Henriette de Guise

Henriette de Guise (30th June 1590 - Present) is a member of the powerful Guise Family, and a Princesse du Sang. She would also be known to those close to her as Madame de Damville and later Madame de Montigny, after taking up the duchies previously held by her late husband. She was the youngest surviving daughter of Henri de Guise and the Duchesse de Guise, Catherine de Cleves the suo jure Comtesse d'Eu. She was also the sister of the Duchesse Douairiere d'Angouleme, wife of the bastard son of Charles IX. She was only slightly involved in the wars of religion and her family's part in commanding the winning catholic league, due to her young age. 
Henriette had never spent much time with any of her siblings, but loved them unconditionally as she did with the rest of her family. After her marriage to the Duc de Montmorency in 1609, she would be known as one of the most influential women at court. She was also known particularly as a close favourite to Marguerite d'Austriche, the current Empress-Dowager of Grandelumière. Even after the passing of the late Duc de Montmorency, she was still beloved by those around her.
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== Early Life ==
=== Childhood ===
Henriette de Guise was the youngest daughter of Henri de Guise and his wife Catherine de Nevers. She would be born at the Chateau de Joinville on the 30th of June, 1590. And as such she would designated as the Mademoiselle de Guise at birth, the second of her title. Despite Henriette hardly interacting with her siblings, she would have a carefree time growing up in Joinville. She was also known to have visited Paris on multiple occasions with her direct family members.
The young Henriette would begin her studies in 1596 at the Abbaye de Soissons. Her parents and family would guarantee Henriette a fine education, making sure she would be given the attention she needed. Henriette was known for being skilled at Roman Law, Basic Medicine, Botany, and as well as dancing and needlework. However, she would take to the skill of writing poetry with an enthusiastic fervor.
=== Court of François III & II ===
The young Henriette would have been allowed into the court at around the age of 15, being introduced by her father the Duc de Guise. She took to court life with little difficulty, finding herself being reconnected with the siblings she had never really gotten to meet. This would include the Duchesse Douairiere d'Angoulême, whom she would form a deep friendship with. 
The young Mademoiselle de Guise would find herself favored amongst the court. Henriette became a Dame d'Honneur, with the help of her mother, to the Impératice de Grandelumière Marguerite d'Autriche. Her favor with Her Majesty would only grow after her marriage to the young Duc de Montmorency, as she would consider both Henriette and the Duc close confidantes later in life. The Empress had even requested that the Montmorency Rooms be located next to her own in the Chateau de Vaucressons. 
== Engagement & Marriage ==
On the 18th of April, 1609, Henriette would have been wed to the young Duc de Montmorency, the oldest son of the late Duc. She would be considered an almost too worthy candidate for this match, due to her wealthy ancestry and status. The Duc de Montmorency would seem to feel indifferent about their marriage, as he was still a mere child. Henriette herself would accept his proposal with a modest tone, solemnly agreeing to join hands in marriage. Despite all this, she seemed to hold a secret distaste at the aspect for marrying an immature Duc of the court. She seemed to have only told of her irritation to close family members, more specifically her elder sister the Duchesse Douairiere d'Angoulême.
In the following letter sent to her elder sister, Henriette discloses her frustrations towards the Duc de Montmorency. A small portion of the letter reads as follows: 
"He is a lovely person, and I find him somewhat agreeable. However, he is simply too childish for my tastes at this point in our marriage. I will only continue to be with him under the terms of our family's sole benefit."
However, after a couple months of being wed to him, she had grown to be much more tolerating of the Duc, even being known to be fairly affectionate towards him. Henriette was even at her husband's side during the passing of the Duc de Damville, providing much needed emotional support. 
Her husband was also known to be just as affectionate and loving towards her, seeming to genuinely cherish her and her company. It was said that he was always by Henriette's right side, even during the most difficult parts of her life. One of which, was the Duchesse's first miscarriage. During May of 1614, she would have given birth to a son 5 weeks premature; Henriette not even being allowed to see the baby. She broke down into fits of weeping and hysteria, exclaiming to her family; "Mon bebe! Mon bebe! That is my baby!". Henriette would be incredibly grief stricken, to the point where she had tightly wrapped a blanket together to cradle a makeshift child. She had the ever lingering fear of being a disappointment to the Guise and Montmorency line, despite already having given birth to an heir five years prior. But even then, the Duc would refuse to leave her side. He was even known to have cared for her personally after the stillbirth. 
