Henriette Rénard

Ana Katharina (Henriette) Rénard (1685 – 26 May 1721[1]), was a mistress of Augustus the Strong, King of Poland and Elector of Saxony and mother of his daughter, the later Countess Anna Karolina Orzelska.

Henriette Rénard.

Life

Family

Anna Katharina, mostly known in sources as Henriette, was a member of the Rénard family, from French origin but established in Warsaw probably from Hamburg, where they are involved in trade.[2] Her father Andreas Rénard, appears in documents from 1693 and 1698 as a merchant. His wife was probably Theresa von Waldstein, but some historians believe that in fact she was the Andreas' daughter-in-law. Henriette had certainly two brothers: Jan Baptiste, who was a colonel in the Saxon army and Benedict, who was an architect.[3]

Relationship with Augustus II the Strong

At the end of 1701 or 1706[4] Henriette met Augustus II the Strong, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland. According to Karl Ludwig von Pöllnitz in his work La Saxe galante, she drew the attention of the Elector-King with her extreme beauty, and soon became in his mistress.[5] In the summer of 1702 or 26 November 1707,[6] Henriette gave birth to Augustus II's daughter, named Anna Karolina or Anna Katharina. According to von Pöllnitz, the reason of the separation between them was the jealousy of the official royal mistress, Countess Anna Constantia of Cosel.[7] Henriette's affair with Augustus II allowed her family to gain titles and estates in Poland.[3]

Later years

During the relationship with Augustus II the Strong, Henriette was probably already married with François Drian,[8] wine trader from Warsaw, who died before 1716, probably during the plague epidemic of 1708–1712.[9]

In 1716, Henriette remarried; her second husband was Claude Henri de Morel de Carrières, who since 1705 was a colonel in the army of Francis II Rákóczi, Prince of Transylvania.[10] After his marriage with the King's former mistress, Claude received from Augustus II the position of supervisor of the bathrooms at Ujazdów Park, who belonged to the House of Lubomirski.[8] Claude died certainly before 6 June 1720, because that day Henriette (as a widow) and her brothers were raised to the ranks of polish barons.[3]

Henriette died on 26 May 1721 and was buried three days later in St. John's Archcathedral at the great altar from the sacristy.[11]

On 19 September 1724, Anna Karolina, Henriette's daughter, was formally recognized by Augustus II and received the title of Countess Orzelska.[12] On 30 August 1730, she married with Prince Charles Louis of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck, and divorced three years later.[3]

Notes
  1. According to the accounting book of Jan Baptiste Rénard.
  2. There are theories who supposed that the Rénard family was from Jewish origins, or came to Warsaw from Gdańsk. P. Smykała, R. Kubik R.: Ród Renardów..., Strzelec Opolski, 2009-11-24.
  3. P. Smykała, R. Kubik R.: Ród Renardów..., Strzelec Opolski, 2009-11-24.
  4. Autumn of 1701 is considered as the date for the start of the affair between Henriette and Augustus II (J. Bartoszewicz: Znakomici mężowie polscy w XVIII wieku, Petersburg 1856, p. 270); however, if the date of birth of Countess Orzelska is placed in 1707, the relationship must to be started later (Hrabina Anna Orzelska Archived 2011-07-28 at the Wayback Machine [retrieved 6 January 2015]).
  5. K. L. von Pöllnitz: Ogień pałającej miłości, Warsaw 1973, s. 151–154, gives the exact circumstances about the beginning of the affair between Augustus II and Henriette, which von Pöllnitz mistakenly called Duval.
  6. July or August 1702 was established as the birth date of the Countess Orzelska (J. Bartoszewicz: Znakomici mężowie polscy w XVIII wieku, Petersburg 1856, p. 277); the birth date of 26 November 1707 given by German historians was cited without primary sources. See: S. Szenic: Królewskie kariery warszawianek, Warsaw 1959, p. 58.
  7. K. L. von Pöllnitz: Ogień pałającej miłości, Warsaw 1973, p. 161. The information about the jealousy of the Countess of Cosel must is rejected by historians from a chronological point of view, if the birth date of Anna Karolina Orzelska is placed in 1702. See: S. Szenic: Królewskie kariery warszawianek, Warsaw 1959, p. 58.
  8. S. Szenic: Królewskie kariery warszawianek, Warsaw 1959, p. 59.
  9. According to a theory of Stanisław Szenic. S. Szenic: Królewskie kariery warszawianek, Warsaw 1959, p. 60.
  10. Diploma appointment of C. Henry Morel de Carrieres as colonel by Francis II Rákóczi, 1705.
  11. M. Zgórniak: BENEDYKT RENARD – ARCHITEKT POLSKI XVIII W [retrieved 6 January 2015].
  12. S. Szenic: Królewskie kariery warszawianek, Warsaw 1959, pp. 64-66.

References
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