by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2021
Marie de Hautefort was a close confidante and favorite of King Louis XIII of France. She was also a close friend and prominent member of the household of his wife, Queen Anne (the former Anne of Austria).
Marie de Hautefort – source: Wikipedia
Marie de Hautefort was born at the Château de Hautefort on January 7, 1616, the youngest of seven children of Charles, Marquis de Hautefort and Renée du Bellay. Her maternal grandmother, Catherine le Voyer de Lignerolles, was a lady-in-waiting to two French queens – Marie de’ Medici and Anne of Austria – and later served as Dame d’atour (Lady of the Attire) to Queen Anne – the second highest ranking position within the Queen’s household.
It was through her grandmother’s position that Marie first met King Louis XIII, and the king quickly became enamored with her. After the King’s mother, Marie de’ Medici, was forced to leave the country in 1630, he appointed Marie’s grandmother as Dame d’atour to his wife, Queen Anne, and appointed Marie to be one of the Queen’s attendants. This kept Marie at court, where she quickly became one of his closest confidantes. However, the king’s romantic feelings toward her were not reciprocated. She also became very close with Queen Anne, perhaps even more so than with the King himself. She was much more supportive to Queen Anne, especially during the time when Anne was accused of being a supporter of the Spanish cause. This close relationship often caused tension between the King and Marie.
Anne of Austria, Queen of France; Credit – Wikipedia
Marie remained at Court until 1635 when Cardinal Richelieu brought Louise de La Fayette to court to replace Marie as the King’s favorite. However, when de La Fayette entered a convent two years later, Marie was quickly called back to court and returned to the King’s favor. Her stay lasted two more years before the King found a new favorite in the Marquis of Cinq-Mars.
Following the King’s death in 1643, Queen Anne became regent for their young son, Louis XIV. Marie was called back to Court and resumed her position within the Queen’s household. This lasted only briefly before the Queen dismissed her from court in 1644.
Charles de Schomberg, Duke d’Halluin. source: Wikipedia
Soon after leaving the French court for the last time, Marie married Charles de Schomberg, Duke d’Halluin, on September 24, 1646. Known for his military skills, Charles led French forces to victory against the Spanish in the Battle of Leucate in 1637, for which he was appointed Marshal of France. He then held several governorships. His title of Duke d’Halluin came from his first wife, Anne, Duchess d’Halluin, who had died in 1641. Marie and Charles had no children.
The couple lived in Metz, where Charles served as Governor until he died in 1656. Marie then returned permanently to Paris, where she would later resume contact with the Dowager Queen Anne. The two continued to correspond until the Queen died in 1666. Marie de Hautefort died in Paris on August 1, 1691, at the age of 75.
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