Duchesse De Duras (nee Noailles) (1745–1832)

Louise-Charlotte-Henriette-Philippine de Noailles was a daughter of Philippe, comte de Noailles and Anne-Claudine-Louise d'Arpajon. In 1760, she married Emmanuel, marquis de Duras and subsequently duc de Durfort and 5th duc de Duras. In 1770, she was named one of the ladies to accompany the young Marie Antoinette, born an archduchess of Austria, to her marriage to the French dauphin (the future King Louis XVI). The duchesse became one of the queen's ladies-in-waiting and served until 1791. Her husband and son both emigrated from France. She was arrested and imprisoned by the revolutionaries in 1793. Although her parents and many of her close relatives were executed, she survived and was released after the fall of Robespierre in July 1794. The duchesse de Duras witnessed the Bonaparte regime and lived to see the restoration of the Bourbons in 1814. Her prison journals were published 50 years after her death. She was the mother-in-law of Claire de Duras, who was married to her son Amedee Bretagne Malo de Durfort, 6th duc de Duras.