The governess of the children of France (French: gouvernante des Enfants de France; sometimes the governess of the royal children, gouvernante des enfants royaux) was an office in the French royal court in pre-Revolutionary France and during the Bourbon Restoration. As the head of the royal nursery, she was charged with the education of the children and grandchildren of the monarch. The holder of the office was taken from the highest-ranking nobility of France and was passed between female family members for much of its history by right of succession (survivance). The governess was supported by various deputies or under-governesses (sous gouvernantes) and oversaw a household consisting of dozens of servants and caregivers.
The Livre qui contient tout ce qui peut interesser Madame la Gouvernante des Enfans de France et surintandante de Leurs Maisons (1704-44) is the primary written source on the office of the royal governess during the Bourbon dynasty. It is housed and digitized by the Bibliothèque nationale de France. The official court document serves as a manual for the governess and her deputies. It includes the etiquette, ceremonial procedures and daily responsibilities of the role in great detail. It also consists of household inventories of the royal nursery.
Contents
Governesses of the Children of France
Children of Charles VIII
Madame de Boufflers, appointed for Charles-Orland in 1492
Children of Louis XII
Madame de Bouchage, appointed 1499
Dame de Tournon, governess of Claude
Michelle de Saubonne
Children of Francis I
Charlotte Gouffier de Boisy, Madame de Cossé-Brissac
Guillemette de Sarrebruck, comtesse de Braine
Children of Henry II
1544–1557: Françoise de Contay (d. 1557), Madame d'Humières, Dame de Contay.
Marie-Catherine Gondi, '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 (1543–1603), Duchess of Retz.
Children of Charles IX
1572–1578: Isabelle de Crissé.
Children of Henry IV
1601–1625: Françoise de Longuejoue, baronne de Montglat (d. 1633)
Children of Louis XIII
1638–1643: Françoise de Lansac (1583–1657)
1643–1646: Marie-Catherine de Senecey (1588–1677)
Children of Louis XIV
1661–1664: Julie d'Angennes, (1607–1671) duchesse de Montausier
1661–1672: Louise de Prie, (1624–1709), Marquise of Toucy, Duchess of Cardona
1682–1691: Louise de Prie, (1624–1709), Marquise of Toucy, Duchess of Cardona
1704–1709: Louise de Prie (1624–1709), Marquise of Toucy, Duchess of Cardona
1709–1710: Marie Isabelle 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 acted as a sous gouvernante to Madame de Ventadour
1704–1717: Madame de La Lande
1710–1717: Marie-Suzanne de Valicourt
Children of Louis XV
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)
1735–1754: Marie Isabelle de Rohan, (1699–1754), Duchess of Tallard
1754–1776: Marie Louise de Rohan, (1720–1803), Countess of Marsan
1771–1778: Marie Angélique de Mackau, sous gouvernante (deputy)
Children of Louis XVI
1776–1782: Victoire de Rohan, (1743–1807), Princess of Guéméné
1782–1789: Yolande de Polastron, (1749–1793), Duchess of Polignac.
1789–1792: Louise Élisabeth de Croÿ, (1749–1832), Marquise of Tourzel.
1776–1792: Marie Angélique de Mackau, sous gouvernante (deputy)
1781–1792: Renée Suzanne de Soucy, sous gouvernante (deputy)
1785–1792: Agathe de Rambaud
Children of Charles Ferdinand, Duke of Berry
1819–1830: Marie Joséphine Louise, duchesse de Gontaut (1773–1857)