Gabrielle d'Estrées, duchesse de Beaufort et Verneuil, marquise de Monceaux (1571-1599) was a French mistress of King Henry IV of France, born at Château de la Bourdaisière in Montlouis-sur-Loire, in the Indre-et-Loire department of France. Events January 11 - Austrian nobility is granted Freedom of religion. ... Events Swedish King Sigismund III Vasa is replaced by his brother Charles IX of Sweden. ... Henry IV (French: Henri IV) (December 13, 1553 – May 14, 1610), called the Great (French: le Grand), was the first of the Bourbon kings of France, reigning from 1589 until 1610. ... The Château de la Bourdaisière is a castle in the countryside in the Commune of Montlouis-sur-Loire, in the Indre-et-Loire département of France. ... Indre-et-Loire is a département in west-central France named after the Indre and the Loire rivers. ...

Gabrielle d'Estrées

She became Henri's companion and lover at the age of 20 and in 1595 her marriage to M. de Liancourt was annulled and Henri gave her the title of Marquise de Monceaux. Although he was legally married to Marguerite de Valois, Henri and Gabrielle were openly affectionate when in public together. When the two were apart, he wrote her frequent letters. She had common sense and Henri could safely confide his secrets and listen to her advice. public domain photo This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Marguerite de Valois Marguerite de Valois (May 14, 1553 – May 27, 1615), Queen Margot was Queen of France and Navarre. ...

Avid horseback riders, she and Henri enjoyed hunting and riding in the countryside around Paris. For seven years she had the role of a wife and gave the King three children he willingly acknowledged. Seeking power, she used her position to help persuade him to convert from Protestantism to Catholicism in order to obtain the throne of France. Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ...

Henri purchased the Duchy of Beaufort for her in 1597. After applying to Pope Clement VIII for a divorce and authority to remarry, in March of 1599 Henri gave her his coronation ring. In early April of that year, King Henri was at the Royal Chateau Fontainebleau when news arrived that Gabrielle was gravely ill, having given birth prematurely to King Henri's stillborn son. On April 10, 1599, while he was on his way to her, another messenger delivered the news of her death. Clement, in the monument in Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome, erected by his Borghese heirs Clement VIII, born Ippolito Aldobrandini (March 1536 - March 5, 1605) was pope from 1592 to 1605. ... The central range of Fontainebleau The Royal Chateau of Fontainebleau (in the Seine-et-Marne d partement), the largest of the French royal chateaux, introduced to France the Italian Mannerist style in interior decoration and in gardens, and transformed them in the translation. ... April 10 is the 100th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (101st in leap years). ... Events Swedish King Sigismund III Vasa is replaced by his brother Charles IX of Sweden. ...

A grief-stricken king gave Gabrielle the funeral of a Queen, her coffin transported amidst a procession of princes, princesses, and nobles to the Saint Denis Basilica for a requiem Mass. Known in French history and song as La Belle Gabrielle, she was interred at Notre Dame la Royale, Maubuisson, Doubs, Franche-Comté. The Basilica of Saint Denis (French: Basilique de Saint-Denis, or simply Basilique Saint-Denis) is the famous burial site of the French monarchs, comparable to Westminster Abbey in England. ... Doubs is a département in eastern France named after the Doubs River. ... Capital Besançon Area 16,202 km² Regional President Raymond Forni (PS) (since 2004) Population   - 2004 estimate   - 1999 census   - Density (Ranked 20th) 1,133,000 1,117,059 70/km² (2004) Arrondissements 8 Cantons 116 Communes 1,786 Départements Doubs Haute-Saône Jura Territoire de Belfort Franche-Comt...

A publication after her death called the "Mémoires secrets de Gabrielle d'Estrée" (The Secret Memoirs of Gabrielle d’Estrée) is believed to have been written by one of her friends.

In 1626, her son César (b. June 1594), the Duke of Vendôme, participated in a plot against Cardinal Richelieu. César was captured and held in prison for three years. In 1641 he was accused of conspiracy again and this time fled to England. Events September 30 - Nurhaci, chieftain of the Jurchens and founder of the Qing Dynasty dies and is succeeded by his son Hong Taiji. ... The town lies on the Loir river Vendôme is a commune of north-central France. ... Cardinal Richelieu was the French chief minister from 1624 until his death. ... Events The Long Parliament passes a series of legislation designed to contain Charles Is absolutist tendencies. ... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population - Total (mid-2004) - Density Ranked 1st UK 50. ...

Her three children by Henry were:

• César de Bourbon, Duke of Vendome (1594-1665), m. Françoise of Mercoeur.
• Catherine-Henriette de Bourbon (1596-1663), m. Duke Charles II of Elboeuf.
• Alexandre, Chevalier de Vendome (1598-1629).