House of La Tour d'Auvergne facts for kids
The House of La Tour d'Auvergne was a very important noble family in France. They had a lot of power and money during the 1600s and 1700s. This family claimed to rule the Duchy of Bouillon starting in 1456. The Duchy of Bouillon was later given to France on October 26, 1795.
The family had special apartments at the grand Palace of Versailles. They also owned a large house in Paris, which is now gone. The La Tour d'Auvergne family was known for being very proud and ambitious. They worked hard to arrange good marriages for their children. They also tried to gain favor with the French royal family.
The Duchy of Bouillon became part of their family through a marriage. Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne married Charlotte de La Marck. She was a duchess in her own right. The family also said they were the rulers of the Principality of Sedan. They held other titles too, like Duke of Albret and Duke of Château-Thierry from 1651. At Versailles, they were called "Foreign Princes." This meant they could use the special title of "Highness".
Leaders of Bouillon
The leaders of Bouillon were called dukes. They were usually addressed with the special title of Serene Highness.
- Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne (1555-1623)
- Frédéric Maurice de La Tour d'Auvergne (1605-1652)
- Godefroy Maurice de La Tour d'Auvergne (1636-1721)
- Emmanuel-Théodose de La Tour d'Auvergne (1668-1730)
- Charles Godefroy de La Tour d'Auvergne (1706-1771)
- Godefroy Charles Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne (1728-1792)
- Jacques Léopold de La Tour d'Auvergne (1746-1802)
Jacques Léopold was the last Duke of Bouillon. After the Napoleonic Wars, the duchy became part of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
Important Family Members
Many people from the La Tour d'Auvergne family became famous.
- Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne (1611-1675) was a famous French military leader. He became a Marshal of France. He was the younger brother of the second Duke of Bouillon.
- Marie Charlotte de La Tour d'Auvergne became the Princess of Beauvau through marriage. A famous painter named Jean Marc Nattier painted her portrait.
- Emmanuel Théodose de La Tour d'Auvergne was known as the Cardinal de Bouillon. He was an important religious figure in his time.
- Louis Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne was known as the Count of Évreux. He built a famous building in Paris called the Hôtel d'Évreux. Today, this building is the official home of the President of the French Republic.
Images for kids
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Personal coat of arms of the counts of Auvergne and Boulogne from the House of la Tour d'Auvergne.
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Family de Beaufort-Turenne in the 14th and 15th century.
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Louis Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, comte d'Évreux, builder of Élysée Palace. Portrait by Hyacinthe Rigaud (ca. 1720), now in the Metropolitan Museum
