Henri I d'Orléans, duc de Longueville

Henry I of Orléans-Longueville (1568 – April 8, 1595) was a French aristocrat and military and Grand Chamberlain of France between 1589 and 1595.

He was the eldest son of Léonor d'Orléans, duc de Longueville (1540-1573) and Marie de Bourbon, duchess of Estouteville and countess of Saint-Pol (1539-1601).

He succeeded his father in 1573 as Duke of Longueville, Prince of Neuchâtel, Count of Saint-Pol, Count of Dunois and Tancarville. In 1 March 1588, he married Catherine Gonzaga (1568-1629), daughter of Louis Gonzaga, Duke of Nevers, and had one son, Henry II. He was also governor of Picardië. It was in this function that he was asked by King Henry III of France to lift the siege of Senlis by Charles, Duke of Aumale. He succeeded in defeating the troops of the Catholic League in May 1589.

When Henry III was assassinated later that year, Longueville pledged loyalty to his Protestant successor Henry IV of France and received command over the forces in Picardy and became Grand Chamberlain of France.

Longueville died of wounds received by a musket salvo, celebrating his entry in Dourlers. Some say this was not an accident, but an assassination attempt organised by Gabrielle d'Estrées or a jealous husband.

The funerary monument for him and his son by François Anguier, can be seen in the Louvre Museum.

He was the lose inspiration behind the character of Longueville in William Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost.

External list

 * Liste des ducs de Longueville