by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2021
Charles d’Albert, Duke of Luynes was a close advisor and favorite of King Louis XIII of France from childhood until his death, and held numerous top positions within the French court.
Charles d’Albert, Duke of Luynes – source: Wikipedia
Charles d’Albert was born August 5, 1578, the eldest son of Honoré d’Albert, Seigneur de Luynes and Anne de Rodulf. Closely connected to the French court, his father had served four French kings – François II, Charles IX, Henri III and Henri IV. Charles’s siblings included:
- Honoré d’Albert, Duke of Chaulnes – married Claire Charlotte d’Ailly
- Léon d’Albert, Duke of Piney-Luxembourg – married Marguerite Charlotte of Luxembourg
- Antoinette d’Albert – married (1) Barthélémey, Lord of Vernet: (2) Henri-Robert de La Marck
Raised at the French court, Charles was a companion and friend of the future King Louis XIII from a young age. Louis became King at just nine years old, with his mother, Marie de’ Medici, serving as Regent until his majority. During this time, Charles continued to be close to King Louis XIII and would become one of his closest and most trusted advisors. Raised to numerous high positions and appointments within the royal household, Charles strongly encouraged the King to remove his mother from power and was involved in the plot which led to the death of Concino Concini, one of the dowager queen’s favorites and closest advisors. In 1619, on the King’s behalf, he negotiated the Treaty of Angoulême which ended the battle between mother and son. For his efforts, in addition to several other honorary positions, Charles was created Duke of Luynes and a Peer of France.
In 1617, Charles married Marie Aimée de Rohan, Mademoiselle de Montbazon, the daughter of Hercule de Rohan, Duke of Montbazon and his first wife, Marie de Bretagne d’Avaugour. The couple two daughters who died at early ages and one son::
- Louis Charles d’Albert de Luynes, 2nd Duke of Luynes (1620) – married (1) Louise Séguier, Marquise d’O, had issue; (2) Princess Anne de Royah-Montbazon. his mother’s younger half-sister, had issue; (3) Marguerie d’Aligre, no issue
In 1621, Charles led a campaign against the Protestants in southern France, despite his opposition to the decision. He was appointed Constable of France – a position for which he was far from qualified but received basically by default. The former holder was a Protestant and refused to go along with the King’s wishes. He participated in the Siege of Montauban in the fall of 1621 – gaining much criticism for the failure despite having not actually been in command. Soon after, Charles contracted what was likely scarlet fever. The Duke of Luynes just 43 years old, died of his illness on December 15, 1621, at the Chateau de Longueville.
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