Charles Aubert Guillaume de Wurtembergeois

Category:House Wurtembergeois
Category:17th Century Births
Category:Grandelumierian Nobility
Category:Grandelumierian Dukes
Category:Births at the Place Royale
Guillaume, Duc de Wurtembergeois (March 28th, 1658 - May 31st, 1728) was a Grandelumièrian nobleman and Duc de Wurtembergeois, head of the Maison de Wurtembergeois. More commonly known by Guillaume, he was the Wurtembergeois patriarch. He was married to Marie-Dominique Hortense, Duchesse de Wurtembergeois, a Mortemarette.
== Early Life ==
=== Birth ===
Guillaume was born on March 28th, 1658. His mother and father were in Marais at the time, when the Duchesse suddenly went into labor. Panicked, the Duc and his wife began rushing to the Wurtembergeois chambers when the Duchesse de Wurtembergeois, Benigne, suddenly went into labor. She gave birth to Guillaume at 3:45 PM in her chambers at 7 Place Impériale, Marais, Paris, Grandelumiere. Guillaume was the second eldest son of the Duc et Duchesse de Wurtembergeois. 
=== Baptism ===
Guillaume was baptized on May 8th, 1658. He was baptized as Charles Aubert Guillaume de Wurtembergeois. Using a courtesy title of the family, he was declared Prince de Stutgard.
=== Education ===
Guillaume studied with private tutors for most of his childhood before studying intensely in Stuttgart. He was taught several languages, including English, Spanish, German, Italian, and Latin. Musically gifted, Guillaume could play the harpsichord and cello. Guillaume was also well educated in literature, history, geography, mathematics, and art.
=== Childhood ===
Guillaume had a rather average child for the heir to a house at court. He was close with his mother, who, although having governesses care for the children, spent time with each child nearly ever day as to best develop a strong, solid relationship to them. 
As the eldest, Guillaume was taught and groomed in the ways of a courtier, and set the precedent of how his siblings should someday behave. In a letter to her sister, Guillaume's mother wrote, "The young boy possesses great spirit. I find that he will have no issue when he is presented to court; therefore, I can say with confidence that his siblings should most certainly look up to him, for he makes myself and my dear husband terribly proud."
Guillaume's brother, Georges, was the Duc de Teck for all of Guillaume's early life. Georges was set to be heir, and Guillaume was seen as the unsuspecting spare, but still raised as well as his elder brother, whom he greatly admired.
Tragedy struck the family in 1670, when the Duc de Wurtembergeois died suddenly. He was succeeded by Georges, the eldest son. Guillaume was then styled as the Duc de Teck, and the search was on for a marital candidate for both Guillaume and Georges to ensure an heir for the current Duc.
== Young Adulthood ==
=== Inheritance ===
In January of 1673, the then-Duc de Wurtembergois fell ill with an infection after falling from his horse. He was not expected to live through the winter. Georges' death was tragic to the family, as he had only been Duc for a short time, and he and his wife had yet to conceive. He died on February 26th, 1673. Guillaume then became Duc de Wurtembergeois.
Guillaume was a very quiet and docile house head. He was not one for conflict during his early tenure as Duc. He was very gentle with his siblings and children, only growing more firm and opinionated as he progressed in age and wisdom.
=== Court Romances Prior to Marriage ===
In 1674, Guillaume, only 16, had an affair with Gabrielle de Rochechouart de Mortemart de Viennois, the sibling of his future wife, Hortense. Gabrielle was known to be quite beautiful, and in no time, grew fond of Guillaume. They had a daughter together, Marie-Guillemette, named for her mother and father (Marie and Guillaume, respectively). Marie-Guillemette was known as the Mademoiselle de Chouette, and styled herself as "de Marais" until legitimization by Gabrielle's husband.
Despite no longer continuing his affair with Gabrielle upon the birth of their child, Guillaume then began an affair with Laurène de Lorraine, Madame la Princesse and the sister of Gabrielle and Hortense. This affair produced no children.
=== Marriage ===
In spring of 1677, Guillaume began courting Marie-Dominique Hortense de Rochechouart de Mortemart de Viennois, one of the Mortemarettes. While they did have an arranged marriage, Guillaume was determined to ensure they were going to know how compatible they were prior to the marriage, and courted Hortense for quite some time. She was charming and beautiful, and they got along splendidly. They were wed on June 2nd, 1681.
