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The Duke of San Fernando Luis | |
|---|---|
 Litography, 1835 | |
| Ambassador of France to the United Kingdom | |
| In office 1828–1830 | |
| Monarch | Charles X |
| Preceded by | Jules de Polignac |
| Succeeded by | Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1768-10-29)29 October 1768 |
| Died | 16 June 1837(1837-06-16) (aged 68) Paris |
| Nationality |  France |
| Occupation | Parliamentarian, diplomat, soldier |
| Known for | Foreign minister, Ambassador of France |
Anne-Adrien-Pierre de Montmorency, 1st Duke of San Fernando Luis, 3rd Duke of Laval-Montmorency,GE (29 October 1768, inParis – 16 June 1837, in Paris), was apeer of France andof Spain.
He was an heir of the noble families ofMontmorency and ofLaval, styledMarquis de Laval thenPrince de Montmorency-Laval before succeeding to his father's titles in 1817. He was additionally created agrandee of Spain andDuke of San Fernando Luis.
Adrien de Montmorency-Laval was a French army officer, before serving asFrench foreign minister and as an ambassador during theBourbon Restoration.[1]
His father was Lieutenant-GeneralAnne-Alexandre de Montmorency, 2nd Duc de Laval, and his mother was Marie-Louisede Montmorency-Luxembourg (1750–1829).[2]
Born in 1768 while his formidable great-grandfather,MarshalGuy-André-Pierre de Montmorency, the 1st duke was alive, Adrien was sent to be raised under the tuition of his uncleCardinal Louis-Joseph de Montmorency-Laval,Prince-Bishop of Metz andGrand Almoner of France in preparation for takingholy orders.
Shortly after starting at theseminary of theSaint-Sulpice in Paris, his elder brother Guy de Montmorency,marquis de Laval, died unexpectedly in 1786; he had married Pauline-Renée-Sophiede Voyer de Paulmy d'Argenson in 1784. His brother's death, prompted him to leave church training and participate incourt life atVersailles.
Montmorency-Laval joined theFrench army, being commissioned in theAlsace Cavalry Regiment, commanded byCharles, vicomte de Noailles (laterduc de Mouchy) where he served alongsideMarc-René de Voyer de Paulmy, marquis d'Argenson (1771–1842), his brother-in-law and lifelong friend.
On 14 May 1788, he married his second cousin (their great-grandfather was Anne-Jacques de Bullion,marquis de Fervacques, Governor ofMarne),[3] Bonne-Charlotte-Renée-Adélaïde deMontmorency-Luxembourg (1773–1840), daughter ofAnne-Charles-Sigismond,duc de Piney-Luxembourg (1737–1803) and head of the senior branch of theMontmorencys, by his wife Madeleine-Suzanne-Adélaïde de Voyer de Paulmy d'Argenson.
The Duke and his wife had three children:[1]
Through his wife's family (theColignys) their descendants inherited great wealth, as both her elder brothers died childless and in 1791 her younger sister Marie-Madeleine marriedMiguel Caetano Álvares Pereira de Melo, 5th Duque de Cadaval, emigrating to Portugal.
Upon the outbreak of theFrench Revolution, after locating remaining family members in Paris, Adrien de Laval fled to England. As a Frenchémigré in London, the marquis became friendly with thePrince of Wales and his circle.
During the revolutionary wars his father appointed him asaide-de-camp and despatched him to Italy as a captain in theMontmorency Regiment being stationed atRome. After the ban onémigrés was lifted in 1800 he returned to France. Adrien de Laval was one of the first to congratulateLouis XVIII atCalais in 1814, and the king promoted himmaréchal de camp (major-general) and bestowed on him the style ofPrince de Montmorency-Laval; he succeeded to his father's dukedom in 1817.
On 15 August 1814, he was appointed French ambassador to Spain. There he came into conflict withPedro Cevallos. But on receiving news of the return of Napoleon fromElba, a reconciliation was effected and Montmorency-Laval agreed to stay inMadrid, contrary to instructions from the French government. He successfully managed the somewhat tense relations between the SpanishBorbóns and the newly restored FrenchBourbons, being honoured in 1815 as aknight of the Golden Fleece and madeDuke of San Fernando Luis with the rank ofgrandee. His next ambassadorial posting was to Rome, where he arrived just before the end ofPius VII's reign and was present during theconclave for the election of his successor as pope; he supported the efforts ofAustria in favour ofCardinal Castiglioni's candidacy. However,Cardinal Annibale della Genga was elected asLeo XII.
On 20 March 1828, the Duc de Laval was appointedFrench ambassador to Austria. His name was also mooted as a candidate to beking of Greece, but he twice refusedKing Charles X's proposals.
He was then posted asAmbassador to the Court of St James's, returning to Paris just beforeCharles X's exile. At Talleyrand's request, he dealt with unpleasant issues inLondon caused by his relatives,Louis, duc de Valençay and his fatherEdmond, duca di Dino, who had become addicted to gambling.
Declining to swear allegiance toKing Louis-Philippe, the Duke and Duchess retired to thechateau de Montigny, where they received visitors, includingTalleyrand. The Duke died on 16 June 1837 and, having been predeceased by his son atNaples in 1819, his youngest brother Eugène succeeded to his French titles before they became extinct, whereas his Spanishducado andgrandeza devolved upon his elder daughter and her descendants.
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Duke of France
Grandee of Spain
Count of the Holy Roman Empire
Grand Cross,Legion of Honour
Knight,Order of the Holy Spirit
Grand Cross,Order of Saint Louis
Knight,Order of Malta
Knight,Order of the Golden FleeceCitations
Sources
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Minister of Foreign Affairs 24 April 1829 - 14 May 1829 | Succeeded by |
Ministry of Jean-Baptiste de Martignac (4 January 1828 to 8 August 1829) | ||
|---|---|---|
Head of state: KingCharles X of France | ||
| President of the council |  Martignac | |
| Interior | ||
| Foreign Affairs | ||
| Finance | ||
| Justice | ||
| Navy and Colonies | ||
| War | ||
| Public Education | ||
| Religious Affairs | ||
| Commerce and Manufacturing | ||
