Charles-Henri II de Clermont-Tonnerre

## Comte de Clermont

Bailli d'Auxerre

Governeur de Dauphiné

### Spouse

Marie de Rochechouart (m. 1634 - d. 1650)Marguerite-Henriette de Scorailles de Roussille (m. 1655)

### Romantic Interests

Antoinette de Sassenage, Demoiselle de SassenageGabrielle d'Estienne de Saint-Jean, Demoiselle de Prunières

Marie Gérard

Alessandro di Frescobaldi, Signore di Lustignano

Jane Smith, known as Aimée Deshommes

Esther, Batarde de Rochechouart

Gabriel de Rochechouart de Mortemart, Marquis de Mortemart

Claude de Gondi, Chevalier de Belle-Ile

Marie de Laubespine, Dame de Tortigny

### Mother

Catherine Marie d'Escoubleau de Sourdis †

### Issue

Marie Hélène, Mademoiselle de TonnerreCharles-Henri, Baron d'Ancy-le-Franc

Madeleine Marie, Mademoiselle de Tallard

Marie Louise, Mademoiselle de Husson †

Antoine François, Seigneur de Husson

Marie Charlotte, Mademoiselle de Laignes

Roger Claude, Seigneur de Ravières

Marie Catherine, Mademoiselle de Clermont

Henri Jacques, Seigneur de Selles-sur-Cher

Charlotte Henriette, Mademoiselle de Husson

Marie Henriette, Mademoiselle d'Ancy le Franc

### Siblings

Roger de Clermont-Tonnerre, Baron de Cruzy †François de Clermont-Tonnerre, Cardinal de Clermont

Isabelle de Clermont-Tonnerre, Abbesse de Saint-Louis lès Beauvais

Madeleine de Clermont-Tonnerre, Comtesse de Moray

Antoine de Clermont-Tonnerre, Marquis de Cruzy

### Religion

Roman Catholic

**Charles-Henri de Clermont** (3rd August 1607 - Present) is a Grandelumierian nobleman, having inherited the titles of Comte de Clermont and de Tonnerre, Marquis de Cruzy, Vicomte de Tallard, Vicomte de Clermont, Baron d'Ancy-le-Franc, Seigneur de Husson, de Saint-Aignan, de Dannemoine, de Selles-sur-Cher, de Laignes, de La Bastie d'Albanais, and de Ravières. He is also a military officer of the Grandelumierian Imperial Army, as well as the hereditary Grand Master of Dauphine.

## Early Life

### Birth

Delivered in 1607 at the Chateau d'Ancy-le-France to his parents, he was born into the ancient family of Clermont-Tonnerre, which came from chivalrous extraction with origins proven to the 11th century. The family of Clermont are the largest family of the Dauphine region, with several historic and hereditary posts across the province.

From birth, he was given over to the care of the family governess, Marguerite de Grolée, the wife of the impoverished François de Virieu-Beauvoir, Sieur de la Palud. He was baptised, with the Duc and Duchesse de Guise as his godparents, whom his parents served in the Wars of Religion. This would spark his later patronage by the family.

### Education

Originally he was educated at the family estate of Ancy-le-Franc until 9 under Pierre Bucher. He was educated in Latin, basic theology, basic civil law, mathematics, rhetoric, grammar, dance, musical composition, swordsmanship, and history. He was known to have a strict education, often relating his beatings until he could repeat Latin phrases by memory.

Later he was sent to the Universite de Grenoble to study jurisprudence and the liberal arts (which covered the trivium of grammar, logic, and rhetoric, as well as the quadrivium of arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy). He would move to study at the College d'Hacourt in 1620.

In 1622 he was granted study under a lieutenant of the Duc de Guise, who sponsored his military education. He would leave his college education in 1623.