=== The Nine Years' War ===
The Nine Years' War began in 1688. Guillaume had been enlisted in the army as a Taxarch for three years by this point, hardly seeing much action. However, his unquenchable desire to serve his country and his family was still raging very much by 1688. The Empire of Grandelumiere, now embroiled in this war, was preparing noblemen for the worthy cause. Determined to prove himself to his wife and fellow courtiers, Guillaume took his promotion to Mérarque very seriously, and quickly educated himself and grew very skilled on military affairs and strategy.
Fighting alongside his brothers-in-law and fellow courtiers, the camaraderie was alive and well for Guillaume. Determined to prove his skills and worth to his commanders, family, and the general court, he set about taking up all opportunities to campaign. However, this led him to be away from court for the majority of the war; therefore, a strain was placed on his marriage, as his wife was with child several times around his years of service. Hortense remained at court and continued managing the family and ensuring they were receiving proper education, as Guillaume once did. He often would delegate to Hortense in the future when he furthered himself into court endeavors.
Guillaume would continue to hold his title of Mérarque even beyond his first campaigns and experiences with true war. When the war came to a close, quite proud of his accomplishments, Guillaume was determined to remain enlisted in the military, and would later fight in the War of the Spanish Succession. Once in his journal, in late 1696, Guillaume wrote, "One shall not seek out pride, but disregard it in terms of being of the utmost degree content and humble. However, how am I not to desire a recognition to my name? My goal is to someday be a member of such a sacred order for my military services, of which I am greatly proud within." Guillaume would come to qualify for the Sacred Constantinian Military Order of Saint George, as he so desired, but it would not be for quite some time.
== Early Courtier Life ==
=== Family Life ===
Guillaume was determined for his children to have the best education they could get. His children were all raised in the care of highly professional and trained governesses, who made sure the children took pride in their education, much to pleasure of Guillaume and Hortense. Guillaume once wrote, "It is with great pleasure that I hear only wonderful reports from the children's governesses regarding their salient studies."
Known for his love of music, Guillaume intended to instill his love and passion for music and scholarly topics in the young, fresh minds of his issue. Most of his children learned to play an instrument, several playing multiple instruments during their youth, and even into their adulthood. Guillaume would often take his children for walks with his hunting dogs when at their estate, enjoying the lavish gardens of the Wurtembergeois residence. 
Out of all of his children, Guillaume was closest to his eldest son and eldest child overall, Alexandre. As the heir, he was groomed to be a poised courtier in the same manner in which Guillaume himself was. In a letter to his sister, Guillaume wrote, "Alexandre is a very charming young lad. He reminds me of myself when I was just a boy, excelling in literature and religious studies. He is most pious, and is just as all Wurtembergeois children should be." In the future, the two men would come to possess a strained relationship, both active statesmen who hardly saw one another for days on end. 
However, later in his life as Alexandre drifted from Guillaume, Hortense and Guillaume both found companionship in their illustrious daughter, Élisabeth, who was known to be a rather charming girl. Her sister, often cast into the shadow of her twin, was also loved by Guillaume and Hortense. Jeanette, as she was known, would eventually have a very unhappy marriage, which her parents often interfered with due to Jeanette's husband, the Comte de Breda, being an "incompetent and foolish mess" which neither quite liked. 
=== Introduction of the Wurtembergeois Children ===
In 1697, just a year before the birth of the Wurtembergeois Twins (Marie-Catherine Elisabeth & Marie-Louise Jeannette), Alexandre, the Duc de Teck, was introduced to court at the age of 15. Guillaume and his son were close, as aforementioned. They were often known to discuss rather sophisticated topics, despite the age of the young Alexandre. As each child came of age, Guillaume only grew prouder, as he had quite the set of children. Each with a different personality, Guillaume was closer to the gregarious and sophisticated of his children, but was known to be poised with all of his children at court. At home on the family estate, Guillaume was known to be more informal, regarding his children more as his offspring rather than his fellow courtiers. 
