Marie Angélique de Mackau

Marie Angélique de Mackau née de Fitte de Soucy (1723-1801), was a French court office holder. She was royal governess to Élisabeth of France (1764–1794) and later to the children of Louis XVI of France and Marie Antoinette from 1771 and 1792.

She was the daughter of Jean François de Fitte de Soucy (1686-1759). She married baron Louis Eléonor Dirkheim de Mackau (1727-1767) in 1755, and became the mother of Renée Suzanne de Soucy (1758-1841), Armand Louis de Mackau (1759-1827) and Marie-Angélique de Bombelles (1762-1800).

In 1771, she was appointed one of five sous gouvernante (depute governess) to the royal children: they were placed under the Governess of the Children of France, but normally did most of the daily work. She was recommended to the post by the Prince Louis de Rohan.

Marie Angélique de Mackau reportedly had great importance for the development of Élisabeth of France, and was evidently in possession of "the firmness which bends resistance, and the affectionate kindness which inspires attachment", and under whose tuition she made progress in her education, as well as developed a softer personality, with her strong will directed toward religious principles. She reportedly became a life long friend and maternal figure to Elisabeth. When Elisabeth was given her own house at Montreuil in 1781, she built a small house for Mackau there and gave it to her. Marie Angélique de Mackau continued to serve as governess during the reign of Louis XVI. She was well liked by the children of Louis XVI.

Her sister-in-law Elisabeth Louise Lenoir de Verneuil de Soucy (1729-1813), and her elder daughter Renée Suzanne de Soucy were both appointed to be her colleagues as sous gouvernante. Her younger daughter, Marie-Angélique de Bombelles, became maid-of-honour to Elisabeth before her marriage, as well as her lifelong personal friend and correspondent.

Mackau accompanied the royal family to the Tuileries Palace in Paris after the Women's March on Versailles during the French revolution in October 1789.

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