The future Prince of Craon was born in Nancy itself the capital of the Duchy of Lorraine in 1676. His father was a nobleman who held the title of Marquis. His mother was a lady of lower rank. He was a childhood friend of Leopold I of Lorraine the future duke of the smsll state. Marc and the duke were frequently together and the duke later awarded him the title of Marquisate of Craon. He later married Il on the 16 December 1704 at Lunéville, to Anne Marguerite de Ligniville (1686-1772), Countess of the Holy Roman Empire and later lady in waiting the Duchess of Lorraine and future mistress of Leopold I. He was later the governor of Francis I of Lorraine and it was in 1722 that the title of Prince of Beauvau was granted by the then Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor in 1722. Marc had also been instrumental in the marriage plans between Francis I of Lorraine and Maria Theresa of Austria. The future Holy Roman Emperor also made him a Prince of the Holy Roman Empire. He and his wife later had 15 children including the next Prince of Craon.