Anne de Rochechouart de Mortemart
| Anne de Rochechouart de Mortemart | |
|---|---|
Duchesse d'Uzès c. 1896
|
|
| Born |
10 February 1847 Paris |
| Died | 3 February 1922 (aged 74) Dampierre-en-Yvelines |
| Nationality | French |
| Occupation | Aristocrat |
Anne de Rochechouart de Mortemart (10 February 1847 – 3 February 1933), Duchess of Uzès, was a wealthy French aristocrat. She inherited a large fortune from the founder of the Veuve Clicquot Champagne house. She was known for her involvement in feminist causes and charities, politics, sport hunting, automobiles and the arts, and was an accomplished author and sculptor.
Marie Adrienne Anne Victurnienne Clémentine de Rochechouart de Mortemart was the daughter of Louis de Rochechouart, Count of Mortemart, and Marie Clémentine de Chevigné (died 24 October 1877). She was born on 10 February 1847. The Neo-Renaissance style Château de Boursault, designed by the architect Arveuf, was built by Madame Clicquot Ponsardin, founder of the Veuve Clicquot Champagne house, in honor of the marriage of her granddaughter Marie Clémentine to Louis de Mortemard-Rochechouart in 1839. Anne inherited the chateau on Madame Clicquot's death in 1866.
Anne de Rochechouart de Mortemart married Emmanuel de Crussol (1840–78), 12th Duke of Uzès on 10 May 1867. He was elected to the legislature in 1871, sat on the right and voted against creation of the Republic. Their children were Jacques Marie Géraud (born 19 November 1868), who became the 13th duke, Simone Louise Laure (born 7 January 1870), Louis Emmanuel (born 15 September 1871) and Mathilde Renée (born 4 March 1875). On her husband's death in 1878 Anne remained dowager Duchess of Uzès. Anne de Rochechouart de Mortemart's eldest son Jacques d'Uzès lost his life in 1893 during an expedition that he was leading in Africa. She became "a sportswoman, an author, an artist, a sculptor, a chauffeuse, a ministering angel to the poor, a grande mondaine, and an industrious mother."
The Duchess of Uzès was a strong supporter of the conservative and royalist politician Georges Ernest Boulanger (1837–91), and donated more than three million francs to his cause, a large sum at the time. She convinced Prince Philippe, Count of Paris 1838–94) to support Boulanger in the hope of a restoration of the monarchy. The Duchess of Uzès provided support to the Fédération nationale des Jaunes de France. The "Jaune" movement was organized to break trade union strikes. She also financed several antisemitic newspapers. Later she dropped her opposition to the Republican administration. She became a friend of the anarchist Louise Michel.
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