Laura Mancini
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Laura Mancini (1636 - 1657), also known as Victoire, was the oldest of the five Mancini sisters, nieces of cardinal Mazarin. She was also mother of the great general Louis Joseph, duc de Vendôme, and aunt of his famous opponent Eugene of Savoy.
Mazarin had brought his nieces from Italy to the French court after the death of their father, in the hope of arranging good marriages for them. Their beauty and success with King Louis XIV soon made them the centre of attention.
Laura's four sisters were:
- Olympia (1638-1708) married Eugène-Maurice of Savoy-Carignano,
- Marie (1639-1715) married Lorenzo Colonna,
- Hortense (1646-1699) married Armand-Charles de la Porte, duc de La Meilleraye,
- Marie Anne (1649-1714) married Maurice Godefroy de la Tour d'Auvergne, duc de Bouillon, a nephew of Turenne.
Laura married Louis II de Bourbon-Vendôme; they had 3 children.
- Louis Joseph (1654-1712), duc de Vendôme
- Philippe (1655-1727), called le prieur de Vendôme
- Jules César (1657-1660)
She died of complications following the birth of her third child, at the age of 21. The child, Jules César, died three years later. Her husband never remarried; he entered the church and became cardinal. Her two surviving sons were raised by their aunt, Marie Anne Mancini, who was only a few years older than them.
