Diane Gabrielle Damas (1656 – 11 January 1715) was a French noblewoman and aristocrat. She was born into the House of Damas as the daughter of Claude Leonor Damas, the Marquis of Thianges. Diane was also thought to have been a mistress of Louis XIV and a member of the Order of the Honey Bee.
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Early life
Born in 1656, Diane Gabrielle Damas was the daughter of Claude Leonor Damas, Marquis of Thianges and his wife; Gabrielle de Rochechouart de Mortemart, who was the sister to Madame de Montespan. Through her mother, she was the granddaughter of Gabriel de Rochechouart de Mortemart, the 1st Duke of Mortemart.
Growing up, Diane was educated in the Abbaye-aux-Bois, a convent founded in Ognolles. Diane was often noted for her beauty; according to Madame de Sévigné, Mademoiselle de Thianges was "young, pretty, and modest." Diane was also mentioned occasionally in the Memoirs of the Duc de Saint-Simon.
Louis de Rouvroy, duc de Saint-Simon, once wrote how Diane often outshone her sisters:
"Mrs. de Thianges dominated her two sisters, and even the king, whom she amused more than they did. As long as she lived, she dominated him, and retained, even after the expulsion of Mrs. de Montespan from the court, the greatest privations and unique distinctions [...]. Mrs. de Montespan since her love life, and even Mrs. de Thianges [...], during the lifetime of their husbands, gave up their arms and their livery which they never took back, and always wore those of Rochechouart alone."
Marriage
On December 14, 1670, Diane married into the family of Mancini-Mazarini, via Philippe Jules Mancini, a nephew of Cardinal Mazarin. The wedding took place in the Tuileries Palace, Paris. Following the marriage, Diane by marriage was deemed the Duchess consort of Nevers. Diane was also sister-in-law to the infamous Mazarinettes. The marriage produced four children: Diane Gabrielle Victoire Mancini (1672–1716), Philippe Jules François Mancini (1676–1768), Diane Adélaïde Philippe Mancini (1687–1747), and lastly, Jacques Hippolyte Mancini (1690–1759).
Death
On May 8, 1707, Diane received the news of her husband's death. Although the relationship was rocky, the death of her spouse still managed to affect her deeply in a way. Finally, on January 11, 1715, aged 58, Diane died peacefully in Paris, France.
Titles, Honors, Coat of Arms
1656 – 15 December 1670 Mademoiselle de Thianges
15 December 1670 – 8 May 1707 Duchess of Nevers
8 May 1707 – 11 January 1715 Dowager Duchess of Nevers
Member of the Order of the Honey Bee.
Ancestry
Descendants
Diane was an ancestor of Jules de Polignac, 1st Duke of Polignac and his spouse; Yolande de Polastron including their children as well; Aglaé de Polignac (1768–1803), Armand de Polignac (1777–1847), Jules de Polignac, 3rd Duke of Polignac (1780–1847), and Melchior de Polignac (1781–1855). She was also ancestor to his grandchildren, Prince Edmond de Polignac, Camille Armand Jules Marie, Prince de Polignac, Aglaé de Gramont, Alphonse de Polignac, Ludovic de Polignac, Héraclius de Gramont, 9th Duke of Gramont, Corisande de Gramont, Jules-Armand de Polignac, Yolande de Polignac, Charles de Polignac.
21st-century
Through Prince Pierre, Duke of Valentinois, she is a direct ancestor of Albert II of Monaco, in other words, the current or present Prince of Monaco.