Marie Henriette d'Aloigny, Comtesse
de Gien (1663-1736)
Born 1663
Died 18 October 1736 Paris
Married (1) Louis Fauste de Brichanteau, Marquis de Nangis
Married (2) 3 May 1691
Charles de La Rochefoucauld de Roye, Comte de Blanzac,
son of Frederic Charles de La Rochefoucauld,
Comte de Roye et de Roucy and Elisabeth de Durfort
Born 1665
Died 4 September 1732 Paris
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The daughter of a Marshall of France, she married Louis-Fauste de Brichanteau,
Marquis de Nangis. However, he died shortly afterwards. According to the
memoires of Dangeau: "She was pretty, lively, flirtatious, a born intriguer,
a witty and seductive character, irresistable, possessor of unique charms,
so sweet and so insinuating that it was amazing." She was also described
by the Duc de Saint-Simon: "One could not have a character more witty,
more intriguing, or sweeter; a graceful and suggestively charming
disposition---who had however at the same time the most wicked and
blackest of characters. Falseness incarnate, and yet with all that an enchanting
temptress, whom one could only resist by avoiding her, and nevertheless
more than very seductive." On the 3rd of May 1691, she married Charles
de La Rochefoucauld, Comte de Blanzac. The marriage took place in secret
and was only registered at the time of a very advanced pregnancy. In fact,
she gave birth to her daughter, Madame de Tonnerre, on her wedding night.
She was the friend of the Duchesse de Chartres (the future Duchesse of
Orleans) who had a very strong attachment to her. There was a lot of gossip
about this unusual friendship. Later she attached herself to the Duchess
Sforza, a gentle and virtuous woman. However, she and her husband were
addicted to gambling, and they ruined themselves financially, having left
large amounts of money behind on the green baize. In Paris on 18 October
1736, she died at the age of seventy-three.
Source: Leo van de Pas |
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