The Governess of the Children of France (sometimes the Governess of the Royal Children) was office at the royal French court during pre-Revolutionary France and the Bourbon Restoration. She was charged with the education of the children and grandchildren of the

monarch A monarch is a head of stateWebster's II New College DictionarMonarch Houghton Mifflin. Boston. 2001. p. 707. Life tenure, for life or until abdication, and therefore the head of state of a monarchy. A monarch may exercise the highest authority ...

. The holder of the office was taken from the highest-ranking nobility of France. The governess was supported by various deputies or under-governesses (''sous gouvernantes'').

Governesses of the Children of France

Duchess de la Ferte with the Duke of Brittany and the Duke of Anjou, de Troy

Marie Thérèse Charlotte of France with her governess

Children of Louis XII of France

Michelle de Saubonne Michelle de Saubonne, Madame de Soubise (1485–1549) was a French courtier who served as lady-in-waiting to Anne of Brittany, as the Governess of the Children of France beginning in 1499, and as the governess for the children of Ercole II d'Est ...

Children of
Francis I of France Francis I (french: François Ier; frm, Francoys; 12 September 1494 – 31 March 1547) was King of France from 1515 until his death in 1547. He was the son of Charles, Count of Angoulême, and Louise of Savoy. He succeeded his first cousin once ...

* Charlotte Gouffier de Boisy, Madame de Cossé-Brissac *

Guillemette de Sarrebruck Guillemette de Sarrebruck (circa 1490–1571) was a French court official. She served as Governess of the Children of France, and '' Première dame d'honneur'' to the queen of France, Mary Stuart, from 1559 until 1560. She had the title comtes ...

, comtesse de Braine

Children of
Henry II of France Henry II (french: Henri II; 31 March 1519 – 10 July 1559) was King of France from 31 March 1547 until his death in 1559. The second son of Francis I and Duchess Claude of Brittany, he became Dauphin of France upon the death of his elder bro ...

* 1544–1557: Françoise de Contay (d. 1557), Madame d'Humières, Dame de Contay. **

Marie-Catherine Gondi Marie Catherine Gondi, née ''de Pierrevive'', dame du Perron and dame d'Armentières (circa 1500 – 1570), was a French court official, a trusted favorite and confidant of the queen regent of France, Catherine de Medici. She served as ''Dame d'ato ...

, 'Madame Duperon' (d. 1570), sous gouvernante (deputy) ** Charlotte de Curton (d. 1575), sous gouvernante (deputy) * Louise de Clermont (1504–1596), comtesse de Tonnerre and duchesse d’Uzès. *

Claude Catherine de Clermont Claude Catherine de Clermont- Tonnerre de Vivonne (1543 – 18 February 1603), lady of Dampierre, countess and duchess of Retz, was a French courtier, writer and salon host. Life Family and private life Claude Catherine de Clermont was bor ...

(1543–1603), Duchess of Retz.

Children of
Charles IX of France Charles IX (Charles Maximilien; 27 June 1550 – 30 May 1574) was King of France from 1560 until his death in 1574. He ascended the French throne upon the death of his brother Francis II in 1560, and as such was the penultimate monarch of the ...

* 1572–1578:

Isabelle de Crissé Isabelle de Crissé, Madame de Monthoiron née ''Chabot'' (fl. 1578) was a French court official. She was the royal governess of King Charles IX of France for his only legitimate child, Marie Elisabeth of France Marie Elisabeth of France (27 Oct ...

Children of
Henry IV of France Henry IV (french: Henri IV; 13 December 1553 – 14 May 1610), also known by the epithets Good King Henry or Henry the Great, was King of Navarre (as Henry III) from 1572 and King of France from 1589 to 1610. He was the first monarc ...

* 1601–1625: Françoise de Longuejoue, baronne de Montglat (d. 1633)

Children of
Louis XIII Louis XIII (; sometimes called the Just; 27 September 1601 – 14 May 1643) was King of France from 1610 until his death in 1643 and King of Navarre (as Louis II) from 1610 to 1620, when the crown of Navarre was merged with the French crown ...

* 1638–1643:

Françoise de Lansac Françoise de Lansac née de Sainte-Maure de Montausier (1582-1657) was a French courtier. She was the royal governess of King Louis XIV of France and his brother from 1638 until 1643. She was the daughter of Gilles de Souvré and married to Artu ...

