François Roger de Gaignières

Background

François Roger de Gaignières was the son of Aime de Gaignieres, secretary to the Count of Harcourt, and was born on the 30th of December 1642.

Career

In the 1660s he became squire to Louis Joseph, duke of Guise, and since 1671 to Louis Joseph's aunt, Marie of Guise, by whom in 1679 he was appointed governor of her principality of Joinville. In the early 1690s, Gaignières was made an "Instructor to the Children of France, " that is, he showed his genealogical collection to several royal princes who were being educated. Among this princes was Philippe Duke of Chartres.

As Marie de Lorraine lay dying in 1688, François Roger de Gaignières had preserved many Guise papers from destruction and incorporated them into his collection. He brought together a large collection of original letters and other documents, together with portraits and prints, and had copies made of a great number of the most curious antiquarian objects, such as seals, tombstones, stained glass, miniatures and tapestry. In 1711 he sold his entire collection to the king for 26, 000 écus plus an annual pension of 4, 000 livres.

Achievements

• In 1688 François Roger de Gaignières had preserved many Guise papers from destruction and incorporated them into his collection, which he sold to the king.

Connections

Father:

Aimé de Gaignières

Secretary to the Count of Harcourt