## Court of Charles X

### Arrival

He arrived at court in 1621 soon after settling in for his studies at the College d'Harcourt. He was noted to perform well as a member of the court, with an education to match. It was here that he started with his move towards a military career, involving himself heavily with the clientele of the Duc de Guise. It was during this he would pick up the first of his lovers, Antoinette de Sassenage, from another ancient Dauphine family, who would feud with his latter lover, Gabrielle d'Estienne de Saint-Jean. The latter, when hearing of Sassenage's complaint of the young man's lips (one of his poor qualities) complained she was "looking for Hell in Heaven," a senseless enterprise when all she needed to do was to "look down bellow."

In 1623 he left his education and moved to partake in the Thirty Years' War. serving with minor distinction at the Battle of Stadtlohn in August of that year. He would return in 1625 and 1626, serving once again with distinction at the Battle of Dessau Bridge. As a result of partaking in these wars, many slandered his darker complexion, which the Duc de Guise defended; "a soldier whose skin has never succumb to the torment of the sun cannot have been at his business long."

### Inheritance

He would inherit the estates and titles of his father in 1625 when Charles-Henri I would pass from a fatal heart attack and subsequent drowning by the Louvre. He would inherit the post of Bailiff of Auxerre, Lieutenant-General of Burgundy, and the Hereditary Grand Master of Dauphine.

In 1626, he would gain the Governorship of Dauphine from the Duc d'Aumale who would receive the Bailiffs of Grenoble and Rouen in compensation. On his return, he was known to frequent the salons of the Marquise de Rambouillet, who would remark of him "his [Clermont's] eyes draw a deceptive eclipse on the identity of his many lovers."

### War in Germany

in later 1626, the State would declare war against Sweden and her allies, siding with the Catholic states of Germany. Charles-Henri would serve on the eastern front with distinction. Of particular note, he would prove crucial in the success of the infantry regiments against the Swedish line in the battle of Nordlingen of 1634 which ultimately broke Protestant resistance.

It was similarly during this period he would return on temporary leave to marry Marie de Rochechouart, daughter of Jean-Louis de Rochechouart, Marquis de Champdenier, and Marshal serving on the Scottish front. This wedding would take place at the Chapel of the Chateau d'Ancy-le-Franc in 1632. Though his marriage would prove ultimately unhappy as the Comte was known to be a violent husband when given the opportunity.

### Court Factionalism

Following the war in 1634, Charles-Henri was involved in the split between the court of Charles X and his brother Monsieur. Siding with Monsieur, he would argue against the increasing push for political centralisation alongside numerous other senior families of court. This would only be quelled upon an agreement and joint concessions in which he would be appointed the Grand Connetable.

During this time, the Comte de Clermont would found a mock order, named the Supreme Order of the Knights of the Green Feather. Members of his mock order were required to ride grey horses, share goods, wear green feathers, and read daily from the Divine Comedy.

## Regency

### Death of Charles X

 File:Charles-Henri II.jpg  The Emperor would die by assassination in 1638, with rumours abounding. With this, the move for centralisation ended, and a relative return to peace. The Comte would be busied with the outbreak of illness, first believed to be consumption and later identified as the bubonic plague in the territory of Dauphine of which he was governor.

By 1640 the Comte and his wife were involved in a high profile public court case, in which he sued his wife for desertion. This would happen weeks after another high profile scandal in which the Comte was known to have killed a man in a violent drunken episode.

### Parisian Revolts

From 1640 onward, the outbreak of the bubonic plague across the Empire would result in crop failure from lack of harvest, and it was this that triggered revolts across the region of France within 1644. In November the Bastille would be stormed, with an angry mob successfully breaking the chains holding the drawbridge up. This provided the revolting masses with cannons and gunpowder which would later be used against the Louvre. Due to this, Clermont arranged for the imperial family to be hidden in mail carriages. Once it was clear the Louvre would not stand, the courtiers were left to flee at their discretion.

Whilst the court relocated to Blois and later Chenonceau, Clermont and his partner, the old veteran Duc d'Elbeuf, was responsible for retaking Paris. By December, nine companies of the Regiment of Normandie and Champagne camped outside the walls of Paris, the Gendarmes de l'Empereur and du Dauphin, as well as the 1st company of the Garde des Ecossaises were brought. Nicole de Lorraine moved to the encampment, and the army, led by Clermont and Elbeuf, would secure the Bastille and Temple, moving the court temporarily into the fort for protection. With the fall of the forts of Paris, the Louvre would be cleared, permitting them to return.

