Henriette of Cleves facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Henriette of Cleves |
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| suo jure Duchess of Nevers suo jure Duchess of Rethel suo jure Countess of Rethel Princess of Mantua |
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| Portrait of Henriette of Cleves painted by François Clouet on an unknown date | |
| Spouse(s) | Louis I of Gonzaga, Duke of Nevers |
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| Catherine, Duchess of Longueville Marie Henriette, Duchess of Mayenne Frederic Gonzaga Francois Gonzaga Charles I, Duke of Mantua |
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| Noble family | La Marck |
| Father | Francis I of Cleves, 1st Duke of Nevers, Count of Rethel |
| Mother | Marguerite of Bourbon-La Marche |
| Born | 31 October 1542 La Chapelle-d'Angillon, Cher, France |
| Died | 24 June 1601 (aged 58) Hôtel de Nevers, Paris, France |
| Burial | Nevers Cathedral |
Henriette de La Marck (31 October 1542 – 24 June 1601), also known as Henriette of Cleves, was a French noblewoman and courtier. She was the 4th Duchess of Nevers, suo jure Countess of Rethel, and Princess of Mantua by her marriage with Louis I of Gonzaga-Nevers. A very talented landowner, she was one of France's chief creditors until her death.
Early life
Henriette was born in La Chapelle-d'Angillon, in the department of Cher, France, on 31 October, 1542. She was the eldest daughter and second child of Francis I of Cleves, 1st Duke of Nevers, Count of Rethel, and Marguerite of Bourbon-La Marche. Dauphin Henry (future King Henry II of France) acted as her godfather at her baptism. She had many siblings, including her brothers Francis and James, her father's heirs as rulers of Nevers and Rethel, Henri (who died young), Catherine, and Marie.
Henriette soon obtained an office at court as the lady-in-waiting of Queen Catherine de' Medici. She became the intimate personal friend and confidant of Princess Marguerite. On 4 March 1565, 22-years old Henriette married Louis I Gonzaga, Prince of Mantua in Moulins, Bourbonnais.
Duchess of Nevers and Rethel
After her eldest brother Francis had died in 1562 and brother James in 1564 without leaving heirs, Henriette became the suo jure 4th Duchess of Nevers and Countess of Rethel. She had been left with enormous debts from her late father and brothers, but managed well her lands and brought the financial situation back in order. Her profits were such that she eventually became one of the chief creditors of France's unstable state during the Wars of Religion.
Henriette died at the Hôtel de Nevers in Paris, on 24 June 1601 at the age of 58. She was buried in Nevers Cathedral at the side of her husband, who had preceded her in death in 1595.
Issue
- Catherine (21 January 1568 - 1 December 1629): Married Henry I, Duke of Longueville, by whom she had one son, Henri II d'Orléans, Duke of Longueville.
- Maria Henrietta (3 September 1571 - 3 August 1601): Married Henry of Lorraine, Duke of Mayenne.
- Frederick (11 March 1573 - 22 April 1574): Died in infancy.
- Francis (17 September 1576 - 13 June 1580): Died in infancy.
- Charles (6 May 1580- 20 September 1637): Succeeded his parents as Duke of Nevers, Rethel, Mantua, and Montferrat. Married Catherine Mayenne, daughter of Charles of Lorraine, Duke of Mayenne and Henriette of Savoy, Marquise of Villars, by whom he had six children, including Charles II Gonzaga and Anna Gonzaga.
In fiction
- Henriette of Cleves is a character in the book La Reine Margot by Alexandre Dumas.
- Henriette of Cleves, played by Dominique Blanc, has an important role in the movie La Reine Margot.
See also
In Spanish: Enriqueta de Cléveris para niños
