Susanne de Navailles

Susanne de Baudéan de Neuillant de Parabere, duchess de Navailles (1625-1700) was a French courtier. She served as Première dame d'honneur to the queen of France, Maria Theresa of Spain, from 1660 until 1664. She was the daughter of Charles, comte de Neuillan, and married to Philippe de Montaut-Bénac, duc de Navailles in 1651.

She was foremost known for her role in opposing the king's adultery with the queen's maids-of-honour, which resulted in her banishment from court. In her position of Première dame d'honneur, she was responsible for the ladies-in-waiting of the queen.

When king Louis XIV started to court a maid-of-honour to the queen, Anne-Lucie de la Mothe-Houdancourt, de Navailles protested to the king, using religious arguments. The king reprimanded her and ordered her to stop interfering, asking her to consider the effects of his displeasure, and the advantages of her compliance. After having consulted a priest, however, she remained steadfast in her opposition and attempts to prevent the king from gaining access to the bedchamber of the maids-of-honour, going so far as to have bars placed to the secret entries to the chamber.

This resulted in the disgrace, dismissal and banishment from court for both her and her spouse in 1664. She retired with her spouse to their countryside estates, but their banishment was revoked by the king on the wishes of his mother in 1666.

References

• Memoirs of Madame De Motteville on Anne of Austria and Her Court, trans. Katharine Prescott Wormeley (Boston: Hardy, Pratt & Company, 1902), Vol. III, pp. 277-281, 296-297).