Father Charles de Levis Died September 18, 1717 Mother Marie de La Guiche Children Anne Genevieve de Levis | Name Louis de Role Duke of Ventadour | |
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Spouse Madame de Ventadour (m. 1671) Grandchildren Louise de Rohan, Marie Isabelle de Rohan, Duchess of Tallard, Jules, Prince of Soubise Similar People Madame de Ventadour, Philippe de La Mothe‑Houdancourt, Anne de Rohan‑Chabot, Francois - Prince of Soubise | ||
Great grandchildren Cardinal de Rohan | ||
Louis Charles de Lévis (1647 – 18 September 1717) was a French nobleman and Duke of Ventadour. His wife was the governess of the infant Louis XV and his only child Anne Geneviève made two prestigious marriages into contemporary nobility.
Contents
Biography
The eldest of three children, his younger sister Marguerite Félice de Lévis (1648–1717) married Jacques Henri de Durfort de Duras and was the sister in law of the Maréchal de Lorges.
On his fathers side, he was a relative of the wealthy Montmorency family. He married Charlotte de La Motte Houdancourt in Paris on 14 March 1671. She was the daughter of Philippe de La Mothe-Houdancourt and Louise de Prie.
The Duke was generally considered "horrific" — very ugly, physically deformed, and sexually debauched — yet the privileges of being a duchess compensated for the unfortunate match, e.g. le tabouret: In a letter to her daughter, Madame de Sévigné described an incident that took place at St. Germain during an audience with the Queen.
"… a lot of duchesses came in, including the beautiful and charming Duchess of Ventadour. There was a bit of a delay before they brought her the sacred stool. I turned to the Grand Master and I said, 'Oh, just give it to her. It certainly cost her enough,' and he agreed."
He and his wife had a daughter. Louis Charles died in 1717 during the Regency of Philippe d'Orléans.
His wife was a lady in waiting to Duchess of Orléans and guardian of the infant Louis XV.
Issue
Anne Geneviève de Lévis, "Mademoiselle de Ventadour", Princess of Turenne, Duchess of Rohan-Rohan, Princess of Maubuisson, Princess of Soubise (February 1673 – 20 March 1727)
- Married Louis Charles de La Tour d'Auvergne, Prince of Turenne in 1692 (son of Godefroy Maurice de La Tour d'Auvergne and Marie Anne Mancini) had no issue;
- Married Hercule Mériadec de Rohan, Duke of Rohan-Rohan in 1694, son of François de Rohan and Anne de Rohan-Chabot, had issue.