Christine Marguerite de Guise

## Occupations

### Court Posts

Dame d'Honneur to Isabelle d'Autriche-Espagne, Impératrice Consort de Grandelumière (1594-1600) Dame d'Honneur to Marguerite d'Autriche-Styrie, Madame la Dauphine (1600-1601)

Dame d'Atour to Marguerite d'Autriche-Styrie, Impératrice Consort de Grandelumière (1601-1624)

Dame d'Atour to Nicole de Lorraine, Impératrice Consort de Grandelumière (1624-1634)

## Biography

### Issue

Louis Charles Henri Nicolas de Valois-Orléans-Angoulême✝Marie Isabelle Catherine Nicole de Valois-Orléans-Angoulême

Louis Henri François Thomas de Valois-Orléans-Angoulême✝

Henriette Louise Francoise Marguerite✝

Catherine Louise Madeleine Nicole✝

### Siblings

Charles, Duc de ChevreuseLouis, Archevêque-Adjuteur de Reims

Marie, Mademoiselle de Guise✝

Claude, Prince de Joinville

Renée, Soeur de Remiremont

Jeanne, Soeur de Remiremont

François-Alexandre-Paris, Vicomte de Marsan

Henriette, Mademoiselle de Guise

Catherine, Mademoiselle de Joinville

### Signature

Christine Marguerite

**Christine Marguerite de Guise** (*Christine Marguerite*; 7th November 1579 - Present) is a member of the illustrious Guise family, and a Princesse du Sang within the Empire of Grandelumiere. She was the Duchesse d'Angoulême and Comtesse de Ponthieu from her marriage in 1594 until the death of her husband in 1600. Upon her husband's death, she was Duchesse Douairiere d'Angoulême and Duchesse de Châtellerault. Later, in 1609, she was gifted the titles of *suo jure* Duchesse de Beaufort, Duchesse de Verneuil, and Marquise de Monceaux by François III & II. As a member of court, she was the Dame d'Atour to the Empress since 1601.

## Biography

### **Adolescence**

Christine Marguerite de Guise was the eldest daughter of Henri de Guise, and his wife, Catherine de Nevers. She was born on the 7th of November, 1579, and was styled as Mademoiselle de Guise at birth.

Christine started her education in 1587 at the Abbaye de Soissons. Her family paid close attention to her education, making sure the appropriate instruction was provided. Christine was well-versed in many different studies, including (but not limited to) Botany, Roman Law, Basic Medicine, dancing, needlework, writing, and reading. She was best known for her athletic skills, such as riding and dancing, and was noted to be an extremely skilled huntress and falconer.

### **Engagement & Marriage**

On the 8th of August, 1594, Christine was wed to Charles IX & I's illegitimate son, Claude de Valois de Angoulême, Duc d'Angoulême. Christine was considered a desirable candidate due to her good health and wealthy family. She also had the favour of Charles IX & I, which was said to be obtained through their mutual fondness of hunting. Claude, on the other hand, was less than ideal in the eyes of many. Despite being a Prince du Sang, he was short tempted, sickly, unsightly, and illegitimate. He had little to no favour among many groups.

Little is known about the quality of the marriage between Christine and Claude. It was noted that Christine did not speak much about her husband, other than to close family. Only one source was found to provide insight on Christine's sentiments on her marriage. A letter was written in 1595 to her younger sister, Renee, who resided at Abbaye de Soissons. The letter disclosed Christine's frustrations with the ridicule she received early in her marriage. A section of the letter reads as follows:

*“Pity me, for I have been marked with my husband’s imperfection. They deny me, a pure-bred noblewoman, with no such stain on my cradle! Conceived with the purest of noble blood serving as my inheritance!”*

### **Duchesse Douairiere d'Angoulême**

On the 14th of December, 1600, Claude de Valois de Angoulême suffered a fatal heart attack. Upon the death of her husband, Christine received her dower; the duchy of Châtellerault, and the Chateau de Chenonceau. She then began styling herself as the Duchesse de Châtellerault instead of Duchesse Douairiere d'Angoulême.