(1583–1657) * 1643–1646:

Marie-Catherine de Senecey Marie-Catherine de Senecey, née ''de La Rochefoucauld-Randan'' (1588–1677) was a French courtier. She served as ''Première dame d'honneur'' to the queen of France, Anne of Austria, from 1626 until 1638, and royal governess to king Louis XIV of ...

(1588–1677)

Children of
Louis XIV , house = Bourbon , father = Louis XIII , mother = Anne of Austria , birth_date = , birth_place = Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France , death_date = , death_place = Palace of Vers ...

*1661–1664:

Julie d'Angennes Julie d'Angennes, Duchess of Montausier (1607 - 15 November 1671) was a French courtier. She served as royal governess of Louis, Grand Dauphin in 1661–1664, and '' Première dame d'honneur'' to the queen of France, Queen Marie Thérèse, from ...

, (1607–1671) duchesse de Montausier *1661–1672:

Louise de Prie Louise de Prie de La Mothe-Houdancourt (1624–1709), was a French noblewoman and court official. She served as royal governess to the children of king Louis XIV of France in 1661–72, and to the children of Louis, Grand Dauphin in 1682&n ...

, (1624–1709), Marquise of Toucy, Duchess of Cardona

Children of the
Grand Dauphin Louis, Dauphin of France (1 November 1661 – 14 April 1711), commonly known as Grand Dauphin, was the eldest son and heir apparent of King Louis XIV and his spouse, Maria Theresa of Spain. He became known as the Grand Dauphin after the birth of ...

*1682–1691:

, (1624–1709), Marquise of Toucy, Duchess of Cardona

Children of the
Duke of Burgundy Duke of Burgundy (french: duc de Bourgogne) was a title used by the rulers of the Duchy of Burgundy, from its establishment in 843 to its annexation by France in 1477, and later by Holy Roman Emperors and Kings of Spain from the House of Habsburg ...

*1709–1710: Marie Isabelle Gabrielle Angélique de La Mothe-Houdancourt (1654–1726), Duchess of La Ferté-Senneterre *1710–1735: Charlotte de La Mothe-Houdancourt, (1651–1744), Duchess of Ventadour **

Anne Julie de Melun Anne Julie de Melun (Anne Julie Adélaïde; 1698 – 18 May 1724) was a French court office holder. She served as deputy Governess of the Children of France. Biography Born in 1698, she was baptised with the names Anne Julie Adélaïde and ...

acted as a ''sous gouvernante'' to Madame de Ventadour ** 1704–1717: Madame de La Lande **'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 Louis XV (15 February 1710 – 10 May 1774), known as Louis the Beloved (french: le Bien-Aimé), was King of France from 1 September 1715 until his death in 1774. He succeeded his great-grandfather Louis XIV at the age of five. Until he reache ...

*1727–1735: Charlotte de La Mothe-Houdancourt, (1654–1744), Duchess of Ventadour. *1735–1754: Marie Isabelle de Rohan, (1699–1754), Duchess of Tallard **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 Marie may refer to: People Name * Marie (given name) * Marie (Japanese given name) * Marie (murder victim), girl who was killed in Florida after being pushed in front of a moving vehicle in 1973 * Marie (died 1759), an enslaved Cree person in Tr ...

, (1720–1803), Countess of Marsan ** 1771–1778:

Marie Angélique de Mackau Marie Angélique de Mackau née ''de Fitte de Soucy'' (1723-1801), was a French court office holder. She was royal governess to Élisabeth of France (1764–1794) and later to the children of Louis XVI of France and Marie Antoinette from 1771 and ...

, sous gouvernante (deputy)

Children of
Louis XVI Louis XVI (''Louis-Auguste''; ; 23 August 175421 January 1793) was the last King of France before the fall of the monarchy during the French Revolution. He was referred to as ''Citizen Louis Capet'' during the four months just before he was ...

*1776–1782:

Victoire de Rohan Victoire Armande Josèphe de Rohan, ''Princess of Guéméné'' (28 December 1743 – 20 September 1807) was a French noblewoman and court official. She was the governess of the children of Louis XVI of France. She is known better as ''Madame de G ...

