The governess of the children of France (; sometimes the governess of the royal children, ) was an office in the French royal court in pre-Revolutionary France and during the Bourbon Restoration. As the head of the royal nursery, she was charged with the education of the children and grandchildren of the monarch. The holder of the office was taken from the highest-ranking nobility of France and was passed between female family members for much of its history by right of succession (survivance). The governess was supported by various deputies or under-governesses (sous gouvernantes) and oversaw a household consisting of dozens of servants and caregivers.
The Livre qui contient tout ce qui peut interesser Madame la Gouvernante des Enfans de France et surintandante de Leurs Maisons (1704-44) is the primary written source on the office of the royal governess during the Bourbon dynasty. It is housed and digitized by the Bibliothèque nationale de France. The official court document serves as a manual for the governess and her deputies. It includes the etiquette, ceremonial procedures and daily responsibilities of the role in great detail. It also consists of household inventories of the royal nursery.
Governesses of the Children of France
Children of Charles VIII Madame de Boufflers, appointed for Charles-Orland in 1492De La Warr, C. (1906). A Twice Crowned Queen: Anne of Brittany. Storbritannien: E. Nash. p.
Children of Louis XII Madame de Bouchage, appointed 1499 De La Warr, C. (1906). A Twice Crowned Queen: Anne of Brittany. Storbritannien: E. Nash. p. 105 Dame de Tournon, governess of Claude De La Warr, C. (1906). A Twice Crowned Queen: Anne of Brittany. Storbritannien: E. Nash. p. 149 Michelle de Saubonne
Children of Francis I
Charlotte Gouffier de Boisy, Madame de Cossé-BrissacLes outils de la connaissance: enseignement et formation intellectuelle en ... Guillemette de Sarrebruck, comtesse de Braine
Children of Henry II 1544–1557: Françoise de Contay (d. 1557), Madame d'Humières, Dame de Contay.Robert J. Knecht, Hero or Tyrant? Henry III, King of France, 1574-89The girlhood of Mary queen of Scots from her landing in France in August 1548 to her departure from France in August 1561 Marie-Catherine Gondi, 'Madame Duperon' (d. 1570), sous gouvernante (deputy)Susan Broomhall, Women's Medical Work in Early Modern France Charlotte de Curton (d. 1575), sous gouvernante (deputy) Louise de Clermont (1504–1596), comtesse de Tonnerre and duchesse d’Uzès. Claude Catherine de Clermont (1543–1603), Duchess of Retz.
Children of Charles IX 1572–1578: Isabelle de Crissé.
Children of Henry IV 1601–1625: Françoise de Longuejoue, baronne de Montglat (d. 1633)
Children of Louis XIII
1638–1643: Françoise de Lansac (1583–1657) 1643–1646: Marie-Catherine de Senecey (1588–1677)
Children of Louis XIV 1661–1664: Julie d'Angennes, (1607–1671) duchesse de Montausier 1661–1672: Louise de Prie, (1624–1709), Marquise of Toucy, Duchess of Cardonawife of Philippe de La Mothe-Houdancourt
Children of Louis, Grand Dauphin
1682–1691: Louise de Prie, (1624–1709), Marquise of Toucy, Duchess of Cardona
Children of Louis, Duke of Burgundy 1704–1709: Louise de Prie (1624–1709), Marquise of Toucy, Duchess of Cardona 1709–1710: Marie Isabelle Angélique de La Mothe-Houdancourt (1654–1726), Duchess of La Ferté-Senneterredaughter of the Duke and Duchess of Cardona and older sister of Madame de Ventadour 1710–1735: Charlotte de La Mothe-Houdancourt, (1651–1744), Duchess of Ventadourdaughter of the Duke and Duchess of Cardona Anne Julie de Melun acted as a sous gouvernante to Madame de VentadourAnne Julie was the wife of Jules, Prince of Soubise and as such, granddaughter "in law" of La Ventadour 1704–1717: 1710–1717: Marie-Suzanne de Valicourt(Génalogie de la famille de Valicourt) Souvenirs de la Flandre-Wallonne: recherches historiques et choix de documents relatifs à Douai et à la province - Volume 9 - Société d'agriculture, des sciences et arts de Douai - 1869
Children of Louis XV
1727–1735: Charlotte de La Mothe-Houdancourt, (1654–1744), Duchess of Ventadour. 1735–1754: Marie Isabelle de Rohan, (1699–1754), Duchess of Tallarddaughter of Hercule Mériadec, Duke of Rohan-Rohan and Anne Geneviève de Lévis, granddaughter of the Duchess of Ventadour 1727–1746: Madame de La Lande, sous gouvernante (deputy) 1727–1744: Marie-Suzanne de Valicourt, sous gouvernante (deputy) 1729–?: Marguerite d'Armand de Mizon, sous gouvernante (deputy)
Children of Louis, Dauphin of France
1735–1754: Marie Isabelle de Rohan, (1699–1754), Duchess of Tallard 1754–1776: Marie Louise de Rohan, (1720–1803), Countess of MarsanDaughter of Jules, Prince of Soubise and a great-granddaughter of the Duchess of Ventadour 1771–1778: Marie Angélique de Mackau, sous gouvernante (deputy)
Children of Louis XVI 1776–1782: Victoire de Rohan, (1743–1807), Princess of Guéménégreat-great-granddaughter of the Duchess of Ventadour 1782–1789: Yolande de Polastron, (1749–1793), Duchess of Polignac. 1789–1792: Louise Élisabeth de Croÿ, (1749–1832), Marquise of Tourzel. 1776–1792: Marie Angélique de Mackau, sous gouvernante (deputy) 1781–1792: Renée Suzanne de Soucy, sous gouvernante (deputy) 1785–1792: Agathe de Rambaud
Children of Charles Ferdinand, Duke of Berry 1819–1830: Marie Joséphine Louise, duchesse de Gontaut (1773–1857)
See also Aya de los Infantes Notes