Louis Charles de Lévis
| Louis Charles | |
|---|---|
| Duke of Ventadour | |
| |
| Full name | Louis Charles de Lévis |
| Born | 1647 |
| Died | 18 September 1717 (aged 69–70) |
| Spouse | Charlotte de La Motte Houdancourt |
| Issue Detail |
Anne Geneviève, Duchess of Rohan-Rohan |
| Father | Charles de Lévis |
| Mother | Marie de La Guiche |
Louis Charles de Lévis (1647 – 18 September 1717) was a French nobleman and Duke of Ventadour. His wife was the governess of the infant Louis XV and his only child Anne Geneviève made two prestigious marriages into contemporary nobility.
Biography
The eldest of three children, his younger sister Marguerite Félice de Lévis (1648–1717) married Jacques Henri de Durfort de Duras and was the sister in law of the Maréchal de Lorges.
On his father's side, he was a relative of the wealthy Montmorency family. He married Charlotte de La Motte Houdancourt in Paris on 14 March 1671. She was the daughter of Philippe de La Mothe-Houdancourt and Louise de Prie.
The Duke was generally considered "horrific" — very ugly, physically deformed, and sexually debauched[1] — yet the privileges of being a duchess compensated for the unfortunate match, e.g. le tabouret: In a letter to her daughter, Madame de Sévigné described an incident that took place at St. Germain during an audience with the Queen.
"… a lot of duchesses came in, including the beautiful and charming Duchess of Ventadour. There was a bit of a delay before they brought her the sacred stool. I turned to the Grand Master and I said, 'Oh, just give it to her. It certainly cost her enough,' and he agreed."[2]
He and his wife had a daughter. Louis Charles died in 1717 during the Regency of Philippe d'Orléans.[3]
His wife was a lady in waiting to Duchess of Orléans and guardian of the infant Louis XV.
Issue
Anne Geneviève de Lévis, "Mademoiselle de Ventadour", Princess of Turenne, Duchess of Rohan-Rohan, Princess of Maubuisson, Princess of Soubise (February 1673 – 20 March 1727)
- Married Louis Charles de La Tour d'Auvergne, Prince of Turenne in 1692 (son of Godefroy Maurice de La Tour d'Auvergne and Marie Anne Mancini) had no issue;
- Married Hercule Mériadec de Rohan, Duke of Rohan-Rohan in 1694, son of François de Rohan and Anne de Rohan-Chabot, had issue.
Ancestry
- Ancestors of Louis Charles de Lévis
- 16. Gilbert de Lévis, Count of Ventadour
- 8. Gilbert de Lévis, Duke of Ventadour
- 17. Suzanne de Laire, Dame of La Motte-de-Grigny
- 4. Anne de Lévis, Duke of Ventadour
- 18. Anne de Montmorency, Duke of Montmorency
- 9. Catherine de Montmorency
- 19. Madeleine de Savoie
- 2. Charles de Lévis, Duke of Ventadour
- 20. Anne de Montmorency, Duke of Montmorency =18
- 10. Henri de Montmorency, Duke of Montmorency
- 21. Madeleine de Savoie =19
- 5. Marguerite de Montmorency
- 22. Robert IV de La Marck, Duke of Bouillon
- 11. Antoinette de La Marck
- 23. Françoise de Brézé, Countess of Maulevrier
- 1. Louis Charles de Lévis
- 24. Gabriel de La Guiche, Seigneur of Chaumont
- 12. Claude de La Guiche
- 25. Anne Soreau, Dame of Saint-Geran
- 6. Jean François de La Guiche
- 26. François d'Isserpent, Seigneur of Chitain
- 13. Suzanne d'Isserpent
- 27. Jacqueline de Chaugy, Dame of Lalière
- 3. Marie de La Guiche
- 28. Nicolas Aux Epaules, Seigneur of Sainte-Marie-du-Mont
- 14. Henri Robert Aux Epaules, Seigneur of Sainte-Marie-du-Mont
- 29. Jeanne Françoise de Monchy
- 7. Suzanne Aux Epaules
- 30. Nicolas de Bours, Seigneur of Gennes
- 15. Jeanne de Bours, Dame of Gennes
- 31. Antoinette de Chepoy
References
- Back to citation Syms, L.C. "Selected Letters of Madame de Sévigné" (American Book Company, 1898). P. 25.
- Back to citation Letter from Madame de Sévigné to Madame de Grignan, April 1, 1771
- Back to citation Regent of France for the infant Louis XV