Died 1832 | ||
Louise-Charlotte-Henriette-Philippine, Duchess de Duras, née de Noailles (1745-1832), was a French courtier and memoirist. She served as lady in waiting to Marie Antoinette from 1770 to 1791.
Louise-Charlotte de Duras was the daughter of Philippe de Noailles and Anne d'Arpajon. She married Duke Emmanuel-Céleste-Augustin de Duras in 1760. de Duras served as lady in waiting to queen Marie Leszczynska from 1767 to 1768 and was, as many of the courtiers of the late queen, appointed to serve Marie Antoinette upon her arrival to France in 1770. Her mother, Anne d'Arpajon, served as the chief lady in waiting to Marie Antoinette.
The duchess de Duras was described as very well educated, learned and verbal, and enjoyed respect for her reputation of being a scholar. When Victoire de Rohan was to be replaced as Governess of the Children of France in 1782, de Duras, alongside Laure-Auguste de Fitz-James, Princess de Chimay, was commonly assumed to be the two most suitable candidates for the post: however, Marie Antoinette refused de Chimay because of her too severe religiosity and de Duras because she reportedly felt a certain academic inferiority toward her, and chose Yolande de Polastron for the position instead.
Reportedly, Marie Antoinette felt a certain inferiority toward Louise-Charlotte de Duras because of de Duras' greater learning and scholarly knowledge, and was therefore somewhat uncomfortable in her presence.Their relationship was therefore more professional than friendly. However, the queen also felt respect for her, and it was therefore often de Duras who was selected to correct the queen whenever she made a mistake; during the visit of Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor in France in 1777, Marie Antoinette often selected de Duras to accompany her during his visits, because she expected the intellectual de Duras to make a more favorable impression upon Joseph than her more intimate friends among her courtiers, whom Joseph had been given harsh criticism.
Louise-Charlotte de Duras remained in service at court after the outbreak of the French revolution, and the removal of the court from Versailles to Paris after the Women's March on Versailles. She resigned with a number of other court staff after the Flight to Varennes, when the government issued reforms in the household of the king which abolished several old court customs and privileges of etiquette such as the tabouret.
de Duras settled with her parents at the chateau Mouchy-le-Châtel in Oise. In 1793, she and her parents were imprisoned in accordance with the law of potential enemies of the state. Her parents were executed in Paris. She herself remained in prison and was liberated after the fall of Robespierre.
Louise-Charlotte de Duras's memoirs, depicting her life during the French revolution, has been published.