Renée de Bourbon, Duchesse Douairière de Longueville (4th May 1580 - Present) was known from birth as the Mademoiselle de Condé and, after the death of her father, as the Princesse de Condé, Princesse de Conti, Comtesse de Soissons, and the Comtesse de Dreux. Through marriage to her first cousin, Henri d’Orléans-Longueville, she was known as the Duchesse de Longueville. After her husband would die in 1601, she would title herself Duchesse Douairière de Longueville. She was born into the Condé branch of the dying Maison de Bourbon (which had only three remaining members, including herself.) to François I de Bourbon, Prince de Condé and Françoise d'Orléans-Longueville.
Upon her father’s death in 1588, Renée became one of the most powerful women in the Empire. This was made quite aware to the young Suo Jure, who’s mother often reminded her of the importance she had. Because of this exposure, the young woman was shaped into the greedy, power-hungry Duchesse she is currently. However, this greediness was masked by a strong sense of piety that the Duchesse possessed. She often spent her time with pious courtiers and prayed often. She expected to be the best in all the things she tried and when she failed, she went to her mother for emotional support.
Biography[]
Birth[]
Renée was born on the 4th May 1580 in the family’s Château de Condé to Henri I de Bourbon-Condé, Prince de Condé, and Françoise d'Orléans-Longueville, Princesse de Condé and Mademoiselle de Longueville. Through François, her paternal grandparents were Louis I, Prince de Condé and Eléanor (or Éléonore) de Roye, the heiress of Charles de Roye. Through Françoise, her maternal grandparents were François d'Orléans, Marquis of Rothelin and Jacqueline de Rohan.
In mid-September of 1579, the Condé family physician, Jean Guilbert, confirmed that Françoise was expecting. François, who was extremely excited to save the dying Bourbon family, showered his wife in gifts and comfort. The two of them were very much confident that they were having a son and said that they would name ‘him’ Louis, after François’s father. The next 9 months dragged by for Françoise, who was often cooped up with severe pains. Finally, around 11:00 p.m on the 3rd of May 1581, labor began. The birth itself was easy but went into the early hours of the 4th. It was said that after being informed of the child’s gender, Henri had not 1, nor 2, but 4 more wet nurses brought to the room to confirm. Of course, all said she was a female and it took the Prince hours to accept the fact that a son was not born. After the birth, she was handed off to a governess and the Prince, who was deeply saddened by the birth of a daughter, continued to refer to her as Louis de Bourbon-Condé until her baptism.
Baptism[]
Her baptism would occur when she was 6 months old, she would be baptised at the Chapel de Condé in their family chateau by the family priest Pere Antone Gaspard-Boucher. She would be named Renée, after her great grandfather, René d'Alencon.
Education[]
At age 3, she would be sent to Abbaye de St. Jean des Vignes, in Soissons where she would stay until age 8. During her time at the Abbaye, she would become a rather pious girl with a variety of academic skills, such as being multi-lingual, she would speak English, French, Spanish, and Italian. She would be one of the best botanists and horse riders at the Abbaye, surpassing the teachers as well, but her education would be cut short in 1588, when she would go to the Hotel de Condé in Paris.
Visit to Paris and Ascention to Titles[]
At the age of 8, she would come to the Hotel de Conde, to be informed that her father was sick and had not much time to live, her mother would take over her education, along with her governess, Madame Catherine de Dubois. Her mother would prepare her on how to administrate as the head of the house and financing the house, something she would get very good at. Madame Dubois would continue the education she would normally recieve at the Abbaye. On the 5th of May, her father would pass away, and she would come the suo jure Princesse de Condé, suo jure Princesse de Conti, Suo Jure Comtesse de Soissons, and the suo jure Comtesse de Dreux. Her mother, the now Princesse Douairière de Condé, would help her administer the house until she would turn of age.
Life at Paris[]
As a Princess du Sang, she would enjoy a lavish lifestyle and would frequently spend thousands of livre on dresses, tiaras, and other jewelry, something her mother would drive out of her, and would give her a minute pension per week. Her education would be continued, as she would excel in history and arithmetics. As she grew older, her bad habits would wear off, and by the age of 12, she was considered to be ready to be presented to the court as a higher ranking Du Sang. That year would finally arrive in the year of 1593.
Presentation and Life at Court[]
The Princesse, now 13, would be presented to Charles IX and I, Empereur de Grandelumiere as a Princesse du Sang by her mother. She was presented in a light purple dress, a necklace and brooch of pearls, and a diamond tiara. She was immediately sought after by many bachelors to be his wife. She would recieve a large apartment at Boulogne, something she liked and would recieve favor from many courtiers. She would also join the Empress' Household as a Demoiselle d'Honneur. The Empress would treat her as family and they would bond closely. As a Bourbon, she would be regarded a Hugenot, but rather the Princesse would stay loyal to the faith of the court, Roman Catholicism.
Engagement to Henri[]
Reneé would be bethrothed to her cousin, Henri d'Orléans-Longueville, the Duc de Longueville in the year of 1594, who she would love and had hoped to be married to, Henri was a handsome boy who was charismatic and well-intended. She would be engaged to him in 1595.
