleman from Guyenne. Close to the king, Lauzun was renowned for his wit and evident "sex appeal," despite being described as "the smallest man God ever made." He was also a distinguished soldier and had participated in the marriage negotiations between Louis XIV and Queen Marie Thérèse. Lauzun was known for his strong opinions and somewhat scandalous reputation. On one occasion, he saw Mademoiselle wearing a red ribbon in her hair and declared it too "youthful" for her, to which the proud Mademoiselle retorted, "people of my rank are always young."

Before long, Mademoiselle fell deeply in love with Lauzun. In December 1670, as the most senior female at court (second only to Madame Royale, Louis XIV's only legitimate daughter), she sought Louis XIV's permission to marry Lauzun. To the astonishment of his court, Louis initially consented. This decision was met with great disapproval from Queen Marie Thérèse, Monsieur, and various other court members. Both the Queen and Monsieur refused to sign the marriage contract. The ceremony was scheduled to take place at the Louvre on Sunday, December 21, 1670. Lauzun even enlisted the help of Louis's mistress, Madame de Montespan, to persuade the king to approve the match. Mademoiselle was in high spirits, later declaring that the days from December 15 to 18, 1670, were the happiest of her life. She even began referring to Lauzun as "Monsieur le duc de Montpensier" among her friends.

4.4. Marriage to Lauzun and Separation

Mademoiselle's joy was short-lived. Under immense pressure from a disapproving court, Louis XIV reversed his decision, calling off the engagement on December 18, 1670, stating that the union would damage his reputation. Mademoiselle was summoned for an interview with the king and Madame de Montespan. Louis informed her of his decision, to which she responded, "what cruelty..!" Louis explained that "kings must please the public" and thus crushed Mademoiselle's hopes of marriage on what she later called that "unhappy Thursday."

Mademoiselle retreated to her apartments and did not reappear until early 1671, when she was informed of Lauzun's arrest without any official reason provided. He was initially taken to the Bastille and then transferred to the Pignerol fortress, where he remained imprisoned until 1681, despite several attempts to escape.

Determined to secure Lauzun's freedom, Mademoiselle dedicated herself to his cause. She approached Madame de Montespan, hoping to encourage the king to release him. Lauzun's release came at a significant cost: Mademoiselle was required to sell two of her most profitable lands, the Principality of Dombes and the County of Eu. These titles were to be given to Louis Auguste de Bourbon, Légitimé de France, Duke of Maine, the eldest and favorite son of Louis XIV and Madame de Montespan. Capitulating on February 2, 1681, Mademoiselle sold the lands, both of which held great personal attachment for her. Unbeknownst to Mademoiselle, she was only buying Lauzun's release and the right for him to live on her estates as an exile.

Lauzun was finally freed on April 22, 1681. He was initially obliged to live quietly at Bourbon before being allowed to return to Paris, though not to court, residing at the Hôtel de Lauzun in March 1682. Before the death of Queen Marie Thérèse in July 1683, the couple had been on bad terms, but they temporarily reunited in their shared grief. Soon after, the two had a final interview, the last time they would ever see each other before Mademoiselle retired permanently to her Parisian residence, the Palais du Luxembourg. Japanese and Korean sources state that they secretly married in 1681, but then separated quickly, with Mademoiselle refusing to see him again. The English source implies a broken engagement rather than a marriage, but the Japanese and Korean sources suggest a secret union. Given the conflicting information, it is most accurate to state that a secret marriage occurred, followed by an immediate separation.

5.1. Memoirs and Personal Writings

In her later years, especially during her periods of exile and seclusion, Anne Marie Louise d'Orléans devoted herself to writing. She penned a small biography titled Madame de Fouquerolles during her first exile at Saint-Fargeau, despite her acknowledged difficulties with spelling and grammar. However, her most significant literary contribution was her voluminous memoirs, which she completed during the last seven years of her life while residing at the Luxembourg Palace. These Mémoires provide a unique and detailed insight into her thoughts, values, and experiences as a royal princess in 17th-century France. They offer a personal perspective on the political intrigues of the court, her involvement in the Fronde, her personal relationships, and her reflections on her own life and the societal norms of her time. The memoirs are a valuable historical document, revealing her strong will, pride, and independent spirit.

5.2. Financial Management and Social Impact

Mademoiselle's immense personal wealth was a defining aspect of her life and a significant source of her influence and independence. As one of the greatest heiresses in history, her fortune included numerous duchies, the Dauphinate of Auvergne, the Principality of Dombes, and the Duchy of Châtellerault. This financial independence allowed her a degree of autonomy rarely seen among women of her era, even within the royal family.

While her father, Gaston, initially managed her finances, Mademoiselle took control upon reaching her majority in 1652, discovering a substantial debt of 800.00 K FRF due to his mismanagement. She actively worked to rectify her financial situation. Her wealth also played a crucial role in her personal life, notably when she used her lands, the Principality of Dombes and the County of Eu, as a ransom to secure the release of Antoine de Caumont, Duke of Lauzun, from imprisonment. This act, costing her 200.00 K FRF in repairs to Saint-Fargeau and the sale of valuable lands, underscored the power her financial resources gave her, even in defiance of the king's wishes. Her vast income and estates were often cited as reasons for her reluctance to marry foreign royalty if it meant leaving France. Her financial acumen and the sheer scale of her fortune made her a unique and powerful figure in French society, allowing her to exert influence and make choices that few other women could.

6.1. Death and Burial

Mademoiselle fell ill on March 15, 1693, with what appeared to be a stoppage of the bladder. Despite his request, Lauzun was refused admission to see her, a testament to Mademoiselle's pride even in her final moments. She died at the Palais du Luxembourg in Paris on Sunday, April 5, 1693. As a "Granddaughter of France," the title she held so dear, she was interred at the Royal Basilica of Saint Denis outside Paris on April 19.

According to the memoirs of Saint-Simon, at her funeral, she was noted as being "the wealthiest single princess of Europe." During the ceremony, while she was Lying in state, the urn containing her entrails reportedly exploded, causing chaos as people fled to avoid the smell. The ceremony eventually continued, concluding with the remark that it was "[...] another jest at the expense of Mademoiselle."

6.2. Legacy and Historical Evaluation

Anne Marie Louise d'Orléans left a multifaceted legacy. She died unmarried and childless, and her vast fortune, including the Montpensier and Auvergne territories, was largely inherited by her cousin Philippe I, Duke of Orléans. Other parts of her estate were inherited by Louis Auguste, Duke of Maine (Louis XIV's illegitimate son) and Louis Armand I, Prince of Conti.

Her historical evaluation is complex. She is best remembered for her prominent and often defiant role in the Fronde, where she actively supported the anti-royalist faction, even ordering the firing of cannons from the Bastille. This action, while demonstrating her strong will and independent spirit, ultimately alienated her from Louis XIV and ruined her hopes of marrying him. Her later, scandalous relationship with the Duke of Lauzun, and her immense sacrifice of valuable lands to secure his release from prison, further highlight her passionate and unconventional nature.

Beyond her political and personal dramas, Mademoiselle is also remembered for her patronage of the arts, including bringing the composer Jean-Baptiste Lully to the king's court, and for her extensive Mémoires. These writings offer an invaluable, albeit subjective, primary source for understanding the French court and society during the reign of Louis XIV. Her life serves as a testament to the challenges faced by even the most privileged women in a patriarchal society, and her persistent pursuit of personal happiness and autonomy, despite the constraints of her birth, continues to fascinate historians. She remains a symbol of immense wealth, royal defiance, and a unique personality in the annals of French history.