22/08/2024
Marie de Bourbon, Princess of Carignano (1606-1692). She was the daughter of Charles de Bourbon, Count of Soissons and his wife Anne de Montafiรฉ.
She was born at the Hรดtel de Soissons in Paris and was originally placed in the Abbey of Fontevraud in Anjou, but grew up mostly at court and therefore had close ties to the royal family, to whom she was related (her father was a first cousin of King Henry IV of France) and she was therefore allowed to use the title princesse du sang.
On 6 January (1625), aged 18 Marie married Tommaso Francesco of Savoy, Prince of Carignano, who was the ninth child of Carlo Emanuele I, Duke of Savoy. The couple had seven children, four of whom reached adulthood.
Even after her marriage, Marie had a strong position at court as her husband had been appointed Grand Master of France of the king's household. She was not politically active, but took full advantage of her position by living in class with her royal relatives.
After her father's death in (1612), her brother Louis had inherited the title of Count of Soissons, but when he died without legitimate children in (1641), Marie inherited his title and became countess of Soissons in her own right. Her youngest son Eugรจne Maurice later inherited the title and it became extinct first in (1734), with the death of his grandson's son Eugรจne Jean.
Her husband died in (1656). As a widow she remained in her native France and resided at the Hรดtel de Soissons and Chรขteau de Bagnolet. She arranged advantageous marriages for her children and also helped raise her grandson Eugรจne of Savoy, which later became one of the most successful military commanders of his time.
Marie died in Paris on 3 June (1692), aged 86. She is buried in her home country France.
๐ธ: Rothschild Family Archives
