One of Louis XIV’s many mistresses was a beautiful young noblewoman who was the Princess of Soubise. Louis had met her at Chambord not long after she had given birth to her fourth child—at the age of 21. The child was named Hercule-Mériadec de Rohan.
At the time, Louis XIV was somewhere between Louise de la Vallière and Madame de Montespan. The Princess de Soubise later became a lady in waiting for Louis’ wife Queen Marie-Thérèse. It was rumoured that Louis XIV was the father of her seventh child (she had 11 children in total).
THE MISTRESS’ SON MARRIES THE GOVERNESS’ DAUGHTER
Hercule-Mériadec de Rohan became a military man in Louis XIV’s army.
At 24 he married Anne-Geneviève, the only child of Madame de Ventadour—future governess of Louis XV.
Anne-Geneviève was the widow of the Prince of Turenne.
In 1704 the Prince of Soubise bought the Hotel de Guise in Paris, which he virtually reconstructed and renamed the Hotel de Soubise. The Princess of Soubise died there five years later. When her husband died in 1712, Hercule-Mériadec became the Prince of Soubise and inherited the Hotel de Soubise.
His wife Anne-Geneviève, now Princess of Soubise, had five children. She died at the Hotel de Soubise at the age of 54.
Five years later Hercule-Mériadec remarried at the age of 63. His second wife was the 19 year old Marie–Sophie de Courcillon, who became the next Princess of Soubise.
