Marie-Julie Césarine d’Alençon

Julie, Duchesse d’Alençon (Marie-Julie Césarine Casimire; 21st July 1669 - Present) was a French, noblewoman, suo jure Dauphine d’Auvergne, Duchesse d’Alençon, Duchesse de Montpensier, Duchesse de Châtellerault, Princesse de La Roche-sur-Yon, Comtesse de Mortain, Comtesse de Bar-sur-Seine, Vicomtesse de Bresse, Vicomtesse d’Auge, Vicomtesse de Domfort, Baronne de Montaigut-en-Combraille, Baronne de Roche-en-Réginer, and Baronne de Cuverville. Upon the death of her father in 1670, Julie became known as the richest woman in Europe. She firstly served as the Première Dame d’Honneur to Élisabeth II from 1691 to 1693. Upon the death of [Former Grand Maîtresse], Julie became the Grande Maîtresse de La Robe.

Birth
[1669]

Childhood
Rather unexpectedly, the Duchesse de Montpensier—Césarine’s mother—died when her daughter was just seven months old. This was devastating to the Duc d’Alençon and the French Imperial family. Jean Gaston was noted to have said, “My wife was like the shining star of court, never failing to bring a smile to one’s face.” It was clear that Césarine’s father was deeply distraught by the death of his beloved wife—or so most of the court thought. Within the next months, it was discovered that Jean Gaston was engaged in a love affair with the young Marie d’O, Mademoiselle de Manou. The Mademoiselle was certainly not of very high social standing, but the Duc d’Alençon loved her deeply.

At the age of six, Césarine was baptised in the Château de Versailles court chapel and named Marie after the Virgin Mary, Julie Césarine in honor of the famous Roman Emperor Julius Caesar, and Casimire as her father’s chosen name. For her godparents, the late Grand Dauphin, Louis, was chosen for her godfather and his wife Catherine Marguerite de Bretagne was chosen for the godmother.

After being baptised, Césarine was shipped off to the Abbaye-Royale de Fontevraud. While in the Abbaye, the Mademoiselle de Manou frequently wrote letters to the young heiress. It was said that Jean Gaston urged his mistress to pretend to be his daughter’s mother. Due to Césarine being so young when her mother died, she was fully convinced the woman was her real mother. The Mademoiselle even addressed herself as Marie-Louise de Bourbon in each letter. After the death of her father in 1682, the Mademoiselle de Manou was found dead in her Paris hôtel. It was said that she committed suicide by poison due to the grief of losing her lover. Rumors speculated that the two were also secretly married and had several bastards over the course of their twelve year relationship.

Césarine, though deeply saddened by her father’s death, knew it would happen eventually. The young girl continued to be educated in multiple subjects such as genealogy, botany, artistry, and history. She also knew how to read and write French, Italian, German, Latin, and even Breton. Though not the brightest, Césarine tried her best in all of the topics she was taught. Finally, once she reached the age of 16, Césarine was deemed fit to attend the court of Philippe X.