Marie de Montmorency-Fosseux

## Occupations

### Court Posts

Surintendant de la Maison de l'Impératrice-Douairière à Marguerite d'Autriche-Styrie (1658—)Dame d'Honneur à Marie-Thérèse d'Autriche (1655—1658)

Dames des Fleurs à Nicole de Lorraine (1643—1650)

Dame d'Honneur à Nicole de Lorraine (1635—1655)

## Biography

### House

Maison de Montmorency-Fosseux (birth)Maison de Clermont-Savoie (marriage)

### Born

1st November 1609 (age 50) Château de Boulogne, Empire de Grandelumière

### Spouse

Charles de Clermont-Savoie, Comte de Thoury (m. 1623—1657)

### Father

Pierre II de Montmorency-Fosseux, Marquis de Thury †

### Issue

Jacques François Gabriel de Clermont-Savoie, Comte de ThouryGabrielle-Valentine de Clermont-Savoie, Baronne de Sérignan

Charlotte-Claude de Clermont-Savoie, Comtesse d'Ayton

Charles-Phillipe de Clermont-Savoie, Baron de Selles

Suzanne-Renée de Clermont-Savoie, Mademoiselle de Pierreponts

Éléonore Louise Thérèse de Clermont-Savoie, Abbesse de Saint-Étienne-les-Dames

Entienne-Julien de Clermont-Savoie, Baron de Pierreponts †

Nicole Margeurite de Clermont-Savoie, Mademoiselle de Figniéres

Jean de Clermont-Savoie, Seigneur de Figniéres †

### Siblings

François de Montmorency-Fosseux, Marquis de ThuryPhilippe de Montmorency-Fosseux, Baron de Ver

François de Montmorency-Fosseux, Abbé de Notre-Dame de Lannoy

Pierre II de Montmorency-Fosseux, Baron de Lauresse

### Religion

Roman Catholicism

**Marie de Montmorency-Fosseux** (1st November 1609—present) was a Grandelumièrian nobleman and court official. The daughter of Pierre II, Marquis de Thury, and his wife, Charlotte du Val de Brévannes-Fontenay, Marie was a member of the ancient Montmorency family, hailing from the Fosseux branch. Her marriage to Charles de Clermont-Savoie entitled her to the style of Baronne de Courcelles from 1623 to 1638, and Comtesse de Thoury from 1638 until 1657.

Though her father was involved in an infamous heresy case that led to his arrest in 1614, Marie was a renowned presence at the Grandelumièrian court. Known for her tenacity and loyalty, she began a household career as a lady-in-waiting to Impératrice Nicole de Lorraine; she later served the succeeding consort, Marie-Thérèse d'Autriche, occupying the posts of *Dame d'Honneur* and *Dame des Fleurs*. Marie distinguished herself in both sectors of servitude and companionship—so much so that in 1658, she took up the post of *Surintendant de la Maison de l'Impératrice-Douairière*, the inaugural holder of the title.

## Biography

### **Early Life**

On the 1st November 1609 at the Château de Boulogne, Marie de Montmorency-Fosseux was born to Pierre II de Montmorency-Fosseux and Charlotte du Val de Brévannes-Fontenay, the Marquis de Thury and his wife. One of four children, Marie's birth was not particularly remarkable, but rather humbly welcomed by her parents. From her birth, Marie, who was styled as the Mademoiselle de Thury, was the only daughter and was raised with four brothers—the eventual Marquis de Thury, Baron de Ver, and Abbé de Notre-Dame de Lannoy, and Baron de Lauresse.

In 1614, under the regency of Marguerite d'Autriche-Styrie, Pierre II and his wife Charlotte were accused of heresy by the Grandelumièrian Inquisition; this was at the behest of the Cardinal de Lorraine, whom had suspected the Marquis de Thury and his wife of practicing Protestantism and took great offense at their lack of regard for his status as a Roman Catholic cardinal. During their trial, the Marquise was found to be innocent, while her husband feuded with the Cardinal de Lorraine and, at one point, lunged forward to consume his ring right off of his finger. In doing so, he cemented his legacy at the Grandelumièrian court, and brought upon Marie a stigma which she would carry for life. Pierre II was arrested on account of heresy and insanity and remained imprisoned for life.

At the age of seven, Marie departed the care of her governess at the Château de Thury in favour of an education provided at the Abbaye de Notre-Dame de Lannoy (later led by her brother). In keeping with custom for the time, Marie was given minimal but sufficient in practice reading and writing, as well as Latin, history and theology. Well-versed in arts, she was proficient in dance and instrumental studies—in fact, her tutors at Notre-Dame de Lannoy described Marie as *'a musician of ethereal grace'*. Her determined disposition rendered her academically successful, exceeding standard proficiency.

