Claude de Rouvroy, duc de Saint-Simon facts for kids
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Claude de Rouvroy, 1st Duke of Saint-Simon (born August 1607, died May 3, 1693) was a French soldier and a close friend of King Louis XIII. The King even created a special title, a dukedom, just for him. His only son, Louis de Rouvroy, Duke of Saint-Simon, later became very famous. He wrote detailed stories about the court of King Louis XIV.
Claude was the second son of Louis de Rouvroy, who was a supporter of Henri, Duke of Guise, and the Catholic League.
Contents
A Life at Court
Becoming a Royal Favorite
Claude de Rouvroy and his older brother Charles started working for King Louis XIII as pages. A page was a young servant in a royal household. Claude quickly became a favorite of the King.
In March 1627, he was named the King's first equerry. This meant he was in charge of the King's horses and stables. In less than three years, he gained many important roles. He became the captain of the royal castles of St-Germain and Versailles. He was also made master of the hounds, which meant he managed the King's hunting dogs.
Gifts and Titles
Claude also became the first gentleman of the King's bed-chamber. This was a very close and trusted position. He was also a royal advisor and governor of the towns of Meulan and Blaye.
After the Siege of La Rochelle in 1628, Claude received valuable land. This land was worth 80,000 livres, which was a huge amount of money back then. In 1635, his family's land in Vermandois was made into a duchy. This meant he became the Duke of Saint-Simon and a peer of France. Even though their friendship changed later, Claude always respected King Louis XIII. He taught his son to admire the King as a perfect example of a ruler.
Challenges and Return
At first, Claude got along well with Cardinal Richelieu, a powerful minister. He helped Richelieu during an important event called the "Day of Dupes" on November 11, 1630.
However, Claude later fell out of favor with the King. This happened because he supported his uncle, the baron of Saint Léger, after a battle in 1636. Because of this, Claude had to leave the court and went to Blaye.
He fought in military campaigns in 1638 and 1639. After Cardinal Richelieu died, Claude returned to the royal court. But the King did not welcome him warmly on February 18, 1643. From then on, Claude mostly stayed out of politics. He did, however, support Condé during a conflict known as the Fronde.
Family Life
Claude de Rouvroy married his first wife, Diane de Budos de Portes, in 1644. She was related to Condé. They had three daughters together. Diane passed away in 1670.
In 1672, Claude married his second wife, Charlotte de l'Aubespine. With Charlotte, he had a son named Louis. This Louis is the famous writer who created detailed memoirs about the French court.