Marriage[]
On the 1st of February, 1596, she would be wed to Henri. The ceremony was a 3 day affair, she would marry him at Notre Dame de Reims, she would be wearing a dark purple dress, to signify her status as a Du Sang. They would head to Boulogne, where the bedding ceremony would take place. After the nobles left their room, Renée would be excited and they would perform their duties and newly weds. On the next day, the gift giving would start, the Empereur would gift them several gifts, the largest being 3 flamingos and 18 dresses of different colors. A wedding feast would be held and then dancing with all the nobles, on the third day, the Empereur would hold a ball in their honour.
Life as the Duchesse de Longueville[]
After her marriage, she would become a Dame d'Atour to the Empress and would be one of her closest confidantes. A house in court, the Maision de Guise would control the court from the 1580s, yet now they would confirm that they are the supreme house, On the 18th of December, 1597, she would give birth to a girl, Henriette Mauricie, who they would title Mademoiselle de Longueville. She, knowing the situation would send her daughter away to her mother, who would reside in the Chateau de Condé. As she finally thought all would be well, on the 21st of June, 1599, she would give birth again, this time to a stillborn girl. She was devastated at this loss and would enclose herself from the court until 2 months after, this time at the behest of the Empress. She would finally give birth to a son, Henri II Rene, who would be titled Prince de Neuchatel on the 12th of October, 1600. The birth of her son would cause celebrations throughout the house as the question of the heir was finally settled, yet the celebrations were cut short as tragedy would strike the court. Charles IX & I's illegitimate son, Claude, Duc d'Angouleme would be poisioned, which was done by his father in law, the Duc de Guise.
The Year of 1601[]
The year of 1601 would be the worst year of Renée's life as on January 9th, revolts would break out in Paris and The Empereur de Grandelumiere, Charles IX & I would be assasinated by a fanatical Catholic, this resulted in his son, Francois III & II to take the throne. On February 8th, her dear husband Henri would die, resulting in her one year old son, Henri II René to become the Duc de Longueville and her as Duchesse Douairière de Longueville. She would take over the house, with the help of her mother in law, the Premiere Duchesse Douairière de Longueville. As it seemed, just 11 days after the death of her husband, her dear mother, Françoise d’Orléans-Longueville, Princesse Douairière de Condé would die of tuberculosis at the age of 51. Renée would be devastated by the 2 losses but would stay strong for the house.
Issue[]
With Henri I d'Orléans-Longueville,
- Henriette Mauricie, Mademoiselle de Longueville (18th December 1597 - Present)
- Stillborn Daughter (21st June 1599)
- Henri II René, Duc de Longueville (12th October 1600 - Present)
Ancestry[]
| 16. Francis de Bourbon, Comte de Vendôme | ||||||||||||
| 8. Charles de Bourbon, Duc de Vendôme | ||||||||||||
| 17. Marie de Luxembourg | ||||||||||||
| 4. Louis I de Bourbon, Prince of Condé | ||||||||||||
| 18. René d'Alençon, Duc d'Alençon | ||||||||||||
| 9. Françoise d'Alençon | ||||||||||||
| 19. Marguerite de Lorraine | ||||||||||||
| 2. François I de Bourbon-Condé, Prince de Condé | ||||||||||||
| 20. Antoine, Seigneur de Roye | ||||||||||||
| 10. Charles de Roye, Seigneur de Roye | ||||||||||||
| 21. Catherine de Sarrebruck | ||||||||||||
| 5. Eléanor de Roye | ||||||||||||
| 22. Ferry de Mailly, Seigneur de Conti | ||||||||||||
| 11. Madeleine de Mailly, Dame de Conti | ||||||||||||
| 23. Louise de Montmorency | ||||||||||||
| 1. Renée de Bourbon-Condé, Princesse de Condé | ||||||||||||
| 24. François d'Orléans, Comte de Dunois | ||||||||||||
| 12. Louis I d'Orléans, Duc de Neufchatel | ||||||||||||
| 25. Agnes de Savoie | ||||||||||||
| 6. François d'Orléans, Marquis de Rothelin | ||||||||||||
| 26. Philip von Hachberg-Sausenberg | ||||||||||||
| 13. Johanna von Baden-Hochberg | ||||||||||||
| 27. Marie de Savoie | ||||||||||||
| 3. Françoise d'Orléans-Longueville | ||||||||||||
| 28. Pierre de Rohan, Vicomte de Fronsac | ||||||||||||
| 14. Charles de Rohan, Vicomte de Fronsac | ||||||||||||
| 29. Françoise de Penhoet | ||||||||||||
| 7. Jacqueline de Rohan | ||||||||||||
| 30. Bernard de Saint-Séverin, Prince de Besignano | ||||||||||||
| 15. Jeanne de Saint-Séverin | ||||||||||||
| 31. Jeanne Éléonore Piccolomini | ||||||||||||
Titles & Styles[]
- 4th May 1580 - 5th May 1588 Son Altesse Sérénissime, Mademoiselle de Condé
- 5th May 1588 - Present Son Altesse Sérénissime, suo jure Princesse de Condé, Princesse de Conti, Comtesse de Soissons, Comtesse de Dreux
- 1st February 1596 - 8th February 1601 Son Altesse Sérénissime, Duchesse de Longueville, suo jure Princesse de Condé, Princesse de Conti, Comtesse de Soissons, Comtesse de Dreux
- 8th February 1601 - Present Son Altesse Sérénissime, Duchesse Douairière de Longueville, suo jure Princesse de Condé, Princesse de Conti, Comtesse de Soissons, Comtesse de Dreux