=== Catépan de Bourgogne ===
In 1698, following the end of the Nine Years' War, Guillaume, who had a keen interest regarding international politics, matters of state, and politics in general, was appointed as Catepan de Bourgogne. He would serve as the governor of this Grandelumierian territory, often traveling there for short periods of time to manage the commerce and government of the area. Often away, the strain on Hortense and Guillaume's marriage was still quite prominent, and pained him greatly. He attempted to remain supportive of her when away, but always feared her status as a beautiful Mortemarette would allow an affair to form between any man of her choosing. 
However, Guillaume put his military and family ambitions on hold and carried on his gubernatorial duties, serving with diligence and efficiency. Gregarious and charming, Guillaume was well-liked by his ministers and the citizens of Bourgogne, and remarked in a letter to Hortense that such an occupation was "beyond a blessing" for it gave him quite the workload and kept him rather busy, which he thoroughly enjoyed.
== The Golden Era ==
=== The Golden Era ===
Many years had passed and by the mid-1710s, Guillaume had remarked how he was sure this decade would be his "golden era" which he had sought for years. By the end of the decade, he reflected in his journal (and letters, too), noting how his predictions at the start of the decade were correct. However, some issues within the family would "dim the golden light" on this era of prosperity and hope for Guillaume.
=== Mortemarettes v. Regentaires ===
Guillaume was caught in the crossfire of the two court factions under the regency of Philippe II, Électeur de Lorraine. His former lover, Madame la Princesse Douairière, was thought to be the real regent. Hortense demanded Guillaume support her sisters in their protest against the "false regent" that was governing. Reluctantly, Guillaume expressed minimal support for the Mortemarettes, as the leaders of the factions were his in-laws, and he had once had an intimate affair with the "true regent" of the empire, Laurène, Madame la Princesse Douairière. 
Rather than decide whether to remain at court or flee with his in-laws, Guillaume was granted permission to return to his duchy to handle small uprisings and local discrepancies, governing locally for the first time in several years. He returned to court upon the conclusion of this court rift, once some form of peace prevailed.
=== Appointment as Secretarius Barbarorum ===
In mid-January of 1717, Guillaume was appointed to the Conseil de l'Empereur, serving as the Secretarius Barbarorum. He was thoroughly educated in world cultures and kept up with international politics. At this point, Guillaume had been serving as Catepan de Bourgogne since 1698, and was formerly Garde des Sceaux, so he had quite the background in both foreign affairs (and geographical and political climates) as well as working on the conseil and with the imperial government. 
Guillaume, now a Chevalier de l'Ordre de l'Hermine, had great respect for the young emperor, who was now reigning on his own following the death of his regent, Philippe II, Électeur de Lorraine. He was filled with an immense feeling of duty to the sovereign and his wishes. Certainly the emperor's antics were truly something unseen in a very long time, but Guillaume new that a good conseiller was not going to disobey their liege. 
As Secretarius Barbarorum, Guillaume was expected to produce thorough reports on various nations and cultures. He did so, providing a thorough overview of the world around Grandelumière. One such nation was Prussia, which Guillaume took great interest in researching as his first major task. Guillaume also researched the international relationships of the time to best assist in government policy and alliances. 
=== Affair of the Duchesse de Menars ===
Élisabeth, the older of the Wurtembergeois twins, was the Maitresse en Titre to Constantin XI. Élisabeth was married to the Duc de Lévis and the marriage was often rocky due to her affair with the emperor. Unfortunately, Élisabeth would go on to have several bastards with the emperor while having fewer children with her husband. Constantin XI then bestowed Élisabeth with the Suo Jure title of Duchesse de Menars. 
Élisabeth's bastards were to be legitimized by the Duc de Lévis and claimed as his own, even if the parentage of the children were quite clear to court. However, the emperor legitimized the eldest bastard, Hercules, as his own. Hercules was declared Duc du Maine. This was met with some uproar from the public (less than the court), who believed the now legitimized Hercules should not be placed ahead of any future legitimate imperial children. Nonetheless, there would be no reason to change the emperor's mind, and he was quite pleased with the heir.
Élisabeth never had very much competition for the emperor's heart. She had won over the most powerful man in the realm. She had even knocked the Mademoiselle de Rohan from her place as mistress to the emperor. However, the emperor tended to have questionable sexual tendencies, and took up a male lover. Élisabeth was seen less as court favorite but more as a mere secondary mistress. She paled in comparison to the Électeur de Brunswick. He was so favored for his "services" to the emperor that he was declared the de facto head of government and court favorite.
