Louis ''Antoine'' Sophie de Vignerot du Plessis, 4th Duke of Richelieu (4 February 1736 – 1791), was a French nobleman and general. He was known by the

courtesy title A courtesy title is a title that does not have legal significance but rather is used through custom or courtesy, particularly, in the context of nobility, the titles used by children of members of the nobility (cf. substantive title). In some co ...

Duke of Fronsac Duke of Fronsac (French: ''duc de Fronsac'') was a title of French nobility, first created by promoting the ''seigneurie'' of Fronsac to a duchy in 1608, but the title became extinct a few decades later. This title was revived in 1634 for Arma ...

before 1788. He also held the titles of Prince de Mortagne, Marquis du Pont-Courlay, Comte de Cosnac, Baron de Barbezieux, Baron de Coze and Baron de Saugeon.

Life and career

He was the son of Louis François Armand de Vignerot du Plessis (1696–1788), 3rd

Duke of Richelieu Duke of Richelieu (french: duc de Richelieu) was a title of French nobility. It was created on 26 November 1629 for Armand Jean du Plessis de Richelieu (known as Cardinal Richelieu) who, as a Roman Catholic clergyman, had no issue to pass it down ...

Marshal of France Marshal of France (french: Maréchal de France, plural ') is a French military distinction, rather than a military rank, that is awarded to generals for exceptional achievements. The title has been awarded since 1185, though briefly abolished (1 ...

and an expert courtier, and of Marie Élisabeth Sophie de Lorraine (daughter of

Anne Marie Joseph de Lorraine Joseph de Lorraine (Anne Marie Joseph; 30 April 1679 – 29 April 1739) was a member of the House of Lorraine and Count of Harcourt. He was styled ''prince de Guise'' before becoming Count of Harcourt. Biography Born to Alphonse Henri, Count of ...

Madame de Pompadour Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, Marquise de Pompadour (, ; 29 December 1721 – 15 April 1764), commonly known as Madame de Pompadour, was a member of the French court. She was the official chief mistress of King Louis XV from 1745 to 1751, and rema ...

wished Antoine to marry her daughter, but his father avoided that demand by pretending that Antoine's mother was a Princess of Lorraine (much superior to the house of Richelieu) and that he would thus need the permission of the head of that house (

Emperor Francis I Francis I (Francis Stephen; french: François Étienne; german: Franz Stefan; 8 December 1708 – 18 August 1765) was Holy Roman Emperor, Archduke of Austria, Duke of Lorraine and Bar, and Grand Duke of Tuscany. He became the ruler of the Hol ...

) for the marriage. Madame de Pompadour did not press her claims any further. A first cousin was Marie Charlotte, Princess of Beauvau, wife of Charles Juste de Beauvau and daughter of the

Duke of Bouillon The Duchy of Bouillon (french: Duché de Bouillon) was a duchy comprising Bouillon and adjacent towns and villages in present-day Belgium. The state originated in the 10th century as property of the Lords of Bouillon, owners of Bouillon Castle. ...

. He succeeded his father as a ''premier gentilhomme de la chambre'' to King

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 ...

, and later became a

maréchal de camp ''Maréchal de camp'' (sometimes incorrectly translated as field marshal) was a general officer rank used by the French Army until 1848. The rank originated from the older rank of sergeant major general ( French: ''sergent-major général''). Se ...

and

lieutenant général Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...

(1780).

Marriage and issue

His first marriage, on 25 February 1764, was to Adélaïde de Hautefort. They had one child, Armand Emmanuel (1766–1822). His second marriage, on 20 April 1776, was to Marie-Antoinette de Galliffet. They had two children : * Armande Marie (born 1777), who became Marquise de Montcalm-Gozon * Armande ''Simplicie'' Gabrielle (born 1778), who became Marquise de Jumilhac

Ancestry

Bibliography

* Evelyne Lever, ''Madame de Pompadour'', collection tempus, Perrin, Paris, 2000 {{DEFAULTSORT:Vignerot 1736 births 1791 deaths French generals

Louis Louis may refer to: * Louis (coin) * Louis (given name), origin and several individuals with this name * Louis (surname) * Louis (singer), Serbian singer * HMS ''Louis'', two ships of the Royal Navy See also Derived or associated terms * Lewis ( ...

18th-century peers of France