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Aiguillon, Marie de Vignerot de Pontcourlay, Duche

1910 New Catholic Dictionary

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(1604-75) Niece of Cardinal Richelieu. She married Antoine, Sieur de Combalet, 1620. Left a widow, 1622, she wished to be a nun, but was obliged to do the honors of Richelieu's palace, and was created Duchess of Aiguillon, 1638. She busied herself with distributing charity, erecting churches, convents, seminaries, and hospitals, and patronizing lavishly the enterprises of Vincent de Paul. She caused the Hotel-Dieu at Quebec to be erected and with Blessed Olier conceived the plan of founding Montreal. After Richelieu's death she carried out his designs for the completion of the Sorbonne and the National Library.