Originally from Gascony the house of Pardaillan de Gondrin had already established itself amongst the foremost families of France in the 13th century. They consolidated their allegiance to the crown when the seigneur de Pardaillan and de Gondrin, Bernard, accompanied Louis XI in the siege of Tunis.
Over the centuries, the family rose in the ranks at court. From vicomte to baron and finally to marquis. Antoine de Pardaillan added the seigneurship of Montespan to the family which would later become the title of the head of the family: marquis de Montespan. Also, the family had the title of marquis d'Antin.
The final peak was reached when the marquisate of Antin was elevated to a dukedom.
1. Antoine Arnoud de Pardaillan de Gondrin and (I) Marie du Maine (II) Paule de Saint-Lary de Bellegarde
Besides fighting in the siege of Tunis, Antoine Arnoud was given the command of the French army in the war against Savoy after the king returned to court. Due to his proven loyalty Antoine Arnoud was raised to the rank of marquise de Montespan in 1612 by Louis XIII.
Marie du Maine was the heiress of Jean d'Escandillac and gave her husband two children:
- Anne de Pardaillan de Gondrin, Baronne de Miossens
- Jeanne de Pardaillan de Gondrin, Comtesse de Rabat
When Marie died before giving birth to a son and heir it was apparent that Antoine had to remarry. He remarried to Paule de Saint-Laury de Bellegarde who gave her husband an astonishing 13 children!
- Hector de Pardaillan de Gondrin - died young
- Jean Antoine de Pardaillan de Gondrin - marquis de Montespan
- Roger Hector de Pardaillan de Gondrin - marquis d'Antin
- César-Auguste de Pardaillan de Gondrin - marquis de Termes
- Henri de Pardaillan de Gondrin - died young
- Jean-Louis de Pardaillan de Gondrin - marquis de Savignac
- Anne de Pardaillan de Gondrin - died young
- Louis-Henri de Pardaillan de Gondrin - archbishop of Sens
- Anne-Paule de Pardaillan de Gondrin - died young
- Marie-Claire de Pardaillan de Gondrin - vicomtesse d'Aubeterre
- Louise-Octavie de Pardaillan de Gondrin - never married
- Anne-Chrysante de Pardaillan de Gondrin - abbess of Notre-Dame-des-Près
- Angélique de Pardaillan de Gondrin - nun
2. Jean Antoine de Pardaillan de Gondrin and Marie-Anne de Saint-Lary
Jean Antoine was made grand maître of the king's wardrobe as well as marquis de Montespan. Despite both him and Marie-Anne reaching quite old ages (85 and 94 years respectively) they never had any children.
Thus, the title of marquis de Montespan went to Jean Antoine's younger brother, Roger Hector.
3. Roger Hector de Pardaillan de Gondrin and Marie-Christine de Zamet
Marie-Christine was the sole heiress of Jean Zamet, Baron de Murat and Jeanne de Goth, dame de Rouillac.
They had four children:
- Louis Henri de Pardaillan de Gondrin - marquis de Montespan
- Henri de Pardaillan de Gondrin - marquis d'Antin
- Just de Pardaillan de Gondrin - died in battle
- N de Pardaillan de Gondrin - Chevalier de Gondrin
4. Louis Henri de Pardaillan de Gondrin and Françoise-Athénaïs de Rochechouart de Mortemart
Probably one of the most famous members of this house by marriage was Madame de Montespan. Her reign as Louis XIV's favourite encapsulated the spirit of the grand siècle but her relationship with her husband could not stand the strain. Louis Henri was not excited at having to share his wife with the king and made no attempt at hiding his displeasure.
Louis Henri even went so far as to host a mock funeral of his wife while she was still very much alive at Versailles. He went over the line when he started roaming the streets of Paris while degrading the king himself which earned him an exile.
Madame de Montespan never achieved the title of Duchesse - like her predecessor Louise de La Vallière - since she was married and it would mean that Louis Henri had to be elevated as well. Understandably, the king was not in the mood to reward slander towards himself nor his mistress.
Before Françoise Athénaïs caught the king's eye she had two children by her husband:
- Marie Christine de Pardaillan de Gondrin - died young
- Louis Antoine de Pardaillan de Gondrin - marquis de Montespan
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| Françoise Athenais |
5. Louis Antoine de Pardaillan de Gondrin and Julie Françoise de Crussol
Julie Françoise was a member of the Grand Dauphin's inner circle and through her Louis Antoine also joined it. Louis Antoine even made friends with his half-brothers, the legitimized Duc du Maine and Comte de Toulouse but never managed to gain the favour of Louis XIV.
However, once Madame de Montespan died the king showed him more favour. It is not unlikely that Madame de Maintenon had prevented him from being too friendly to her rival's son. One major advancement was made when Louis Antoine was appointed as director of the king's buildings which means that he would oversee the continuous building of Versailles. He was finally made Duc d'Antin.
The couple had four children:
- Louis de Pardaillan de Gondrin - marquis de Montespan
- Marie Louis de Pardaillan de Gondrin - musketeer
- Gabriel François Balthazard de Pardaillan de Gondrin - marquis de Bellegarde
- Pierre de Pardaillan de Gondrin - archbishop-Duc de Langres
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| Louis Antoine |
6. Louis de Pardaillan de Gondrin and Victoire Sophie de Noailles
Serving as a brigadier in the king's army, Louis died at the age of just 23 years at Versailles. As a result he never inherited the title of Duc d'Antin since he was outlived by his father. Nevertheless, the couple managed to have three children before he died.
Victoire Sophie de Noailles was a dame du palais to the Duchesse de Bourgogne; she created quite a scandal when she remarried after her husband's death. Not that remarrying was unusual - especially for a well-connected young woman - but her choice of husband was: the Comte de Toulouse, legitimized son of Louis XIV and Madame de Montespan.
- Louis II de Pardaillan de Gondrin - duc d'Antin
- Antoine François de Pardaillan de Gondrin - marquis d'Antin
- Charles Hippolyte de Pardaillan de Gondrin - seigneur de Moncontour
Victoire Sophie
7. Louis II de Pardaillan de Gondrin and Françoise Gillone de Montmorency-Luxembourg
Although being officially the Duc d'Antin, Louis II was known as the Duc d'Epernon at court.
The couple had four children:
- Julie Sophie Gilette de Pardaillan de Gondrin - abbess of Fontevraud
- Louis III de Pardaillan de Gondrin - Duc d'Antin
- Marie Françoise de Pardaillan de Gondrin - Comtesse de Civrac
- Julie Magdeleine Victoire de Pardaillan de Gondrin - Duchesse d'Uzès
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| Françoise Gillone |
8. Louis III de Pardaillan de Gondrin
Louis III was the final Duc d'Antin and he died without leaving an heir in Germany.
Interesting facts and anecdotes:
- Henri de Pardaillan de Gondrin died in a duel fought in 1663 which is why the title of marquis d'Antin reversed to his brother, Louis Henri
- Marie Christine de Pardaillan de Gondrin was claimed to have died of sadness from missing her mother so much after Madame de Montespan went to live at court permanently
- Sons of Louis Antoine - Marie Louis and Gabriel François Balthazard - were twins
- The secret marriage of Victoire Sophie de Noailles meant that Louis II was the half-brother of the richest man in France: Louis Jean Marie de Bourbon. He was also the uncle of the Prince de Lamballe
Portrait gallery:
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| Louis Henri de Pardaillan de Gondrin, Archbishop-Duc de Langres |
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