Marie Catherine de Senecey née de La Rochefoucauld (1588–1677) was a French courtier. She served as Première dame d'honneur to the queen of France, Anne of Austria, from 1626 until 1638, and royal governess to king Louis XIV of France and his brother from 1643 until 1646.
Life
Marie-Catherine de Senecey was the daughter of Jean Louis de La Rochefoucauld, Count of Randan. She married Henri de Bauffremont, Marquis of Senecey (1577–1622), in 1607, and was thereafter known as Marquise de Senecey.
In 1626, she was appointed Dame d'atour to queen Anne, and when Charlotte de Lannoy died later that year, she was promoted to succeed her as Première dame d'honneur, and was herself succeeded as Dame d'atour by Madeleine du Fargis. She was well liked by queen Anne, and loyal to the queen before Cardinal Richelieu.
In 1638, the king relieved her from her office and banished her from court for being in opposition to Cardinal Richelieu, and for having encouraged Louise de La Fayette to enter a convent.
When Anne became regent in 1643, she recalled Madame de Senecey to court and appointed her to replace Françoise de Lansac as royal governess and her daughter Marie-Claire de Fleix to replace Catherine de Brassac as Première dame d'honneur.
In March 1661, Louis XIV created the Duchy of Randan and made her the first duchess of Randan as a recognition of her services.
Children
- Marie Claire de Bauffremont (July 11, 1618– July 29, 1680) married Jean Baptiste Gaston de Foix, Count of Fleix and had children.
References
- Kleinman, Ruth: Anne of Austria. Queen of France. ISBN 0-8142-0429-5. Ohio State University Press (1985)
- Kleinman, Ruth: Anne of Austria. Queen of France. ISBN 0-8142-0429-5. Ohio State University Press (1985)
- Harry Ashton, Madame de La Fayette: sa vie et ses œuvres
- Musée national de Versailles, Notice historique des peintures et des sculptures du palais de Versailles
- Kleinman, Ruth: Anne of Austria. Queen of France. ISBN 0-8142-0429-5. Ohio State University Press (1985)
| Court offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byAntoinette d'Albert de Luynes | Dame d'atour to the Queen of France 1626–1626 |
Succeeded byMadeleine du Fargis |
| Preceded byCharlotte de Lannoy | Première dame d'honneur to the Queen of France 1626–1638 |
Succeeded byCatherine de Brassac |
| Preceded byFrançoise de Lansac | Governess of the Children of France 1643–1646 |
Succeeded byJulie d'Angennes |
- 1588 births
- 1677 deaths
- 17th-century French people
- 17th-century French women
- 16th-century French people
- 16th-century French women
- French ladies-in-waiting
- Ladies-in-waiting
- Governesses to the Children of France
- Court of Louis XIV
- Court of Louis XIII
- Household of Anne of Austria
- House of La Rochefoucauld
- French marchionesses
- French suo jure nobility