### **Marriage**

Following her arrival to court in 1629, Marie received several proposals, all of which she declined. With three brothers, the necessity of her marriage was not the foremost concern of the Marquis, who was Marie's brother by this point. Due to the reputation of the late Marquis, there was a lack of 'suitable' arrangements—suitable to the standards of the descendant of an ancient bloodline—which brought great strain to Marie's willingness to marry.

However in 1633, a proposal was made by the Comte de Thoury, Jacques de Clermont-Savoie. A cousin of the illustrious Connétable-Comte de Clermont, his social standing was well-received by Marie's brother. Thus, on 27th May 1633, Marie wed Charles de Clermont-Savoie, Baron de Courcelles, the son of the Comte de Thoury. Their union was strained but fruitful, with offspring totaling nine children.

### **Courtly Engagements**

Marie quickly secured her place as a courtier at the Grandelumièrian court. Beginning in 1635, she served as a *Dame d'Honneur* to the Impératrice-Consort, Nicole de Lorraine, wife of Charles X & II. She fulfilled this role for twenty years, adopting the sub-position of *Dame des Fleurs* from 1643 to 1650—this left her specifically responsible for the floral arrangements of the consort. Given her upbringing, Marie was ever-fervent in the field of proving her abilities, and excelled as a lady of service.

Upon the arrival of the wife of Henri III & I, Marie-Thérèse d'Autriche, Marie was a sober, wise figure compared to the much younger generation that flocked to the Spaniard consort. Along with her husband, she built a reputation for consistent loyalty to both her duties and the imperial dynasty—in fact, she was described as *'an example from which many a demoiselle could learn, lest they flounder in the competitive pools of feminine service'*.

By 1658, her presence at court was a distant but pleasant one. After the death of the Duchesse d'Estouteville, Marie was formally appointed to lead the household of the aging Marguerite d'Autriche-Styrie, Impératrice-Douairière de Grandelumière. As such, she assumed the role of *Première Dame d'Honneur*; however, the role was renamed to *Surintendant de la Maison de l'Impératrice-Douairière*, making Marie the inaugural holder.

## Character Synopsis

### **Personality**

Marie was known to be a passive, albeit judging woman. She enjoyed showing a bit of skin, proud of its youthful appearance which defied her age. Gossip was not above her, and she would gladly partake in it; though she was careful to not step on any toes which would tip the scale out of her favor. She enjoyed philosophy, and often read about philosophic topics. Her philosophical views on life made her question the world. Although, she was careful to show her wisdom as she would prefer not to be deemed a witch by the patriarchal society in which she lived, so she played dumb at her expense at times. She also enjoyed music, as well as playing music for others just as she did as a child.

### **Appearance**

Marie had a refined figure. She, like most women, shared the height of 5'7 and was of average weight. Her hair was a neutral shade of brown, long and soft as she would care for her delicate locks with the most popular hair treatment remedies of the time. Her oval face had a soft contour, with a slender nose and eyes of a light brown color. Her skin was a warm tone, and lightly aged as she did not spend much time in the sun. Her body also shared the soft features of her face, having the curvature and stature comparable to that of a Greek statue.

## Issue

With her husband, to whom she was wed in 1623, Marie would have the following children:

* Jacques François Gabriel de Clermont-Savoie, *Comte de Thoury* (1625—)
* Gabrielle-Valentine de Clermont-Savoie, *Mademoiselle de Courcelles* (1626—)
* Charlotte-Claude de Clermont-Savoie, *Mademoiselle de Selles* (1627—)
* Charles-Phillipe de Clermont-Savoie, *Baron de Selles* (1628—)
* Suzanne-Renée de Clermont-Savoie, *Mademoiselle de Pierreponts* (1630—)
* Éléonore Louise Thérèse de Clermont-Savoie, *Mademoiselle de Anglebervier* (1632—)
* Entienne-Julien de Clermont-Savoie, *Baron de Pierreponts* (1635—1642)
* Nicole Margeurite de Clermont-Savoie, *Mademoiselle de Figniéres* (1640—)
* Jean de Clermont-Savoie, *Seigneur de Figniéres* (1641—1642)

## Titles & Styles

### **Titles & Styles**

1st November 1609—27th May 1623: *Mademoiselle de Thury*

27th May 1623—1st September 1638: *Madame la Baronne de Courcelles*

1st September 1638—28th March 1657: *Madame la Comtesse de Thoury*

28th March 1657—present: *Madame la Comtesse Douairière de Thoury*

* 28th March 1657—present: *Madame la Baronne de Pierreponts (suo jure)*

### **Full Title**

In full (during her tenure as Comtesse de Thoury), Marie de Montmorency-Fosseux was addressed as *Madame la Comtesse de Thoury, Baronne de Courcelles, Baronne de Selles, Baronne de Pierreponts, et Dame de Fignières*.