Montpensier, Anne Marie Louise d'Orléans, duchesse de
Montpensier, Anne Marie Louise d'Orléans, duchesse de
(än märē` lwēz dôrlāäN` düshĕs` də mŏpäsyā`), 1627–93, French princess, called Mademoiselle and La Grande Mademoiselle; daughter of Gaston d'Orléans, the brother of Louis XIII. She took an active part on the rebel side in the FrondeFronde, 1648–53, series of outbreaks during the minority of King Louis XIV, caused by the efforts of the Parlement of Paris (the chief judiciary body) to limit the growing authority of the crown; by the personal ambitions of discontented nobles; and by the grievances of
..... Click the link for more information. of the Princes; in 1652 she relieved the city of Orléans at the head of her troops and opened the gates of Paris to Louis II de Bourbon, prince de Condé, and his army. Exiled with her father (1652), she returned to court in 1657. She fell in love with the duc de LauzunLauzun, Antonin Nompar de Caumont, duc de
, 1633–1723, French courtier and soldier. Mlle de Montpensier sought him in marriage; the king consented to the match but forbade it three days later (1670).
..... Click the link for more information. ; the king's permission for their marriage was granted only to be revoked (1670). Shortly thereafter, Lauzun was imprisoned (1671). Mademoiselle bought his release in 1681 and apparently married him, but they soon separated. Mademoiselle spent the rest of her life in pious works and the composition of her memoirs.
Bibliography
See biographies by F. Steegmuller (1955) and V. Sackville-West (1959, repr. 1969).