The Character or Pourtraict Of Mademoiselle de Montpensier
Anne Marie Louise d'Orléans, Duchess of Montpensier
Annotated and edited by JJ Yi
Introduction
One may consider Mademoiselle de Montpensier as none more than a snippet of French history, but the weight of her character left a great impression on 17th century France, nonetheless. She is most notable for her role in the Fronde during the rule of King Louis XIII and the minority of King Louis XIV, often siding with her father, Gaston, the Duke of Orléans, against the monarchy; her name was most heard and recognized for her involvement in the siege of Orleans, to which she helped bring an end to under a modicum of peace.
The Identity of Anne Marie Louise d'Orléans
Mademoiselle Montpensier was born Anne Marie Louise d’Orléans, daughter of Monsieur Gaston, the Duke of Orleans, and his first wife, Marie de Bourbon. Given Gaston’s title as Monsieur, the young d’Orléans was regarded as Mademoiselle and held a distinct quality of being unmarried and childless all the way up until her death in 1693. It is pertinent to consider that she has had numerous encounters with suitors that continuously fell through in a multitude of ways. In light of her marriage-less state, she was deemed “the wealthiest single princess of Europe” due to her wealth being left in her hands, and her hands alone up until her natural passing.
But prior to her death, Montpensier did not live her life wallowing in indolence. Her father was the last remaining brother of King Louis XIII, making him Mademoiselle’s uncle. Regardless of blood relations, Gaston holds a history of flimsy loyalty to the crown – such as conspiring to assassinate Cardinal Richelieu, a prime minister of France. He was exiled then pardoned several times throughout his life and had a propensity towards rebelling against royal authorities, placing him on tense relations with the French Royal Court and authorities.
Mademoiselle Montpensier was of kindred spirit with her father. Her distaste towards Mazarin was far from unheard in accordance with her headstrong temperament and stubbornly independent approach to life. Her vocal nature made it known that she wasn’t on the side of the crown, made especially clear during both periods of the Fronde. Within the fashion of Mademoiselle’s evident dislike towards conformity, it is also striking to note her resistance to marriage – as it will be briefly expressed in her memoir below.
Mademoiselle and the Trifling Topic of Marriage
As briefly mentioned somewhere above, Montpensier died unmarried and childless, leaving her large stash of fortune to her cousin, Philipe I, the Duke of Orléans. She was not without suitors, nor was she without falling in love. But her opinions on marriage remained unconventional of the time, positing that the most power and autonomy a woman is allowed is when she is widowed – where wealth and finances are under her name, with the power to do with it as a man would in life.
She expresses the freedom of being a woman without marriage and fancies what life would be without the pressure of marriage and its binding union. She shines a romantic light on the daydream, exacerbating her penchant for literature and its art, which is shown in the writing of her memoirs that pens her legacy into the pages of history.
Editorial Decisions
The Portrait of Mademoiselle Montpensier is attributed to the former duchess, yet its writing does not make it appear so. Despite it being a memoir, it is written in a biographical manner that could easily make one mistake it as the writing of a third-party. The reason behind this presentation of herself is unknown, but some may theorize it to be Montpensier’s efforts to romanticize her life and the many achievements she carried out throughout it – to embellish her legacy in powerful deeds that are privy of her romantic heart.
Most of Montpensier’s memoirs were written during her exile, where other letters and memoirs account her time during the siege of Orleans, providing a historical lens for one to investigate, and to question the role of women during her time, and the many ideologies she presents throughout her writings.
To honor the integrity of Montpensier’s writing, I have decided to transcribe The Portrait of Mademoiselle Montpensier as closely as possible to its original text in a provision of authenticity.
Transcription
The Character or Pourtraict Of Mademoiselle de Montpensier
Mademoiselle de Montpensier the elder is of the house Bourbon, both by Father and Mother. Gaston the Son of France, younger brother to Lewis the XIII, was her Father; and Mary de Montpensier, his first wife, derived her Birth from Henry Duke of Montpensier; and that Henry from a third Son of the house of Bourbon, whose direct line failed at the death of the Constable, & revived again in Charles the Second Son (p.58).
