Amalia de Delastuche

Princess Consort of Conti

Marie Therese de Conti

Isabella de Conti

Antoinette de Conti

Jeanne de Conti

Henrietta Marie of Conti

Bourbon-Capet

(By marriage)

**Amalia Louisa de Delastuche** (April 29, 1532 - June 7, 1572) was the illegitimate daughter of Anne of France and one of her favourate lover Rudolph de Delastuche. Amalia was one of her mothers favourate illegitimate daughters because Amalia was not only the illegitimate daughter that looked most like her, but the child out of all Anne's children who looked the most like her. Amalia married a French nobleman Louis V, Prince of Conti. They had many children together before her husband's death in 1570, Amalia died 2 years later.

## Early life

Amalia was born 1532, in Rothesay Palace, Scotland at midnight. Her birth was accidental, but her parents still celebrated her birth with a toast. Amalia's mother Anne and her mistress Rudolph de Delastuche were her parents. Amalia's younger brother Robert de Delastuche was born the year after Amalia. Unlike any of her half-sibling's, Amalia resembled her mother perfectly, she had the same brown hair, and black eye's, and her mother's white skin. Amalia's older-half sister Margaret of Austria saw Amalia as an enemy in her mothers favor, Amalia hated Margaret and called her a snollygoster everytime they passed by each other. Margaret was not like Amalia, Amalia was good-natured, and kind to most people, Margaret was a psycopathic, demonic, horrifying person to be around, even there mother Anne was terrified of her. Amalia was not scared of Margaret at all, and was never afraid to publicly humiliate her in front of court, Amalia's game was dangerous. Amalia being an illegitimate daughter of a Queen and a nobleman only gave her the title "Lady Amalia de Delastuche." But Margaret was a powerful Austrian Archduchess, and Spanish Infanta.

### Education

Amalia's education was not important to her father, her father often left Amalia for her younger brother Robert, but her education was very important to her mother who spent 800 euro's a year on giving her good teachers, her most famous teacher was probably Francisco Manuel who taught her in History, spelling, grammar, reading, knitting, chess, dance, coversation, and music. Amalia loved school and even attended it on weekends. By the age of 11 she already knew Polish, Latin, Greek, French, Dutch, German, Russian, Turkish, Romanian, Bosnian, Serbian, Bulgarian, and Spanish. She knew more then most of her siblings. One thing she was taught that was most important to her mother, was the Roman Catholic religion. Amalia was a devout Roman Catholic and was determined to marry someone if the same faith.

### Marriage debates

Amalia being illegitimate was not a popular bride, she was beautiful, but no one wanted an illegitimate noblewoman as a wife. Her mother never gave up and attempted to wed her to the Duke of Masovia to try to seal a peace treaty. The Duke found Amalia's nature boring and declined the request. Amalia gave up, but her mother was far from it, she found Louis V, Prince of Conti who had no wife. Amalia thought that she would just be rejected and did not try, but Louis actually fell in love with Amalia's nature and humor. They were wed in 1545, Amalia was 14, and her husband was 17.

## Life as Princess of Conti

Amalia moved to France were she took 6 of her best friends. She was granted the Château de Palais as a personal retreat. Amalia found is stressful to be Princess, because she was made fun of by nobleman for being illegitimate. But she was happy with all of the Château's and money she reseived. Amalia's first daughter was Blanche Marie de Conti. Amalia had 6 other pregnancies after that. Her power as Consort was limited, but she had more power as a consort then any other French noblewoman who was not Margaret of Austria who controlled her husband.

## Husband's death

Amalia's husband Louis complained about heart pains, and vomiting. Amalia was concerned and paid a doctor to check him out, the doctor who did not know how to do his job gave Louis a poisonous medicine that killed him 8 minutes after he drank it. Amalia was devastated and went into mourning. Her son Charles succeeded the principality of Conti.

## Death

Amalia de Delastuche became an advisor to her son who was the current Prince, her health grew frail after drinking, and smoking. Her son attempted to stop Amalia from drinking, but she continued, Amalia's health failure became concerning to her family. But she blamed it on her enemies who had been long dead. Amalia died while writing a letter to her half-sister Marina de Navarro who she thought was alive, even though Marina had been dead sense 1564.

## Burial and Legacy

Amalia was buried in La Palace de Contia, she is buried next to Phillipa de Conti who was a famous female crusader in the 1100's. Amalia's legacy was that of a caring, selfless woman, who was destroyed by alcohol, and smoking. Amalia's children were devastated with the loss of there mother. She left her will to her eldest son which was 1500 euros.

## Marriage and Issue

1. Marie Blanche de Conti, married Count Fredrich Ferdinand and had Issue.
2. Charles XI, Prince of Conti, married Elisabeth of Silesia and had issue.
3. Marie Therese de Conti, never married, had no issue.
4. Isabella de Conti, married Phillip I, Count of Clermont, had issue.
5. Antoinette de Conti, married John III, Prince of Nassau, had no issue.
6. Jeanne de Conti, married Charles VI, Count of Avesnes, had issue.
7. Henrietta Marie of Conti, married Louis II, Prince of Lippe, had no legitimate issue.

## Titles/Styles/Honors

April 29, 1532 - July 8, 1545 *The Lady Amalia de Delastuche*

June 18, 1551 - November 11, 1570 *Her Higness, Princess Amalia*

November 11, 1570 - June 7, 1572 *Amalia, Dowager Princess of Conti*