=== The Death of the Duc de Montmorency ===
On the 23rd of June,1617 Henriette would have been staying with the rest of the court in Paris. And during this trip, they had also visited the residence of Chenonceau. Once they had returned however, a noble known as the Seigneur de Chambonas would arrive to give his praises to the Duchesse's father, the Duc de Guise. However, during this he would also purposely offend the Duc de Montmorency, by calling his own father a man of treason. In a sudden and reckless move, the young Duc would challenge the lowly Seigneur to a duel. This was to take place in the Tullieres gardens of the Louvre. A tragic event escalated out of a battle of honor, as the Duc de Montmorency would have been fatally stabbed. Once Henriette was informed of the outcome, she quickly rushed to his side with the Duchesse de Montpensier following. The now distraught and newly made dowager threw herself upon his body, screaming at him to wake up. Of course, he would never see nor hear his wife's desperate cries. After his death, Henriette would be given his dower; which came in the form of the Duchy of Damville. However later on in life during the year of 1634 she would exchange the Duchy of Damville for the Duchy of Montigny, giving the previous title to her second son Charles-Jules de Montmorency, the incumbent Marquis de Offemont et Comte de Dammartin.
== Court of Charles X & II ==
The young Duchesse Dowager of Montmorency had already gained favor from many of her fellow courtiers upon her marriage. Before her husband's death however she was known like most to have her close circle of trusted friends. Most of her circle consisted of her Guise relatives, such as the Marquise de Belle-Ile and the Duc de Mayenne. More particularly with Henriette and the Duc de Mayenne, both were described as a pair of unmatched gossipers - as they both used their large influence to their advantage. After the death of her late husband the Duc de Montmorency, she would only focus on one thing entirely - leading the House of Montmorency alongside her brother-in-law Annibal de Montmorency, the Cardinal de Montmorency.
After the end of her regency of House Montmorency in 1624, she would decide resume her status as a sincere confidante and favorite to the now Impératrice Douairière as she was in the past. With more time on her hands than ever, she would hold a deep loyalty to her as one of her only true friends. Henriette would go on to be elevated as the dowager's new Dame d'Atour in her household. During the reign of Charles X & II, she would get word of her son the Duc de Montmorency's closeness with His Majesty and would hold a stark skepticism towards their relationship alongside the Empress-Dowager who also held the same opinion.
== Appearance & Character ==
=== Physical Features ===
Henriette had a rather soft and gentle build, having an almost darkish brown and black tint to her hair and eyes. Her facial features were seen as mostly refined, having plump and fuller lips and cheeks. With this, she was considered conventionally attractive in court. She was also known to enhance her beauty with expensive materials that the House of Guise could easily afford her.
== Personality ==
Henriette's mainly diffident and submissive nature was usually seen as her normal attitude around the other courtiers. And due to her education at the convent, grew up with a pious outlook on life. However, she has also displayed acts of wit that was typical of the House Guise. Her main attribute was her admiration and the deep love she held for members of her family. After the death of her late husband in 1617, her passive demeanor would warp into one of strong determination, pushing the Montmorency House's interests forward alongside the Guise. 
== Issue ==
During the year 1610 with the Duc de Montmorency, Henriette would produce her first child and long awaited heir to the Montmorency Line. The issue follows as such:
* Henri III César, Duc de Montigny (5th May 1610 - )
* Stillbirth (5th May 1614)
* Charles Jules, Marquis de Offemont, Comte de Dammartin (25th December 1615 - )
* Gabrielle Henriette-Laurence, Mademoiselle d'Ecouen (27th July 1617 - )
== Titles & Styles ==
* 30th June 1590 - 18th April 1609 Son Altesse Sérénissime, Mademoiselle de Guise
* 18th April 1609 - 23rd June 1617 Son Altesse Sérénissime, Duchesse de Montmorency
* 23rd June 1617 - 11th August 1634 Son Altesse Sérénissime, Duchesse Douairiere de Montmorency, Duchesse de Damville
* 11th of August 134 - Present Son Altesse Sérénissime, Duchesse Douairiere de Montmorency, Duchesse de Montigny
Category:Grandelumièrian Nobility
Category:16th Century Births
Category:House of Guise
Category:House of Montmorency