MANCINI, infin-e1•m% The name of five sisters, nieces of Cardinal Slazarin, who played a brilliant part at the French Court during the early reign of Louis XIV. They were born in Rome and spent their childhood in that city, but between 1647 and 1653 were summoned to Paris by Mazarin, who undertook the charge of their education and advanced their fortunes at Court. This 'battalion of nieces.' as Miehelet calls them, comprised: (1) LAURE (1636-57), a girl of amiable and pious disposition and the companion of the boy King Louis XIV. She be came the wife of Louis de VendOme, Duke de Merewur, and died in ehildbed six years later. She was the mother of Louis, Duke de Vendome, one of Louis XIV.'s greatest generals. (2) MARIE (1639-e.1715) ; she came to Paris in 1653, and after some time was attached to the Court. She was brought up in the company of the young King, who conceived a violent passion for her and would have married her if it had not been for the interference of Cardinal Mazarin. In 1601 Ma zarin gave her in marriage to Prince Cotonna, the Constable of Naples, bestowing on her a dowry of a million livres. She left her husband in 1672 and in spite of a royal warning came to Fontainebleau, in the hope probably of re establishing her old ascendency over the King. Forced to leave France, she traveled in Northern Italy and the Low Countries, and in 1674 took up her residence in Spain, where she enjoyed great influence with the Queen of Charles IL About 1705 she returned to Rome, where she died. Iler memoirs. Apologic, were published in Leyden in 1678. (3) OLYMPE (1640-1708) ; she came to France in 1647, and her education was largely superintended by the Queen mother, Anne of Austria. She was witty and piquant and took a leading part in all the gayeties of the Court. In 1657 she married Eugene de Savoie-Carignan, Count of Soissons, and as mistress of the Queen's household lived for some time in close intimacy with the King. but, owing to her taste
for intrigue, soon lost the royal favor. Sus pected of complicity in the affair of the no torious poisoner La Voisin (q.v.), she left France, and passed the remainder of her life in stormy wanderings through the Low Countries, Spain, Germany, and England. She died at Brussels. Iler son was the celebrated Prince Eugene of Savoy. (•) ITORTENSE (1646-99) ; the most beautiful and admired of the sisters. She came to France in 1653, and after a two years' education in a convent was introduced into the royal circle. Among the aspirants for her hand at one time or another were Charles H. of Eng land, then living in exile, and Peter II., the future King of Portugal. She married in 1661 the Marquis de la MeiIleraye, who assumed the title of Duke of Slazarin after the death of the Cardinal. She left her husband in 1666. and in 1675 came to England, where her old adorer Charles II. gave her a pension. She became the centre of the gayest courtiers in the gay Court of the merry monarch, but lived in retirement after the Revolution of 1688. She died at Chelsea, near London. (5) MARIE ANNE (1649-1714) ; the wit of the family, and for a time the soul of all court ly festivities. She married in 1662 Godefroy Maurice de la Tour, Duke of Bouillon, became the patroness of La Fontaine, and made her home a meeting place for celebrities like Corneille and Moliere. Implicated with her sister Olympe in the La Voisin affair, she lived away from Paris for a long time, but, returning in 1703, succeeded in regaining her old popularity. She died at Clichy. Consult: Renee, Les nieces de Mazarin (Paris, 1856) ; Chatelauze, Louis 1/V. et Marie Mancini (Paris, ISSO).