=== Return of the Dowagers ===
April of 1722 came, and Guillaume received word that his dear mother and aunt (by marriage), the Duchesse Douairière de Wurtembergeois and Marquise Douairière de Louisbourg, would be returning to court. His mother was 81 and his aunt was 78, but they took the journey from the Wurtembergeois provinces to return to the palace. The Marquise, known as Tante Louise, was more fond of court than Bénigne (Guillaume's mother), whom was struggling to keep her pet parrot quiet. The journey and change of scenery disturbed her greatly. Nevertheless, both women returned and immediately made a dominant presence over the house.
Guillaume and his daughter-in-law, Angélique, quite enjoyed the presence of the dowagers, and often spent time with them when court was not being held in the imperial audience rooms. Philippe, the Duc de Souabe and eldest grandson of Guillaume, tended to partake as well. Guillaume and Angélique were unfortunately mourning just after the dowagers returned. Florentine, Duchesse Douairière de Valois, Angélique's sister-in-law and Guillaume's niece (through Hortense), had passed away. However, the presence of Louise and Benigne still reigned supreme and brought fresh air to the Wurtembergeois family.
=== Death of Hortense ===
In July of 1722, tragedy struck Guillaume after his wife, Hortense, died at the age of 66. Devastated, despite their marital hardships, Guillaume mourned for nearly a year. He was shocked and depressed beyond what even he expected from himself. Contrary to his strong character, he was shattered by the passing of his wife. 
Attempting to cope after the passing of Hortense, Guillaume spent the winter of 1722 in Bourgogne. He was determined to keep himself busy by governing the province and maintaining order in the territory. Despite his melancholy, Guillaume was able to accomplish very much. By spring of 1723, he had returned to court. While he was still mourning until about May, he was in better spirits and began to focus on his own court endeavors once more.
== Death ==
In May of 1728, nearly six years after Hortense's passing, the emperor was injured by a boar on a hunt. Revolts were breaking out at this point in time, so the wounded Constantin XI relocated court to Château de Saint-Étienne to recover. Constantin XI believed he was dying and declared a state of mourning for court. On May 31st, court was officially excused from mourning. However, what lied in store for the Wurtembergeoises was quite a shock, one that would shake up the history of the house.
While preparing himself for a conseil meeting, Guillaume suddenly felt excruciating pain in his side. He was suffering from a ruptured appendix, and had been enduring the complications for about two or three weeks, believing it to be a mere muscle injury from old age. He was escorted to his bed after being changed into bedclothes, and lie in agony. He was slowly dying, and began to be aware of this.
Angélique, Madame de Teck, burst into the room not long after Guillaume was relocated to his bed. Having been notified only moments prior, she rushed to Guillaume's side, snapping for physicians and clergymen to aid her dying father-in-law. They shared a tearful goodbye and moment of prayer. Guillaume uttered his final words in between gasps and winces, saying, "May God bless my dear family, may God bless all of Wurtembergeois, may God bless this emperor and our glorious sovereign." After drawing his final breath, Guillaume died, clutching the hand of his beloved daughter-in-law, Angélique.
Succeeded by his son, Alexandre, Guillaume's fifty-five year reign over the Duché de Wurtembergeois came to an end. The sun had set on an era of prosperity and success. Wurtembergeois certainly would not be the same without Guillaume as the head, as a new generation took over, and with it, a new era began.
== Personality and Appearance ==
=== Personality ===
Guillaume was known to possess a lively and sophisticated personality. He possessed a quick wit and sarcastic attitude, especially as he grew older. Flattery was nothing new to Guillaume, as his parents had prepared him to gain favor with the sovereign for his own benefit, as he own parents were well versed in. Depending on the stress he was under, Guillaume could develop a quick temper, but generally remained a calm presence at court.
In his later years, Guillaume grew more sarcastic and stubborn. While his witty and charming attitude was there in public--especially in the presence of imperials--in private, he developed a very stern attitude to masquerade his age. He would often be very stubborn when negotiating, offering slight glares and snide remarks. Eventually, he'd ease his way into agreement. However, when in the right company, he would return to his normal self, less worried about disguising his age with sarcasm and negotiatory dominance.