, (1743–1807), Princess of Guéménégreat-great-granddaughter of the Duchess of Ventadour *1782–1789:

Yolande de Polastron Yolande Martine Gabrielle de Polastron, Duchess of Polignac (8 September 17499 December 1793) was the favourite of Marie Antoinette, whom she first met when she was presented at the Palace of Versailles in 1775, the year after Marie Antoinette be ...

, (1749–1793), Duchess of Polignac. *1789–1792:

Louise Élisabeth de Croÿ Louise or Luise may refer to: * Louise (given name) Arts Songs * Louise (Bonnie Tyler song), "Louise" (Bonnie Tyler song), 2005 * Louise (The Human League song), "Louise" (The Human League song), 1984 * Louise (Jett Rebel song), "Louise" (Jett ...

, (1749–1832), Marquise of Tourzel. ** 1776–1792:

, sous gouvernante (deputy) ** 1781–1792:

Renée Suzanne de Soucy Renée Suzanne de Soucy née ''de Mackau'' (1758-1841), was a French court office holder. She was royal governess to the children of Louis XVI of France and Marie Antoinette from 1781 and 1792. Life She was the daughter of baron Marie Henri Louis ...

, sous gouvernante (deputy) ** 1785–1792:

Agathe de Rambaud Agathe de Rambaud was born in Versailles as Agathe-Rosalie Mottet and was baptized in the future cathedral Saint-Louis of Versailles, on 10 December 1764. She died in Aramon, in the ''département'' of Gard, on 19 October 1853. She was the offic ...

Children of
Charles Ferdinand, Duke of Berry Charles Ferdinand d'Artois, Duke of Berry (24 January 1778 – 14 February 1820) was the third child and younger son of Charles X, King of France, (whom he predeceased) by his wife Maria Theresa of Savoy. In June 1832, two years after the overt ...

*1819–1830: Marie Joséphine Louise, duchesse de Gontaut (1773–1857)

Notes

{{Reflist History of education in France Ancien Régime People of the Ancien Régime Ancien Régime office-holders Government of France French monarchy Education and training occupations French nobility Court titles in the Ancien Régime Gendered occupations French royal court

Governesses of the Children of France

Children of Louis XII of France

Children of Francis I of France Francis I (french: François Ier; frm, Francoys; 12 September 1494 – 31 March 1547) was King of France from 1515 until his death in 1547. He was the son of Charles, Count of Angoulême, and Louise of Savoy. He succeeded his first cousin once ...

Children of Henry II of France Henry II (french: Henri II; 31 March 1519 – 10 July 1559) was King of France from 31 March 1547 until his death in 1559. The second son of Francis I and Duchess Claude of Brittany, he became Dauphin of France upon the death of his elder bro ...

Children of Charles IX of France Charles IX (Charles Maximilien; 27 June 1550 – 30 May 1574) was King of France from 1560 until his death in 1574. He ascended the French throne upon the death of his brother Francis II in 1560, and as such was the penultimate monarch of the ...

Children of Henry IV of France Henry IV (french: Henri IV; 13 December 1553 – 14 May 1610), also known by the epithets Good King Henry or Henry the Great, was King of Navarre (as Henry III) from 1572 and King of France from 1589 to 1610. He was the first monarc ...

Children of Louis XIII Louis XIII (; sometimes called the Just; 27 September 1601 – 14 May 1643) was King of France from 1610 until his death in 1643 and King of Navarre (as Louis II) from 1610 to 1620, when the crown of Navarre was merged with the French crown ...

Children of Louis XIV , house = Bourbon , father = Louis XIII , mother = Anne of Austria , birth_date = , birth_place = Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France , death_date = , death_place = Palace of Vers ...

Children of the Grand Dauphin Louis, Dauphin of France (1 November 1661 – 14 April 1711), commonly known as Grand Dauphin, was the eldest son and heir apparent of King Louis XIV and his spouse, Maria Theresa of Spain. He became known as the Grand Dauphin after the birth of ...

Children of the Duke of Burgundy Duke of Burgundy (french: duc de Bourgogne) was a title used by the rulers of the Duchy of Burgundy, from its establishment in 843 to its annexation by France in 1477, and later by Holy Roman Emperors and Kings of Spain from the House of Habsburg ...

Children of Louis XV Louis XV (15 February 1710 – 10 May 1774), known as Louis the Beloved (french: le Bien-Aimé), was King of France from 1 September 1715 until his death in 1774. He succeeded his great-grandfather Louis XIV at the age of five. Until he reache ...