A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country/Montpensier, (Anna-Maria Louisa)
Being deprived of her father and mother, who both left France while she was an infant, she was brought up under the care of the queen, her grandmother, who appointed Madame de Saint George (a woman of great learning) to be her governess.
Mademoiselle wrote her memoirs in 6 vols; in which she has not only related every circumstance relative to the intrigues of the court and parliament, but of her own life, in which are many things very remarkable. She was a woman of good parts, quick discernment, of a majestic appearance, haughty, and imperious. Her turn for military exercises was an extraordinary part of her character. At the time when disputes ran high at the court of France, the town of Orleans (which belonged to the duke her lather) was just upon the point of submitting to the king's party, of which Mademoiselle de Montpensier was no sooner informed, than she set out immediately from Paris, marched in person at the head of a small number of troops, and forced the inhabitants, not only to open their gates, but to join with the parliament, the side her father espoused. It certainly appears a little extraordinary that this princess should join against her sovereign, whose grandmother had taken such tender care of her; but it must be observed, that the queen regent had probably provoked her to this act; she having publickly reproved her negociating a marriage secretly with the archduke; for when the queen was informed of it, she ordered her to appear in the council chamber, and there reprimanded her with great warmth, which did not a little mortify Mademoiselle de Montpensier, who was ready to burst with indignation and resentment. Her pride was too great to submit quietly to such reproaches; besides the disappointment of not following her own inclinations, in a matter where her happiness was concerned. This, perhaps, was the true reason why she sided with the parliament, in opposition to the court. After this, however, she returned to Paris, and from thence to Estampes, where she reviewed the troops both of the parliament and of the prince de Condé, in person, and immediately after gave battle to Marshal Turenne, who commanded the king's party and who gained a considerable victory over the troops of which this heroic princess was at the head. This was a blow which greatly disconcerted and chagrined mademoiselle, who endeavoured to gain the Spaniards over to her interest; and her success in this respect was equal to her wishes; for she once more advanced at the head of 6000 Spaniards, and encamped close to one of the city gates, called la Porte St. Antoine, while the king's troops defended the city. Mademoiselle de Montpensier, at the head of hers, ascended the Bastille, and turning against them their own cannon, which were placed upon the ramparts, drove back the enemy, and entered Paris. But this victory was not all attributed to the prowess of the victorious princess; it was imagined, that some secret manoeuvres were carried on by certain persons on the enemy's side, who wished to flatter her vanity, and give her the honour of gaining the victory. But in spite of all her success, she was at last obliged to submit, and banished to her estate at St. Fargeau, where she spent some years with much discontent, not only upon account of being disgraced at court, but from some disagreeable circumstances arising between her and her father, on the subject of her mother's property, part of which she was entitled to from the time of her being of age. But this and other matters were at last accommodated to the satisfaction of all parties; and Mademoiselle de Montpensier returned once more to court and was well received. At the age of 44, after refusing many princes, she married Lauzun, a private gentleman, who behaved very unworthily. It is related, that one day being returned from the chase, he called out, "Henrietta Bourbon, come, draw off my boots:" upon her exclaiming on the cruelty of his behaviour to her, he made an effort to strike her with his foot; upon which she once more assumed that authority which her birth intitled her to, and which was so natural to her disposition, and immediately forbade his ever more appearing in her presence. Though she had resolution to discard him, his unworthy conduct seems to have made a deep impression on her heart. Her life, indeed, seems to have been only a scene of mortification and disappointment, belying all the promises which birth, fortune, and connections seemed to promise. However, as misfortunes perhaps are ultimiately for our benefit, they wrought one good effect on the mind of Mademoiselle de Montpensier, which seems to have lost latterly a great part of that pride and self-importance which disfigured her early years.
She wrote her own character, as is the fashion with the female writers of France; and it seems to be done with modesty and ingenuousness. Her figure she describes as good, though not fine; an open countenance, a long face, large aquiline nose, fine ash-coloured hair, and light blue eyes. Of her mind she speaks more diffusely: amongst other things, she says, "I talk a great deal, without saying any thing silly, making use of vulgar phrases, or uncouth words. I never speak upon any subject I do not perfectly understand, which many people are guilty of, who love to hear themselves talk, and who, possessing too good an opinion of themselves, are very apt to despise the understanding of others.
"I pique myself on nothing so much as being a real and steady friend. Nothing can equal my fidelity towards those whom I have professed to love; would to God I had found others who had felt the same for me?
"I am delighted with confidence, and secret to excess. I am a dangerous enemy; as I resent highly, and do not easily pardon; but I possess also a noble mind, and am incapable of any base action.
"I love the conversation of men of sense, but am not weary with such as are not entertaining in their discourse; as my quality lays some restraint on those who are with me, I am seldom offended, though not always amused.
"I converse with pleasure on the subject of war; for I possess great personal courage, and have also much ambition.
"I feel so much indifference for some things in the world, so much contempt for others, and so good an opinion of myself, that I would rather chuse to pass the remainder of my life in solitude, than lay the least constraint upon my humour, even were it of the highest advantage to my fortune.'
"I love best to be alone.
"I have no great complaisance, though I expect a great deal. I love to irritate and provoke, though I sometimes can oblige.
"I did love dancing; I hate cards, love games of exercise, can work all kinds of needlework, and am very fond of riding on horseback.
"I am no comedian; yet I am so much mistress of my looks and actions, as not to discover any thing I do not chuse those about me should perceive.
"I am naturally suspicious and distrustful. I love order, even in the least article.
"I love pomp and magnificence, and give generously to men of merit, and those whom I love; but as I am entirely guided by my fancy, I do not know whether that is to be called liberality; however, when I do any thing of that kind, I love to do it in the handsomest manner I am able.
"I have no inclination for gallantry; for, I confess, I do not possess any great tenderness of soul: I am more sensible to friendship than love."
From these extracts we may suppose her greatest faults, pride and impatience, were partly owing to her situation in early life and to succeeding disappointment, there is much perhaps to blame, but nothing to awaken dislike, and when she speaks of her sufferings in the following manner we must pity and be grieved for her.
"The great vexations and chagrins I have suffered would have been sufficient to have killed almost any other than myself; but God has been infinitely merciful and good, to give me sufficient strength, to enable me to sustain the miseries which it has been his will to allot me: nothing discourages, dejects or fatigues me. I am not devout, but sincerely wish I could be so. Though I feel the utmost indifference for the world, I fear I do not sufficiently despise it to detach myself altogether from it; since I do not enter myself into the number of those who shew their contempt by quitting it."
Besides her Memoirs, in 8 vols. She left a collection of Portraits, of the king, queen, and other persons of the court; two romances, entitled La Relation de l'Isle Imaginaire, and La Princesse de Paphlagonie. They are full of taste and delicate criticism. Cyrus, in the latter, is M. the prince, who died 1686; and the queen of the Amazons, Mlle. de Montpensier. She wrote also two books of devotion.