Duke of Mayenne (duc de Mayenne) is a title created for a cadet branch of the House of Guise. It subsequently passed by marriage to the Gonzaga in 1621, who sold it to Cardinal Mazarin in 1654; he bestowed it on his niece, Hortense Mancini in 1661. Due to the terms of the entailment on the title, it became extinct in 1781, but it is still claimed by the Sovereign Prince of Monaco, a descendant of Hortense.
Due to various entailments, Louise-Jeanne could not pass on the title, which became extinct at her death. Her daughter, Louise-Félicité d'Aumont, married Honoré IV, Prince of Monaco, and their descendants still claim the title.
The House of Guise was a prominent French noble family that was involved heavily in the French Wars of Religion. The House of Guise was the founding house of the Principality of Joinville.
Hortense Mancini, Duchess of Mazarin, was a niece of Cardinal Mazarin, chief minister of France, and a mistress of Charles II, King of England, Scotland, and Ireland. She was the fourth of the five famous Mancini sisters, who, along with two of their female Martinozzi cousins, were known at the court of King Louis XIV of France as the Mazarinettes.
The first counts of Rethel ruled independently, before the county passed first to the counts of Nevers, then to the counts of Flanders, and finally to the dukes of Burgundy. In 1405 the county became part of the peerage of France, and in 1581 it was elevated to a duchy. In 1663 it became the Duchy of Mazarin.
Laura Mancini, Duchess of Mercœur was a niece of Cardinal Mazarin. She was the eldest of the five famous Mancini sisters, who along with two of their female Martinozzi cousins, were known at the court of Louis XIV of France as the Mazarinettes. She married Louis de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme, grandson of King Henry IV and was the mother of the great general the Duke of Vendôme.
Marie Anne Mancini, Duchess of Bouillon, was an Italian-French aristocrat and cultural patron, the youngest of the five famous Mancini sisters, who along with two of their female Martinozzi cousins, were known at the court of Louis XIV, King of France as the Mazarinettes, because their uncle was the king's chief minister, Cardinal Mazarin. She is known for her involvement in the famous Affair of the Poisons, and as the patron of La Fontaine.
Louise d'Aumont, duchesse d'Aumont, duchesse Mazarin et de La Meilleraye, was a French Duchess and a Princess of Monaco by marriage to Honoré IV, Prince of Monaco.
Charles Gonzaga was Duke of Mantua and Duke of Montferrat from 1627 until his death. He was also CharlesIII Duke of Nevers and Rethel, as well as Prince of Arche and Charleville.
Girolama or Geronima Mazarini was the sister of Cardinal Mazarin, the chief minister of France at the start of the reign of King Louis XIV of France. She was the mother of the five famous Mancini sisters, who with two of their female Martinozzi cousins, became famous at the French court as the Mazarinettes.
Armand Charles de La Porte, 2nd Duke of La Meilleraye, was a French general, who was Grand Master and Captain General of Artillery. In addition, he was made a French peer, Duke of La Meilleraye, prince de Château-Porcien, Marquis of Montcornet, as well as Count of La Fère and of Marle. He married a niece of Cardinal Mazarin.
Philippe Jules Mancini, 8th Duke of Nevers (1641–1707) was the nephew of Cardinal Mazarin, chief minister of France immediately after the death of King Louis XIII. He was the brother of the five famous Mancini sisters, who, along with two of their female Martinozzi cousins, were known at the court of King Louis XIV of France as the Mazarinettes.
Charles II Gonzaga was the son of Charles I, Duke of Mantua, and Catherine de Lorraine-Guise. He was the Duke of Nevers and Rethel, together with his father.
The Mazarinettes were the seven nieces of Cardinal Jules Mazarin, (1639–1661), chief minister to the Kings Louis XIII and Louis XIV of France from 1642 until his death.
Anne Geneviève de Lévis was a French noblewoman. She was Princess of Turenne by her first marriage and Duchess of Rohan-Rohan, Princess of Soubise by her second marriage. Anne Geneviève was the only child of Madame de Ventadour, governess of the young Louis XV. She married twice and had children with her second husband. She died in Paris aged 54.
Hercule Mériadec de Rohan, styled Duke of Rohan-Rohan, was a member of the princely House of Rohan. He married twice and was the grandfather of the Maréchal de Soubise. His first wife was the daughter of Madame de Ventadour. He is known in contemporary texts as the prince de Rohan.
Godefroy Maurice de La Tour d'Auvergne, Duke of Bouillon was a French nobleman and member of the House of La Tour d'Auvergne, one of the most important families in France at the time. He married Marie Anne Mancini, niece of Cardinal Mazarin and had seven children.
Henry of Mayenne or Henry of Lorraine, was a French noble from the House of Lorraine and more particularly from the House of Guise.
Catherine de Mayenne, or Catherine de Mayenne-Lorraine-Guise, was a French aristocrat who became Duchess of Mantua by marriage.