It was rumored that Christine was involved with the death of her own husband. Claude, being already undesirable, was becoming more unpopular. His unpopularity served as a threat to both Christine and the Guise family. While the accusations were discarded during her lifetime, later evidence proved that Christine and the Guise family orchestrated the poisoning of the Duc d'Angoulême.

### **Royal Mistress**

Christine was noted to always have had a friendly relationship with her brother-in-law, François III & II; however, in 1609, rumours started to
spread of an affair between the two. While the affair was never publicly acknowledged, evidence of a liaison became more evident as time went on.
Francois started by showing her more favouritism and bestowing gifts of jewels, money, and titles. Later in the year of 1609, Christine was gifted the titles *suo jure* Duchesse de Beaufort, Duchesse de Verneuil, and Marquise de Monceaux. In 1614, Christine was also bestowed a seat on the emperor’s Conseil. Even though she was not practically efficient in politics, she used her Conseil position to present the agenda of her family, the Guise, to the emperor. With her headstrong and confident demeanor, she often persuaded the passive emperor. She would serve on the Conseil for three years until the emperor’s death in 1617.

Christine maintained her position as François III & II’s mistress for eight years. Within that time, the couple had two surviving children. Letters written by the Emperor that disclosed his fond affections for Christine were later found. One passage reads as follows:

*“As for those within my empire, my sister of Guise pleases me the most. She has a gentle and pleasant disposition and a lively manner, and above all of good family, tall and beautiful, with the look of a woman who would bear fine children.”*

### **Retirement and Death**

In 1634, Christine formally retired from court and her household position as Dame d’Atour to Nicole de Lorraine. She spent her remaining years at her private residence, Chateau de Chenonceau, or her childhood home, Chateau de Joinville. She would occasionally visit court until her death in x.

In x, Christine died aged x of x. Dying without a surviving heir, Christine’s estates and titles returned to Imperial possession.

## Appearance & Character

### **Appearance**

Christine had a slim build, chestnut colored hair and eyes, and a long face with defined features. While most of her features were oblong, she had rounded lips and eyes. She was celebrated for her elaborate and fashionable dressing style, and occasionally began fashion trends among the courtiers. Christine spared no expense when shopping for court attire, often spending approximately 110,893lt yearly on clothing and jewelry. During her time at court, she was considered the court beauty.

### **Personality**

Charismatic and good humoured, Christine was popular among most countries and had many close friends. She was known for her quickness of wit and flamboyant demeanor, which often portrayed hints of flirtatiousness. Born within the illustrious Guise family, she was raised to be confident, proud, and extremely dutiful and cliquish. Her relationship with her family took priority over any other. If ever deemed necessary, tries with other individuals were quickly cut without question.

## Issue

Children with Claude de Valois de Angoulême, Duc d'Angoulême:

* Louis Charles Henri Nicolas, Comte de Ponthieu (15th May 1594 - 23rd December 1598)
* Marie Isabelle Catherine Nicole, Mademoiselle d'Angoulême (10th April 1596 - 15th June 1634)
* Stillbirth (20th May 1599)
* Louis Henri François Thomas, Duc d'Angoulême (9th March 1601 - 30th May 1614)

Illegitimate children with François III & II, Souverain de Grandelumiere:

* Stillbirth (15th March 1609)
* Miscarriage (2nd April 1611)
* Henriette Louise Francoise Marguerite (21st May 1614 - 8 December 1619)
* Catherine Louise Madeleine Nicole (8thMay 1615 - 29th May 1615)
* Stillbirth (23rd December 1616)

## Honours, Titles, and Styles

### Titles and Styles

* **7th November 1579 - 8th August 1594** Her Highness, Mademoiselle de Guise
* **8th August 1594 - 14th December 1600** Her Imperial Highness, Duchesse d'Angoulême
* **14th December 1600 - Present** Her Imperial Highness, Duchesse Douairiere d'Angoulême
* **24th December 1609 - Present** Her Imperial Highness, *suo jure* Duchesse de Beaufort