Clermont, Claude-Catherine de (1545–1603)

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Clermont, Claude-Catherine de (1545–1603)

French poet and duchess. Name variations: Catherine de Clermont, duchess and maréchale de Retz; Dame de Dampierre; La Duchesse de Retz and Baronne de Retz; duchess of Retz. Born Claude-Catherine de Clermont, dame de Dampierre, 1545 (some sources cite 1540 or 1543); died in 1603 (some sources cite 1604); m. Jean d'Annebant, maréchal and baron de Retz (for about 15 years); m. the Italian Albert de Gondi (favorite adviser to the queen), 1565, who took the title Baron de Dampierre, Duc de Retz, and became Maréchal of France, 1573.

Well educated in mathematics, philosophy, history, and Latin, translated address of visiting Polish ambassador into French and replied to address in Polish (1573); was one of the few women admitted to the Academie du Palais by Henry III.

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Clermont, Claude-Catherine de (1545–1603)

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Clermont, Claude-Catherine de (1545–1603)