Background
She married Louis de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme, grandson of King Henry IV and was the mother of the great general the Duke of Vendômedical Laura was the eldest daughter of Lorenzo Mancini, brother-in-law of Cardinal Mazarin through his wife Girolama Mazzarini. The eldest of ten children, through the influence of her uncle, the personal advisor of Louis XIII of France, Laura and her family were invited to France, leaving Rome in 1653 following the death of her father along with their cousins Laura and Anna Maria.
Career
She was the eldest of the five famous Mancini sisters, who along with two of their female Martinozzi cousins, were known at the court of Louis XIV of France as the Mazarinettes. Laura"s four sisters were:
Olympe (1638–1708) married Eugene Maurice, Count of Soissons, mother of the famous general Eugene of Savoy. Marie (1639–1715) first love of Louis XIV, wife of Prince Lorenzo Onofrio Colonna.
Hortense (1646–1699) married Armand Charles de Louisiana Porte de Louisiana Meilleraye and mistress of Charles II of England.
Marie Anne (1649–1714) married Maurice Godefroy de la Tour d"Auvergne, Duke of Bouillon, nephew of Turenne. The Mancini also had three brothers: Paul (1636-1652), Philippe, Duke of Nevers (1641-1707), and Alphonse (1644-1658).
Originally engaged to Louis Charles de Nogaret de Louisiana Valette, Duke of Candale, son of the Duke of Épernon, the match did not take place and she was instead married to Louis de Bourbon, Duke of Mercœur. The young Louis was the son of the Duke of Vendôme, himself an illegitimate son of Henri IV of France and the famous Gabrielle d"Estrées.
Laura married Louis at the Palais Royal in the French capital on 4 February 1651 and was thus became Duchess of Mercœur.
Having married a legitimised prince of the blood, Laura was allowed the style of Serene Highness. Three sons followed in quick succession the eldest of which being a famous commander in the wars of the Grand Alliance and Spanish Succession. Born on 27 January, the Duchess died a fortnight later on 7 February.
Louis Joseph, Duke of Vendôme (1654–1712) married Marie Anne de Bourbon and died childless.
Philippe, Duke of Vendôme (1655–1727) prieur de Vendôme died unmarried. Jules César (1657–1660) died in infancy.
6 May 1636 - 4 February 1651 Lady Laura Vittoria Mancini
4 February 1651 - 8 February 1657 Her Serene Highness The Duchess of Mercœur.