Marie of Montelimar, Empress of the North

Marie of Montelimar 	Marie of Montelimar
By the Grace of God, Empress Consort of the North, Queen of Arendaal 	By the Grace of God, Empress Consort of the North, Queen of Arendaal
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k251/r_l_777/280px-Francois-Athenais_de_Rochecho.png	http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k251/r_l_777/280px-Francois-Athenais_de_Rochecho.png
Empress Consort of the North 	Empress Consort of the North
Consort of 	Greger I, Emperor of the North
Consort 	1663 – 1685
Predecessor 	Diane of Breotonia
Successor 	Hannelore of Danmark
Queen Consort of Arendaal 	Queen Consort of Arendaal
Consort of 	King Greger I of Arendaal
Consort 	1663 – 1685
Predecessor 	Diane of Breotonia
Successor 	Hannelore of Danmark
 	
Birth 	23 January 1634, Valmy
Death 	11 August 1685, Versailles
From 	Montelimar
Marriage 	1657, Trondheim Chateau
Father 	King Michel I of Montelimar
Mother 	Queen of Montelimar
Issue 	Crown Prince Frederik
Royal House 	House of Brissac (by birth) House of Lundmark (by marriage)
Full Name 	Marie de Brissac von Lundmark-Kapét
Religion 	Christian (Catholic)
Buried 	Versailles
Marie of Montelimar ("Marie the Lovely") (1634 - 1685) was the first wife of Greger I, King of Arendaal and Emperor of the North and thus the Queen Consort of Arendaal and Empress of the North between 1663 and her death in 1685. The daughter of King Michel I of Montelimar, Marie married Greger when he was still heir apparent to the throne. 
At court, women copied Marie's lavish style of dress and she was admired for her good looks and sweet nature. 
The Breotonian Ambassador reported that the Princess "had an exquisite complexion, blond hair, a sweet smile and an expression at once tender and modest." After Marie's death, despite his genuine grief, Greger I married Hannelore, Princess of Danmark for political reasons.
Although Greger is known to have had mist- resses, he was bound to his beautiful wife out of a deep sense of devotion. "The Queen knows how to love. There is great pleasure in being loved by her," he said of her. Marie, for her part, presided unquestioningly as the "first lady" of her husband's court. 
She was a friend and admirer of numerous philosophers, friendships which resulted in a substantial correspondence that reveals Marie to have been a woman of exceptional intellectual ability and curiosity. She shared her husband's artistic sensibilities particularly in the realm of literature and is remembered as the patroness of several painters and artists employed at Versailles. 
Later in life Marie became increasingly pious and founded a number of Catholic religious institutions. The Protestant Emperor Greger I, who had presided over the final resolution of centuries long tensions between Catholics and Protestants, used her devotion to his advantage, publicizing her actions as a "gesture of his good intentions" towards all religions. 
Marie predeceased her husband by a decade, dying in 1685. The Emperor mourned her earnestly and never recovered from her loss. Reflecting on her passing he said, "This was the only way in which she displeased me." Two years later, Greger married Princess Hannelore of Danmark, a political move designed to bind relations between the Empire of the North and Kingdom of Danmark. Though Greger was fond of his second wife and dotted on her, historians consider Marie to have been the love of his life.
==Family, Marriage and Children==
Princess Marie of Montelimar married Greger I of Arendaal, Emperor of the North and King of Arendaal in 1657 at the age of 23. Their children included:
*Frederik, Prince of Arendaal (1658 - 1690) - who would predecease his father by five years. Frederick's daughter, Kristianna, would become Greger I's successor in 1695
===Siblings===
* Francis II of Montelimar - brother
===Other Royal Relations===
*Charles IX of Montelimar - nephew
*Magnus II of Arendaal - father-in-law
*Diane of Breotonia, Queen of Arendaal - mother-in-law
*Johanna of Batavie, Princess of Arendaal - daughter-in-law
*Queen Kristianna I of Arendaal - granddaughter and her husband's heir as ruler of Arendaal
*Theodore VII of the Talemantine Empire - grandson-in-law. Husband of his granddaughter Queen Kristianna I
*Kristian of Arendaal, King of Ormssex-Colne - brother-in-law
*Louisa of Arendaal, Queen of Eiffelland - sister-in-law (husband's sister). Consort of Lothar VI of Eiffelland
*Alais of Arendaal, Queen of Franken - sister-in-law (husband's sister). Consort of Nikolaus V von Franken
*Hannelore of Danmark, Queen of Arendaal - husband's second wife
*Gustav V of Arendaal - great-grandson
*Isacco Beniamino II of the Talemantine Empire - great-grandson
*Liliana of Arendaal, Queen of Montelimar - great-granddaughter. Consort of King Michel II of Montelimar
*Heloise of Arendaal, Empress of Wiese - great-granddaughter. Consort of Emperor Emperor Karl I of Wiese
*Kristine of Arendaal, Queen of Eiffelland - great-granddaughter. Consort of Philipp IV of Eiffelland
==Ancestors==
's ancestors in four generations:
==See Also==
*Monarchs of Arendaal
*Royal Consorts of Arendaal
*History of Arendaal
*Royal Marriages of Arendaal
*Aristocracy and Royalty of Arendaal
*House of Nareath
*Montelimar
*Katarina von Nareath de Brissac
*Empire of the North
Consorts of the Kapétien Dynasty House Lundmark	Consorts of the Kapétien Dynasty House Lundmark 	Consorts of the Kapétien Dynasty House Lundmark
Empire of the North 	Empire of the North 	Empire of the North
Preceded by Diane of Breotonia 1643 – 1663 	Empress Consort of the North1663 – 1685 	Succeeded by Hannelore of Danmark 1687 - 1695
Aren Royalty 	Aren Royalty 	Aren Royalty
Preceded by Diane of Breotonia 1643 – 1663 	Queen Consort of Arendaal 1663 – 1685 	Succeeded by Hannelore of Danmark 1687 - 1695
Preceded by Diane of Breotonia 1643 – 1663 	Princess Consort of Norseberg 1663 – 1685 	Succeeded by Hannelore of Danmark 1687 - 1695
Preceded by Diane of Breotonia 1643 – 1663 	Grand Duchess Consort of Emyn Arnen 1663 – 1685	Succeeded by Hannelore of Danmark 1687 - 1695
Aren Royalty 	Aren Royalty 	Aren Royalty
Preceded by Diane of Breotonia 	Crown Princess Consort of Arendaal 1657 - 1663 	Succeeded by Johanna of Batavie
Category: Historical Royals of Arendaal
Category: Historical Figures
Category: History of Montelimar
Category: Empire of the North