=== Appearance ===
At 5'11, Guillaume was rather tall. He was very strong, but slender, having a rather quick metabolism, which was even more apparent in his older years. Guillaume, before his hair began to gray, had chestnut brown hair, often styled in the trend of the court, the periwig. He had an average sized nose, and two ocean blue eyes that were most appealing when they glimmered. With somewhat plump lips, like his own father, Guillaume was a generally handsome gentleman.
== Issue ==
Issue with Hortense de Wurtembergeois, Duchesse de Wurtembergeois: 
* Charles-Christophe Alexandre, Duc de Wurtembergeois (August 25th, 1682 - June 9th, 1728)
* Charles-Rodolphe Valentin, Prince de Philippsbourg (January 26th, 1685 - present)
* Charles-Louis Paul, Marquis de Louisbourg (September 16th, 1691 - August 10th, 1719)
* Marie-Cunégonde Élisabeth, Comtesse de Sarrebruck (May 5th, 1693 - present)
* Marie-Catherine Élisabeth, Duchesse de Lévis (October 21st, 1698 - present)
* Marie-Louise Jeannette, Duchesse de Berg (October 21st, 1698 - present)
Issue with Gabrielle de Mouzalon, Duchesse de Montmorency:
* Marie-Guillemette, Comtesse Douairière de Léran (February 28th, 1676 - 9th June, 1727)
== Descendants ==
Guillaume had numerous children, all but one with Hortense de Rochechouart de Mortemart de Viennois. The couple would go on to have quite a large number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, both during their lives and after their deaths. 
=== Grandchildren ===
Grandchildren through Charles-Christophe Alexandre de Wurtembergeois, Duc de Wurtembergeois (25th August 1682 - 9th June 1729) and his wife, Marie-Philippine Angélique d'Anjou de Valois (8th November 1687 - present):
* Charles-Théodose Philippe de Wurtembergeois, Duc de Wurtembergeois (29th January 1704 - Present)
* Charles-Gabriel Valentin de Wurtembergeois, Marquis de Louisbourg, Prince-Archevêque de Würzbourg (27th April 1705 - Present)
* Victoire-Élisabeth Beatrix de Wurtembergeois, Mademoiselle de Teck (27th February 1706 - 27th February 1707)
* Hortense-Dorothée Sophie de Wurtembergeois, Mademoiselle de Teck (10th March 1712 - Present)
* Victoire-Monique Thérèse de Wurtembergeois, Marquise de Bade (18th August 1713 - Present)
* Louise Catherine Angélique de Wurtembergeois, Mademoiselle de Heilbronn (11th September 1718 - 20th June 1723)
* Charles-Léopold Guillaume de Wurtembergeois, Prince de Reutlingue (23rd December 1722 - Present)
Grandchildren through his Charles-Rodolphe Valentin de Wurtembergeois, Prince de Philippsbourg (26th January 1685 - present) and his first wife, Louise Laurène de Rohan (1687 - 1714):
* Victoire-Adélaïde Bénédictine de Wurtembergeois, Mademoiselle de Philippsbourg (9th April 1704 - present)
* Marie-Germaine Céléstine de Wurtembergeois, Mademoiselle de Bade (25th October 1705 - 22nd November 1705)
* Charles-Guillaume Corneille de Wurtembergeois, Marquis de Bade (16th February 1708 - 12th July 1710)
* Louis-Pétrone Laurent de Wurtembergeois, Marquis de Bade (18th June 1709 - present)
* Marie-Céléstine Zéphyrine de Wurtembergeois, Mademoiselle de Bade (28th May 1712 - present)
* Louis-Frédéric Césaire de Wurtembergeois, Comte de Landenbourg (10th February 1714 - 28th February 1714)
* Maximilienne-Constantine Augustine, Comtesse de Megen (27th March 1720 - present)
* Louis-Euthyme Justin, Comte de Weilimdorf (11th July 1723 - present)
* Justine-Raphaëlle Nicolette Gabrielle de Wurtembergeois, Duchesse de Saint-Simon (27th May 1724 - present)
