Early Life
Marie de Rohan, styled Mademoiselle de Montbazon, was the daughter of Hercule de Rohan, Duke of Montbazon and head of the House of Rohan, possessed of great estates in Brittany and Anjou, enjoying princely rank at the French court. Her mother was Madeleine de Lenoncourt.
In September 1617, she married the Grand Constable (supreme commander of the French armies) Charles d'Albert, Duke of Luynes, a favourite of King Louis XIII. He formed her taste for unscrupulous political intrigue, introducing her at court, where she gained the confidence of both the king and queen. In December 1618, Louis XIII named her surintendante of the queen's household, ousting the Connétable de Montmorency. Her influence with the queen consort, Anne of Austria, was unrivaled.
In 1620, she gave birth to Louis Charles d'Albert, for whom Louis XIII stood godfather. Louis-Charles became the second Duke of Luynes and married his mother's sister, Anne de Rohan. His daughter Jeanne Baptiste, simultaneously Marie's granddaughter and niece, was the mistress of Victor Amadeus II of Sardinia and ancestress of the Savoy kings of Italy.
Her youngest half brother was Francois de Rohan, Prince of Soubise, founder of the Soubise line of the House of Rohan. His wife was Anne de Rohan-Chabot, Madame de Soubise, who was one time mistress of Louis XIV.
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