of that Family; the third Son having begotten the Prince de la Roche, Suryon, and the Duke of Montpensier, from whom Mary the Mother of Mademoiselle was descended. The Princess being of the blood of Kings and Princes, is haughty, daring, and of a more then feminine courage[1]. It may be truely said, he is an Amazon, and fitter to manage the Sword then a Distaff, which she made apparent at the business of St. Antoines, where the Princes fortunes being desperate, and her Father not daring to appear, to save the Prince of Conde's party, who were at the brink of destruction; She went to the Town-hall, and took the Provost of the Merchants and the Governor of Paris by the Beards, using great threats, to oblige them to arm and raise the Citizens for the defe- (p.59)
-fence of the Prince; from whence she went to her Father, his Royal Highness, in his Palace, whom she in a manner constrained to go with her to the Bastille, that so his presence might support the staggering forces: and all that rising of the Citizens, (an enterprise too rugged and daring for the softer Sex, especially against a Royal Army, and in presence of their Majesties) was an action hardly to be excused, but upon the consideration of the rashness of a woman, the King's minority, and the general aversion at that time against Cardinal Mazarine. For she commanded them to fire their Cannon upon the King's Army, and facilitated the Princes [2]retreat, opening the City Gates to him;[3] which faved both him and his whole party from evident ruine. She is passionate, re- (p.60)
-solute and active, free in discourse, and endures not to be contradicted in her opinions. She never cared for the Kings, nor her Father's Minsters, because that obliged to some condescention towards them[4]. She had formerly some thoughts of marrying the Arch-Duke Leopold of Austria without the King's consent, which obliged his Majesty to have a Guard attending her, and to secure all the passages into Flanders, lest she should throw her self into his Arms, who then made War against France. It is said she otherwhile refused the King of England courtship, during his misfortunes; which is a fault of youth, not to be repaired. I hold it somewhat difficult to believe that her great heart could submit it to self to any man's commands, how potent and noble soever he might - (p.61)
-be. She is the richest Princess in Europe; for she enjoys above eight hundred thousand Livres revenue in Lands yearly. She is of a very tall and handsome proportion of a Masculine aspect, a confident and free garb and pace, a majestick presence, and yet a pleasing and graceful conversation. Her humour is somewhat impatient, sprightly, and forward to undertake whatever she designs; and being a stranger to any kind of dissimulation, speaking her minde freely without disguise, not caring who listens. It is thought they apprehended at Court, that she would express some discontent, by reason of the Marriage of her younger Sisters before her, who were by another Mother; or else upon some resentment written or spoken, she was commanded to- (p.62)
-withdraw her self from the Court to her own Estate, where she remains in a great deal of freedom and liberty, and not without much hopes of being suddenly recalled to Court[5], where some advantagious propositions are on foot for a fit match for her, but with what Monarch is not so well known.
Bibliography
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Anne-Marie-Louise d’Orléans, duchess de Montpensier". Encyclopedia Britannica, 25 May. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Anne-Marie-Louise-dOrleans-duchesse-de-Montpensier. Accessed 8 December 2023.
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Gaston, duke d’Orléans". Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Apr. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Gaston-Jean-Baptiste-duc-dOrleans-duc-dAnjou. Accessed 8 December 2023.
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "the Fronde". Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Feb. 2014, https://www.britannica.com/event/The-Fronde. Accessed 9 December 2023.
Montpensier, Anne-Marie-Louise d\’Orléans, et al. Against Marriage : The Correspondence of La Grande Mademoiselle. University of Chicago Press, 2002, https://doi.org/10.7208/9780226534930.
Montpensier, Anne-Marie-Louise d'Orléans,duchesse de, 1627-1693. The Characters Or Pourtraicts of the Present Court of France Wherein is Described the King, the Princes, the Generals and the Principal Ministers of State &c. / Written Originally in French ; made English by J.B., Gent. , London, 1668. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/books/characters-pourtraicts-present-court-france/docview/2240943492/se-2.
"Montpensier, Anne Marie Louise d'Orléans, Duchesse de (1627–1693) ." Women in World History: A Biographical Encyclopedia. . Encyclopedia.com. 15 Nov. 2023 <https://www.encyclopedia.com>.
An example of Mademoiselle Montpensier’s character as described in the introduction; headstrong and fiercely independent. ↑
The Prince of Condé ↑
Mademoiselle Montpensier – openly against the monarchy alongside her father demonstrates this opposition by demanding the armored troops at Bastille to open fire on the king’s troops. This quick decision impeded on the king’s troops’ advances, which ended up saving the Prince of Conde’s life. ↑
Mademoiselle’s aversion to complying to the crown and its authorities is exhibited here. It is uncertain what she could mean by “obliged to some condescention towards them”. She would prefer not to stoop to their level, perhaps, or she feels she must be condescended upon by such authorities. ↑
This is of similar wording in the interpretation of Mademoiselle’s letters to Motteville regarding the burdensome nature of marriage; insinuates that marriage impedes on a woman’s freedom. ↑