* Charles-Théodose Valentin, Seigneur de Badenweiler (22nd January 1726 - present)
* Charles-Sébastien Casimir, Chevalier de Philippsbourg (24th March 1728 - present)
* Charles-René Germain, Chevalier de Philippsbourg (24th March 1728 - 29th March 1728)
* Françoise-Zéphryine Hortense, Mademoiselle de Badenwiler (7th June 1731 - 19th June 1731)
* Louise-Florentine Cornélie, Mademoiselle de Badenwiler (5th September 1733 - present)
Grandchildren through Charles-Rodolphe Valentin and his second wife, Marie Irène Justine d'Hanovre (14th October 1693 - present):
* Charlotte-Marie Élisabeth de Wurtembergeois, Mademoiselle de Staufneck (27th March 1720 - present)
* Louis-Euthyme Justin de Wurtembergeois, Seigneur de Staufeneck (11th July 1723 - present)
Grandchildren through Marie-Cunégonde Élisabeth de Wurtembergeois, Comtesse de Sarrebruck (5th May 1692 - present) and her husband, Alphonse Jérôme Maximilien de Nassau (1695 - present):
* Marie-Constantine Bénédicte, Mademoiselle de Sarrebruck (15th November 1728 - present)
* Philippe-Clément Alexandre, Chevalier de Sarrebruck (20th December 1729 - present)
Grandchildren through Marie-Catherine Élisabeth de Wurtembergeois, Duchesse de Lévis (21st October 1698 - present) and her husband, Louis-Jourdan César de Lévis (1699 - present):
* Victor-Constantin Hercules de Lévis, Duc de Ventadour (legitimized 1717, February 1716 - Present)
* Louis-Etienne Maximillian de Lévis, Marquis de Mirepoix (January 1718 - Present)
* Sophie-Rose Fleur de Lévis, Duchesse de Teck (October 1719 - Present)
Grandchildren through Marie-Catherine Élisabeth de Wurtembergeois and Constantin XI & XXII Porphyrogénète, Empereur de Grandelumière (1702 - present):
* Constantin-Étienne Jacques Maximilien d'Anjou, Duc du Maine (4th February 1717 - present)
* Justine Catherine Élisabeth Magdelaine d'Anjou, Mademoiselle de Tours (16th April 1719 - present)
* Michel Sébastian Justin Romain d'Anjou, Duc de Verneuil, Archevêque de Rouen (20th July 1720 - present)
* Marie Michèle Hélène Amélie Élisabeth d'Anjou, Mademoiselle de Vendôme (1722 – Present)
Grandchildren through Marie-Louise Jeanette de Wurtembergeois, Duchesse de Berg (21st October 1698 - present) with her second husband (no issue from first marriage to the late Comte de Breda), Armand Gaston Maximilien de Wittlesbach, Duc de Berg (1687 - present):
* Maximilien-Phillipe Joseph de Wittelsbach, Comte de Vohenstrauss (4th January 1722 - present)
* Louis-Joseph Gabriel de Wittelsbach, Baron d'Altembaumbourg (13th April 1723 - present)
* Marie-Saturnine Adélaïde de Wittelsbach, Marquise de Rouvroy (26th June 1724 - present)
Grandchildren through Marie-Guillemette de Marais, Comtesse Douairière de Léran (28th February 1676 - 9th June 1727), illegitimate daughter of Guillaume and Gabrielle de Rochechouart de Mortemart de Viennois (claimed as the daughter of Jean-Alexis de Mouzalon) and her husband, the Comte de Léran:
* Jean-Guillaume Gabriel de Lévis, Baron de La Voulte (2nd November 1693 - 11th June 1695)
== Ancestry ==
== Titles, Styles, & Honors ==
=== Titles & Styles ===
Sa Seigneurie, Prince de Stutgard (March 28th, 1658 - November 16th, 1663)
Sa Grâce, Duc de Souabe (November 16th, 1663 - February 26th, 1673)
 Sa Grâce, Duc de Wurtembergeois (February 26th, 1673 - May 31st, 1728) 
=== Honors ===
Chevalier de l'Ordre de l'Hermine (January 1717 - May 31st, 1728)
Chevalier de l'Ordre Sacré Militaire Constantinien de Saint-Georges (May 1722 - May 31st, 1728)
Category:Grandelumierian Courtiers
Category:Grandelumierian Conseillers