Antoine de Vignerot du Plessis


Louis Antoine Sophie de Vignerot du Plessis, 4th Duke of Richelieu, was a French nobleman and general. He was known by the courtesy title of Duke of Fronsac before 1788. He also held the titles of Prince de Mortagne, Marquis du Pont-Courlay, Comte de Cosnac, Baron de Barbezieux, Baron de Coze and Baron de Saugeon.

Life and career

He was the son of Louis François Armand de Vignerot du Plessis, 3rd Duke of Richelieu, Marshal of France and an expert courtier, and of Marie Élisabeth Sophie de Lorraine and that he would thus need the permission of the head of that house for the marriage. Madame de Pompadour did not press her claims any further.
A first cousin was Marie Charlotte, Princess of Beauvau, wife of Charles Juste de Beauvau and daughter of the Duke of Bouillon.
He succeeded his father as a premier gentilhomme de la chambre to King Louis XVI, and later became a maréchal de camp and lieutenant général.

Marriage and issue

His first marriage, on 25 February 1764, was to Adélaïde de Hautefort. They had one child, Armand Emmanuel.
His second marriage, on 20 April 1776, was to Marie-Antoinette de Galliffet. They had two children :