Governess of the Children of France

The Governess of the Children of France (sometimes the Governess of the Royal Children) was an office at the royal French court during pre-Revolutionary France and 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^[1] (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.

• Michelle de Saubonne

• Charlotte Gouffier de Boisy, Madame de Cossé-Brissac^[2]
• Guillemette de Sarrebruck, comtesse de Braine

• 1544–1557: Françoise de Contay (d. 1557), Madame d'Humières, Dame de Contay.^[3][4]
  • Marie-Catherine Gondi, 'Madame Duperon' (d. 1570), sous gouvernante (deputy)^[5]
  • 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.

• 1572–1578: Isabelle de Crissé.^[6]

• 1601–1625: Françoise de Longuejoue, baronne de Montglat (d. 1633)

• 1638–1643: Françoise de Lansac (1583–1657)
• 1643–1646: Marie-Catherine de Senecey (1588–1677)

• 1661–1664: Julie d'Angennes, (1607–1671) duchesse de Montausier
• 1661–1672: Louise de Prie, (1624–1709), Marquise of Toucy, Duchess of Cardona^[7]

• 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 Gabrielle Angélique de La Mothe-Houdancourt (1654–1726), Duchess of La Ferté-Senneterre^[8]
• 1710–1735: Charlotte de La Mothe-Houdancourt, (1651–1744), Duchess of Ventadour^[9]
  • Anne Julie de Melun acted as a sous gouvernante to Madame de Ventadour^[10]
  • 1704–1717: Madame de La Lande (fr)
  • '1710–1717: Marie-Suzanne de Valicourt^[11]

• 1727–1735: Charlotte de La Mothe-Houdancourt, (1654–1744), Duchess of Ventadour.
• 1735–1754: Marie Isabelle de Rohan, (1699–1754), Duchess of Tallard^[12]
  • 1727–1746: Madame de La Lande, sous gouvernante (deputy)
  • 1727–1744: Marie-Suzanne de Valicourt, sous gouvernante (deputy)^[11]
  • 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^[13]
  • 1771–1778: Marie Angélique de Mackau, sous gouvernante (deputy)

• 1776–1782: Victoire de Rohan, (1743–1807), Princess of Guéméné^[14]
• 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

• 1819–1830: Marie Joséphine Louise, duchesse de Gontaut (1773–1857)

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