Princess Françoise of Lorraine

Princess Françoise of Lorraine
Duchess of Vendôme
Françoise as a widow.
Born	1592
Died	8 September 1669 (aged 77) Paris, France
Spouse	César, Duke of Vendôme (m 16 July 1609,)
Issue	Louis, Duke of Vendôme François, Duke of Beaufort Élisabeth, Duchess of Nemours
Full name
Françoise de Lorraine
Father	Philippe Emmanuel of Lorraine, 2nd Duke of Mercœur
Mother	Marie de Luxembourg
Burial	Capucins, Paris, France

Princess Françoise of Lorraine (November 1592 – 8 September 1669) was a princess of Lorraine and daughter-in-law of Henry IV of France. Sometimes known as Françoise de Mercœur, she belonged to the Mercœur cadet branch of the sovereign Dukes of Lorraine and was a niece of Louise of Lorraine, wife of the previous King Henry III. Françoise was the heiress of her father and, as such, was the Duchess of Mercœur and Penthièvre suo jure.

Marriage

On 16 July 1609, at the Palace of Fontainebleau "Mademoiselle de Mercœur" married César de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme, an illegitimate son of King Henry IV of France and his mistress Gabrielle d'Estrées. He was a brother of Catherine Henriette de Bourbon, Duchess of Elbeuf and half brother of Louis XIII and Gaston of France.

Issue

1. Louis de Bourbon, 2nd Duke of Vendôme (October 1612  – 6 August 1669) married Laura Mancini and had issue.
2. François de Bourbon, 2nd Duke of Beaufort (16 January 1616  – 25 June 1669) never married but had issue.
3. Élisabeth de Bourbon, Mademoiselle de Vendôme (August 1614  – 19 May 1664) married Charles Amédée of Savoy, Duke of Nemours and had issue.

Titles and styles

• 1592 – 16 July 1609 Mademoiselle de Mercœur.
• 16 July 1609 – 22 October 1665 Her Most Serene Highness the Duchess of Vendôme.
• 22 October 1665 – 8 September 1669 Her Most Serene Highness the Dowager Duchess of Vendôme.