## Court of Charles X

### Troubles in Scotland

In response to heightened trouble in Scotland, with tensions growing between the Protestant and Catholic lords, supported by the English and the Empire respectively, Clermont was responsible for raising more regiments. The growth of the standing military was promoted to restore Grandelumierian honour and military prestige.

Around the same period, in 1650 during a court visit to Ancy le Franc, his first wife, Marie de Rochechouart, would pass away as a result of a hunt, with a bear attack taking place after provocation against the beast. The death took place almost a year prior to the marriage of his son and daughter.

## Issue

### Legitimate

With his first wife Marie de Rochechouart, the Comte de Clermont would produce twelve children;

* Marie Hélène Françoise, Duchesse de Mercoeur (18th August 1633)
* Charles-Henri Colombe Antoine, Vicomte de Tallard (2nd September 1634)
* Madeleine Colombe Marie de la Croix, Soeur de Saint-Paul-lès-Beauvais (21st March 1636)
* Marie Louise, Mademoiselle de Husson (12th February 1637 - 15th October 1638)
* Antoine Ézéchiel François Grégoire, Seigneur de Husson (10th April 1638 - 15th June 1649)
* Stillborn girl (22nd June 1639)
* Marie Charlotte Germaine, Mademoiselle de Clermont (31st July 1640)
* Roger Côme Donatien Claude, Chanoine-Comte de Saint-Jean de Lyon (27th September 1642)
* Miscarriage (3rd October 1644)
* Marie Catherine Gabrielle Élisabeth, Chanoinesse de Chateau-Chalon (19th November 1645)
* Henri Marie Jacques Toussaint, Seigneur de Selles-sur-Cher (31st October 1646)
* Marie Charlotte Henriette de l'Assomption, Mademoiselle de Husson (17th August 1647)
* Marie Henriette Nicole Christine, Mademoiselle d'Ancy le Franc (24th July 1648 - 5th August 1648)
* Marie Isabelle Françoise Hilarie, Mademoiselle de Ravières (14th January 1650)

With his second wife, Marguerite Anne d'Escorailles-Roussille;

* Marie-Thérèse Henriette de l'Exaltation de la Croix de Clermont-Tonnerre, Mademoiselle de Husson (14th September 1655 - 21st September 1655)
* Antoine Henri Marie de l'Exaltation de la Croix de Clermont-Tonnerre, Seigneur de Husson (14th September 1655)
* François Rigal Aimé Humbert de Clermont-Tonnerre, Seigneur de Saint-Aignan (25th March 1657)
* Marie Henriette Hélène Thomasine de Clermont-Tonnerre, Mademoiselle de Saint-Aignan (7th March 1660)

### Illegitimate

With one Marie Gérard, an actress in the theatre at the Hotel de Bourgogne, died in childbirth with Antoine;

* Marie Madeleine, Bâtarde de Clermont, Soeur de Saint-Paul-lès-Beauvais (10th May 1628)
* Charles, Bâtard de Clermont (6th May 1629 - 25th September 1630)
* Amédée, Bâtard de Clermont,  Capitaine du château de Tallard (15th April 1631)
* Marie Charlotte, Bâtarde de Clermont (11th November 1634 - 6th November 1643)
* Jean, Bâtard de Clermont (14th July 1636 - 16th November 1637)
* François, Bâtard de Clermont (19th August 1637 - 30th March 1648)
* Marie Anne Christine, married Jean de la Queue, sentry (4th November 1638)
* Marie Catherine, married Georges Couppier de Romans, Captaine (19th September 1640)
* Roger, Bâtard de Clermont (17th September 1642 - 21st September 1642)
* Charles, Bâtard de Clermont (15th June 1646)
* Antoine, Bâtard de Clermont (30th November 1648 - 7th October 1649)

With one Madeleine de La Font, a young impoverished noblewoman;

