Isabella Charlotte de Rohan-Chabot facts for kids

Isabella Charlotte de Rohan-Chabot (born July 16, 1784 – died 1868) was an Irish noblewoman and a diarist. She came from a very important family in Ireland. Isabella is remembered today because of the detailed diaries she wrote. These diaries tell us a lot about her life and the times she lived in.

Isabella's Early Life

Isabella Charlotte FitzGerald was born on July 16, 1784. Her birthplace was Leinster House in Dublin, Ireland. She was the fourth daughter of William Robert FitzGerald, 2nd Duke of Leinster. Her mother was Emilia Olivia FitzGerald. Isabella grew up in several family homes. These included Leinster House, Carton House in County Kildare, and Frescati House in Blackrock. During a time of trouble called the 1798 Rebellion, her family moved to Dublin for safety.

Her Family and Travels

In 1805, Isabella moved to Cheltenham, England. There, she met and fell in love with William Henry Lyttleton. However, her family did not approve of their relationship, so they did not marry. Isabella often visited London and became well-known in society.

In June 1809, she married Louis William de Rohan-Chabot. He was a French officer living in London. In 1811, Isabella traveled with her husband to Portugal. They lived there with a noble family. Sadly, their baby became ill and passed away during a difficult journey back to England.

Working for the French Queen

Isabella visited Ireland again in 1812 and 1813. Her daughter, Olivia, was born during her 1813 visit. After the French monarchy was restored in 1814, her husband got a job helping the duc d'Orléans. Isabella became a lady-in-waiting to the duchess, Maria Amalia of Naples and Sicily. This meant she helped the duchess with her daily life.

The family lived in Paris, France. Isabella met important people there, including the future King George IV of England. When Napoleon escaped from Elba in 1815, Isabella left France. She returned to Carton House in Ireland. There, she gave birth to another son, Philippe. After Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo, Isabella went back to France. She continued her duties as a lady-in-waiting. She lived at the Château de Villiers and the Palais-Royal.

In 1819, she spent a long time visiting Ireland. In 1821, she traveled with King George IV on his royal yacht. In 1825, Isabella's marriage ended, which made her very sad. She continued to serve the royal family. When the duc d'Orléans became King Louis-Philippe of France, Isabella became the chief lady-in-waiting to Queen Marie-Amélie. Isabella Charlotte de Rohan-Chabot passed away in 1868.

Her Important Diaries

Many years later, in 1984, one of Isabella's descendants found her diaries. These diaries covered the years from 1806 to 1825. They tell us about her early life in Ireland. They also describe her experiences during the 1798 Rebellion. Her diaries give us a special look into her life in France and England. They are a valuable record of history.