Louise Antoinette Thérèse de La Châtre

Louise Antoinette Thérèse de La Châtre by the Workshop of Henri and Charles Beaubrun

## Occupations

### Court Posts

Demoiselle d'Honneur de Madame la Dauphine (March 1652–April 1652)
Dame d'Atours de Madame la Dauphine (1652–1654)
Première Dame d'Honneur de l'Impératrice (1654)

## Biography

### Issue

Henri Claude de La Trémoille
Charles Louis de La Trémoille
Françoise Marie de La Trémoille †
Louis Armand de La Trémoille †
Françoise Marie de La Trémoille
Louise Charlotte de La Trémoille

### Religion

Calvinism

**Louise Antoinette Thérèse de La Châtre** (born circa 1635), duchesse de Thouars, formerly known as Mademoiselle de La Châtre prior to her marriage, is a French noblewoman, courtier, and lady-in-waiting.

## Biography

Louise Antoinette Thérèse de La Châtre, called Mademoiselle de La Châtre, was born circa 1635 to Edmé de La Châtre, called marquis de La Châtre, comte de Nançay, and his wife Françoise Anne de Cugnac, dame du Boucard. The couple, who married on 10 May 1632, had another child, namely Louis, who was born circa 1633.

Born circa 1610, Edmé de La Châtre was the son of Henri de La Châtre, comte de Nançay, and his wife Marie de La Guesle, a member of the *noblesse de robe* and daughter of the Procurator General of the Parliament of Paris. The La Châtre family can be positively traced back to the 14th century with one Philippe de La Châtre, seigneur de Besigny, a chamberlain to the comte d'Artois. This was contrary to an ancient family tradition of a considerably older ancestry which was favoured by contemporary genealogists and widely accepted. Although the name La Châtre appears as early as the 12th century, their precise relationship, if any, with the descendents of the aforementioned Philippe de La Châtre, cannot be attested.

Edmé de La Châtre was something of a popular celebrity, admired for his attractiveness, his bravery, his witty conversation, and skills as a dancer. In 1638, Tristan L'Hermite, who wrote a myriad of verses about him, dedicated his *Les Amours* to La Châtre. Similarly in 1636, Jean de Rotrou dedicated his comedy *La Célimène*, despite the fact that he did not have 'l'honneur de connaître'. Another admirer was the courtesan Ninon de l'Enclos, who La Châtre took as his mistress, despite the disapproval of his virtuous wife.

Born on 11 September 1615, Françoise Anne de Cugnac was the only child and heiress of François de Cugnac, marquis de Dampierre, and his wife Gabrielle Popillon du Riau. Like the La Châtre, the Cugnac family can be traced back to the 14th century, and were similar in rank and prestige. In 1618, when the aforementioned marquis de Dampierre died, Françoise Anne, who was either 2 or 3, inherited the marquisate. This was an inheritance challenged by her paternal uncle, who eventually seized the marquisate by a judicial order of 1627. As such, Françoise Anne was compensated with the lordship of Boucard, which had been her paternal grandmother's.

In 1635, around the same time Mademoiselle de La Châtre was born, Edmé de La Châtre purchased the office of Master of the Emperor’s Wardrobe for 100,000 écus and that of Colonel General of the Swiss and Graubünden in 1642. However, on account of his involvement in the so-called *cabale des Importants*, La Châtre was dismissed in favour of the marquis de Bassompierre.

On 3 August 1645, when Mademoiselle de La Châtre was either 9 or 10, Edmé de La Châtre was wounded and captured by the Germans at the Battle of Nördlingen. Fortunately, on account of his identity being unknown by his captors, he managed to pay the ransom of a mere *Chevau-léger*. La Châtre did not, however, have long to enjoy his freedom, for he succumbed to his wounds and died in Phillipsbourg on 3 September. Tragically, his widow died a month later on 21 October. It's unknown what happened to the orphaned Mademoiselle de La Châtre and her brother. Presumably they were placed into the care of their next of kin.

On 3 March 1652, when she was either 16 or 17, Mademoiselle de La Châtre attend the handover of the new Dauphine, Catherine of Portugal, in whose household she had been appointed as a *demoiselle d'honneur*. This appointment came as a result of her friendship with the Dauphine's *première dame d'honneur*, the infamous marquise d’Annonay.

(WIP)

## Issue

* Henri Claude de La Trémoille (b. 1652), prince de Tarante
* Charles Louis de La Trémoille (b. 1653), comte de Laval
* Françoise Marie de La Trémoille (June 1654–July 1654), Mademoiselle de La Trémoille
* Louis Armand de La Trémoille (March 1655–April 1655), comte de Benon
* Françoise Marie de La Trémoille (b. 1656), Mademoiselle de La Trémoille
* Louise Charlotte de La Trémoille (b. 1657), Mademoiselle de Thouars

## Titles and Styles

* **c. 1635–1652** Mademoiselle de La Châtre
* **1652–1655** Son Altesse, Madame la Princesse de Talmont
* **1655** Son Altesse, Madame la Duchesse de Thouars