Vignerot was the daughter of
Cardinal Richelieu's sister, Françoise du Plessis (d. 1615), and her husband, René de
Vignerot, Seigneur de Pontcourlay (d. 1625). In 1620 Vignerot married a nephew of the
constable de Luynes,
Antoine de Beauvoir du Roure, sieur de Combalet, who died in 1622. In 1625, through her uncle's influence, she was made a
lady-in-waiting (''
dame d'atour'') to the queen-mother
Marie de Medici, and in 1638 was created duchess of
Aiguillon. The Duchess did not marry a second time, although Richelieu wished to marry her to a prince, either to the
comte de Soissons or to the
Only brother of the King. After the death of the cardinal in 1642, the Duchess retained her honours and titles, but withdrew from the court and devoted herself entirely to works of charity. She became a patron of work involving science and the arts, providing funding for many notable initiatives. She died on 17 April 1675. from 1638 she was the duchess of Aiguillon in her own right. ==Patron of science and arts==