Louis de Courtenay

## Monsieur le Duc

Louis, c. 1654 par Pierre Mignard

Marie Cassandre, Mademoiselle de Bléneau

**Louis Charles de Courtenay** (24 May 1640 - Present) is a Grandelumèrian nobleman and Prince du Sang. Initially stylized as Monsieur le Comte, the elevation of Bléneau into a duchy following Henri IV's coronation saw him become known as the illustrious *Monsieur le Duc*. Even with this grand way of living, he never forgot the humble background of his family, which had been instilled into him by his father since the very day he was born. As such, Monsieur le Duc was a pleasant face around court, never taking the Courtenay riches, or the life that his father had built for them, for granted.

## Biography

### Early Life

Louis Charles was born on the 24th of May, 1640, to his father, Monsieur le Prince de Courtenay, and his mother, Madame la Princesse de Courtenay. Standing as godparents at the Christening would be the Duc and Duchesse de Ventadour, the latter who was widely known to be his mother's best friend. Upon his birth he was bestowed the county of Bléneau and, as such, became known as Monsieur le Comte de Bléneau, though the title wouldn't stick for very long. Being that he was the first of the Courtenay family to be an *official* Prince du Sang from birth – at least for a few centuries – Louis was celebrated and his appearances at court were thoroughly enjoyed by the nobles. It was only a few months after his birth that he would become an Enfant d'Honneur for who would later become Henri IV.

### Adolescence

For most of his upbringing Louis was joined by private tutors. His education included a particular focus on Latin and the Catholic Church. His family was evidently trying to mould him into a respectable young man that would go on to, one day, become the Premier Prince du Sang and carry his father's title with honour. Most of the men that lectured him hailed from the lavish Université de Paris, being only a short ride from Montrouge when it came to visiting the young prince in court. By age 10, he'd become a great painter, and a meekly singer, often showcasing his skills before the court at recitals.

By the age of 13, a betrothal was set up. When they sent over the portrait of the intended woman, known as the Margravine de Bade-Bade, the young prince famously scoffed and remarked that her nose was "obnoxiously German". Other than that, he was pleased with his bride, and found solace in the fact that he would be, once again, making his father proud by not protesting to the union. The pair would be wed prior to the handover though Juliane, with her new French name and title, joined her husband a month later. The goodbye from the Baden party was a humiliating one; at least for Louis, he picked up on his wife's sadness, and wondered what other girl wouldn't be over the moon to be able to adapt the style of Madame la Comtesse.

### Marriage

Throughout their trials and tribulations, the couple were reported to be a happy one. Madame la Princesse took on a very active and motherly role with her new daughter-in-law, allowing Louis to be able to finish his education with unrivalled recommendations from academics. There was a want for the prince to take a tour of Europe – visiting galleries, museums, parliaments, and, more importantly, the palaces of important European monarchs where he would be able to mingle, speak, and share his bright ideas with an growingly enlightened continent. However, the prince would refuse such a tour, choosing to remain by Marie-Julienne's side as to tear through their differences.

There were various aspects of their relationship that the two never truly talked about. Their cultures, for example, were polar opposites, and the social norms and values that she'd grown up with were unusual for him. It took quite a while for them to be able to share a meal where they could eat through all three courses and be able to say they *both* enjoyed the German or French food. Eventually, they chose to throw in a mix of both of their home cuisines, though Louis had only done this to appease her.

By all accounts, the prince was smitten with his wife. Despite their conflicting personalities, with her being more shy and homesick and him proud and outwardly charming, they got along like a house on fire – especially when left alone. At 18, the newly-titled Duc and Duchesse already had 3 children; the Comte de Montbrun, the Mademoiselle de Courtenay, and the Mademoiselle de Bléneau. Their attraction to one another would not keep them apart. Such was shown by the various gifts that he would lather his bride in, whether it was new French books for her to read and learn or a new way of dress that he wanted her to adopt and better blend in with.

### Court of Henri IV

#### 1650-1658

Following his tenure as an Enfant d'Honneur for the Dauphin, who would later come to be known as Henri VI, Louis steered away from court. He wasn't necessarily interested in taking part in life at Montrouge, leaving such duties to his mother, father, and sister. He filled most of his time up by working on being recognised as a Renaissance man. He enjoyed the arts, musical plays, ballets, and even took up the bourgeois hobby of painting in his free time. Naturally, it was far below Monsieur's rank for him to be selling art in the streets of Paris, so painting was only something enjoyed in private. Though when he became Duc de Bléneau at age 15, many things changed. He was beckoned to court and he swore he would dedicate his life to it once he saw his 18th birthday.

So, when his 1658 rolled around, the prince could no longer refuse his mother's calls. In fact, his wife had just suffered a stillbirth, and so it was declared that he would promptly join her at court to attempt to give her more familiar people to be around. In his first few days at court, Monsieur was preoccupied with ensuring that his wife's stay was a comfortable one; the Duchesse de Bléneau would need not lift a finger. Since then, he started taking on the duties of a Du Sang. He would host court almost every day – whether this was for breakfasts, for luncheons, for salons, for activities in the garden, for dinner, or for music-filled evenings, he would do it all. His loyalty to his cousin, the Emperor, would also earn him a Governorship in the province of Orléans; a very sought-after spot that would only usually be reserved for gentlemen over the age of 25.

Once he acquired his spot in the household as the Maître de la Garde-Robe, which came at no easy price, Monsieur was well on his way to become a favourite at court. His mother worked to introduce him to all the right people. He himself also strived to be well-liked and keep up the reputation that his wife had built for the Bléneaus at court. With the birth of the Emperor's first daughter, Madame Imperiale, the couple hosted a grand dinner feast in their apartments at Montrouge, and a surprise came about. Monsieur le Duc and Madame la Duchesse were gifted the Château de Saint-Cloud, a beautiful holding which made the pair elatedly announce their newest acquisition before all of their dinner guests.

## Issue

Monsieur le Duc and Madame la Duchesse were blessed with various children throughout the period of their marriage:

* Louis Guillame, Comte de Montbrun (b. 10th December 1654)
* Louise Cécile de Courtenay, Mademoiselle de Courtenay (b. 20th March 1656)
* Marie Cassandre de Courtenay, Mademoiselle de Bléneau (b. 28th February 1657)

## Titles & Styles

* *Son Altesse Sérénissime,* Monsieur le Comte de Bléneau (24 May 1640 - 18 June 1655)
* *Son Altesse Sérénissime,* Monsieur le Duc de Bléneau (from 18th June 1655)