Marie-Élisabeth de Ludres was born in 1647 in Ludres, Duchy of Lorraine as the daughter of Jean de Ludres and his wife, born Claude des Salles.[2] She was sent to the Chapitre des dames nobles de Poussay (Chapter of the Noble Ladies of Poussay), where she was raised as a secular canoness among other daughters of the local nobility.[3]