Françoise de Lorraine

Françoise de Lorraine-Mercœur (18th November 1592 - 16th January 1650) was a princess of Lorraine and the wife of Charles de Guise, Duc de Guise. Sometimes known as Françoise de Mercœur, she belonged to the Mercœur cadet branch of the sovereign dukes of Lorraine. She was also the niece of Louise de Lorraine, first wife of Charles IX & de Grandelumière. Notwithstanding all of this, Françoise was also the sole heiress of her parents, Philippe Emmanuel de Lorraine and Marie de Luxembourg. Thus, following their demise she was Suo Jure Duchesse de Mercœur, Duchesse de Penthièvre, Marquise de Nomeny, and Baronne d'Ancenis.
== Biography ==
 Françoise was a Princesse-Etranger (Son Altesse) by birth, as she married Charles de Lorraine-Guise she was made a Princesse du Sang (Son Altesse Sérénissime). 
She belonged to Mercœur a cadet branch of the Sovereign Dukes of Lorraine, she was a niece of Louise de Lorraine who was the wife of the late King Henri III of France.
She was the youngest of two children, with the only sibling being Philippe Louis de Lorraine-Mercœur. Unfortunately he had passed in 1590 at the age of one, making her the heiress of a large private fortune held by her father as well as her fathers titles.
Because Françoise was the heiress of her father, upon his death in 19th of February 1602, when Françoise was only 10 years of age she would inherit the following titles; Duchesse de Mercœur, Duchesse de Penthievre and Princesse de Martigues (All which are suo jure)
At the reign of King Henri III, her father (Philippe Emmanuel de Lorraine) had put himself at the head of the Catholic League in Brittany, he had also proclaimed himself Protector of the Roman Catholic Church in the province year 1588.
Her mother, Marie de Luxembourg had ambitions to become Sovereign Duchesse of Brittany. Due to her ancestor Jeanne de Penthièvre, Sovereign Duchesse of Brittany, she was also well liked by the people of Nantes. The fact that she was the sister-in-law to Henri III did not make it harder, instead it would make it rather easier as she was well favoured by him. Tragically, she was not able to realise the project.
== Personality ==
Ever since from young age Françoise was known to be a very sweet and kind hearted girl, she would stroll around the Chateau d'Mercœur and assist the servants with their duty. She would be known as the ''Darling Princesse of Lorraine''.
Ever since the Duchesse had an income of her own she has always been very charitable, handing out money to the poor so they could purchase food and clothes. She had donating to the hospitals to improve their medical skills.
However, following the death of her husband, Françoise became a bit more emotional and moodier, as she was uncertain how else she could cope with the death of her beloved spouse.
== Education ==
Being born into a wealthy and powerful house Françoise would be taught the basics of a being a noble woman and how to act properly, this would include dancing, needle work, embroidering, etiquette, every noble residing at court as well as most of the ones outside, every house, drawing, singing, engraving, painting, household management, different kind of games including cards and chess. She would also be taught to write which was at the time quite uncommon for women. This would go on until she she was of age.
She would move to Abbey de St. Jean des Vignes to be further educated and would continue to learn how to write.
== Marriage ==
In April 1609, Françoise married Charles de Lorraine-Guise, Duc de Chevreuse.
=== Issue ===
Together with her husband Charles de Lorraine-Guise she would give birth to several children.
* François, Duc de Guise (3rd October 1610 - Present)
* Henri, Marquis de Nomeny (3rd April 1612 - 5th December 1613)
* Unnamed Boy (4th March 1613 - 19th March 1613)
* Unnamed Boy (4th March 1613 - 19th March 1613)
* Henri, Cardinal de Guise (4th April 1614 - Present)
* Marie, Duchesse de Nemours (15th August 1615 - Present)
* Unnamed Girl, Mademoiselle de Joinville (4th March 1617 - Present)
== Titles and Styles ==
November 1592 – 19 February 1602: Son Altesse, Mademoiselle de Mercœur
19 February 1602 - Present: Son Altesse, Suo Jure Duchesse de Mercœur, Suo Jure Duchesse de Penthièvre and Suo Jure Princesse de Martigues, Suo Jure Marquise de Nomeny, Suo Jure Baronne d’Ancenis
April 1609 - July 1626: Son Altesse Sérénissime, Madame la Duchesse de Chevreuse.
June 1617 - Present: Son Altesse Sérénissime, Suo Jure Vicomtesse de Léon, Suo Jure Baronne de Fontenay, Suo Jure Baronne de Soubise.
July 1626 - Present: Son Altesse Sérénissime, Duchesse de Guise''''
=== Orders ===
Order of the Ladies of Virtue (Dame de l'Ordre des Dames de Vertu): Was awarded to her in 1614 because of her well known piety and charitable work.
== Ancestry ==
Category:Grandelumièrian Nobility
Category:Grandelumièrian Duchesses
Category:16th Century Births
Category:House of Lorraine-Mercœur
Category:House of Guise
Category:Imperial Courtiers
Category:Princesse Etranger
Category:Grandelumièrian Princesses du Sang
Category:Grandelumièrian Princesses
Category:Lady of the Order of the Ladies of Virtue