Estrées, House of

   noble family

   The House of Estrées was that of a French noble family of Artois. Gabrielle d'Estrées (1573-99) was the daughter of Antoine d'Estrées, grand master of artillery and governor of the Île-de-France. She became the mistress of King henry iv, who made her duchess of Beaufort. He was hoping to marry her, but she died quite young. she left three children by her husband, César de Vendôme. François-Annibal d'Estrées (1573-70), the brother of Gabrielle d'Estrées, was bishop of Noyon, until he left the church to become marshal of France, then ambassador to Rome (1636-48), where he played a decisive role in the election of Pope Gregory XV. Jean d'Estrées (1624-1707) was one of the sons of François-Annibal d'Estrées. He served as vice admiral and marshal of France and retook Cayenne, in South America, from the Dutch (1677). Victor-Marie, count de Coeuvres, duke d'Estrées (16601737), descendant of François, commanded the French navy during the war of the spanish succession and became a member of the Regency Council in 1715.