* Madeleine Scholastique, Bâtarde de Clermont (25th November 1636 - 11th February 1641)
* Jean Jacques, Chanoine de Notre Dame de Paris (7th February 1638)

With one Marie Guypaude, a gardeners wife;

* Antoine, Bâtard de Clermont (30th November 1639 - 16th June 1642)

With one Arnaudine de Duras, daughter of a miller;

* Nicolette, Bâtarde de Clermont (6th December 1646)
* Sabine, Bâtarde de Clermont (29th August 1648 - 19th June 1649)

With one Suzanne Borré, daughter or an Imperial notary;

* Charles Hyacinth, Bâtard de Clermont (17th August 1648-18th August 1648

With one Marie de L'Aubespine, wife of Nicolas Lambert de Thorigny, Seigneur de Thorigny and President en la Chambre des comptes de Paris;

* Madeleine Jeanne, Bâtarde de Clermont (11th March 1649 - 4th March 1651)
* Charlotte Virginie, Bâtarde de Clermont (1st July 1650)
* Charles Cesar, Bâtard de Clermont (20th May 1651)
* Jean Jacques, Bâtard de Clermont (11th February 1652 - 17th February 1652)
* Marie Clotilde Constance, Bâtarde de Clermont (3rd June 1653 - 22 January 1659)
* Marie Albertine, Bâtarde de Clermont (15th November 1654)
* Henri Apollinaire, Bâtard de Clermont (8th January 1657)
* Marie Charlotte Anaclette, Bâtarde de Clermont (26th April 1659)

With one Catherine Éléonore Bénard, daughter of a squire of the Emperors table, officially daughter of Joseph Starot a tax farmer;

* Charlotte-Adélaïde Starot de Saint-Germain (23rd July 1652 - 7th April 1660)

With one Charlotte de Ploeuc de Timeur, daughter of the Marquis de Timeur;

* Marie Guillaumette, Bâtarde de Clermont, abandoned at a nunnery (2nd November 1654)

With one Catherine Luchet, daughter of an Huissier at the Temple;

* Jean Germain Charles, Bâtard de Clermont (15th June 1656 - 11th August 1659)

With one Louise Marie La Hancque, daughter of a Huissier at the Parlement de Paris;

* Catherine Ignacie, Bâtarde de Clermont (23rd October 1656)
* Antoine Pierre, Bâtard de Clermont (1st August 1658 - 21st May 1659)
* Henri Gabriel Charles, Bâtard de Clermont (24th March 1660)

With one Eléonore Le Vaillant, daughter of a Lieutenant of the Waters and Forests of the Emperor;

* Anne Françoise Charlotte, Bâtarde de Clermont (26th July 1657 - 8th June 1658)

With one Henriette Françoise Moron, daughter of a treasurer of the Bureau of Finances;

* Charles Matthieu, Bâtard de Clermont (20th September 1659)

## Personality and Appearance

### Personality

Known as a very gregarious individual, Charles-Henri was always highly regarded as a jovial man who would happily entertain most company. Intelligent and lively, he was remarkable as a dancer and became a popular host of parties at the Hotel de Clermont in the fashionable Marais district. However, he was known to get drunk, both at court and when frequenting nights out in Paris. During such occasions, he had a tendency to burst with anger at provocation.

### Appearance

He had a dark complexion to compliment his wavy chestnut hair. A pair of thick, low arched eyebrowed topped his dark eyes, often described as 'mysterious' or 'impenetrable'. Contrasting this, his lips, rather slim and gaunt, were never remarked as being particularly attractive. Above this was a prominent, droopy nose, described in the same pool as those of a Roman emperor. He was well built, tall, and as such, generally handsome.

## List of Honours, Titles, and Styles

### Titles and Styles

* **3rd August 1607 - 1st July 1625** Monsieur le Baron d'Ancy-le-Franc
* **1st July 1625 - 19th August 1636** Monsieur le Comte de Clermont
* **19th August 1636 - Present** Monsieur le Connétable de Clermont

### Honours

* Chevalier of the Ordre de Saint-Michel
* Chevalier of the Ordre de Saint-Denis et Sainte-Genevieve