Marriage Negotiations
Her family wanted a match with the unmarried Charles Emmanuel II, Duke of Savoy, who was the son of Christine Marie of France (half-aunt of Élisabeth) who summoned Marie Jeanne her mother and sister to Turin in 1659 for inspection. Charles Emmanuel II had shown a keen interest in Marie Jeanne as a potential wife but his mother Christine Marie had been warned by Cardinal Mazarin of her ambitious nature causing nothing to be discussed further. The dominating Christine Marie arranged a marriage between her son and Françoise Madeleine d'Orléans in 1663 who proved suitably docile for the controlling Christine Marie.
Having returned to France, Mademoiselle de Nemours caught the attention of the dashing Prince Charles of Lorraine, heir of the Duke of Lorraine. The court of Portugal had previously requested her hand in marriage, however she refused after some deliberation on the subject.
Charles' rank was similar to that of the Duke of Savoy and the match was pursued by Marie Jeanne's mother. Officially engaged to Charles of Lorraine on 4 February 1662 the match was a popular one with the court and the union was supported by Queen Anne (mother of Louis XIV). Charles was hesitant about the union but, under pressure from Élisabeth, signed the marriage contract in which a dowry of two million livres was promised. However when the Treaty of Montmarte was signed two days later, the duchies of Lorraine and Bar reverted to Louis XIV leaving the Lorraine's landless. As a result Charles backed out of the union soon after but the two remained in contact till Charles' death in 1690. The "marriage" between Marie Jeanne and Charles had not been consummated and was thus considered void in the church.
The situation in Savoy changed in December 1663 Christine Marie died and was followed by her daughter-in-law Françoise Madeleine less than a year later. This left Charles Emmanuel II unmarried and without an heir. Proposals came from Françoise Madeleine's sisters but were rejected and it became clear that Charles Emmanuel II wanted to unite with Marie Jeanne who was a member of his own house. This union was supported by Louis XIV who did not want Charles Emmanuel II to marry an Archduchess of Austria for fear of loss of influence in the duchy. Charles Emmanuel II's only issue was Marie Jeanne's dowry; a union with someone of a foreign prince would need a dowry which would have to be paid by Charles Emmanuel II who was her closest kinsman.
Negotiations took over a year before Marie Jeanne went to Annecy with her grandmother Françoise of Lorraine on 1 May 1665 to meet her future husband. Marie Jeanne married Charles Emmanuel II on 10 May 1665 at the Castello del Valentino amid great celebration. Her large dowry included border provinces of Genevois, Faucigny as well as Beaufort which would become the property of the mainline House of Savoy.
Read more about this topic: Marie Jeanne Of Savoy
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