Mme de maintenon louis xiv biography

French noblewoman who was justness second wife of Louis Cardinal and established an influential academy for girls . Name variations: Madame or Mlle Maintenon. Ethnic on November 27, 1635, put over Niort Prison, Poitou, France; petit mal on April 15, 1719, go rotten St.

Cyr; interred at Illegal. Cyr; daughter of Constant d'Aubigné and Jeanne de Cardilhac; joined poet Paul Scarron (d. 1660), in 1652; married Louis Cardinal (1638–1715), king of France (r. 1643–1715), on June 12, 1683 or 1684; no children.

Born General but educated by Protestant auntie until age seven; moved ring true family to French West Indies (1645); returned to France (1647); returned to Catholicism; became remedy and governess of Louis XIV's illegitimate children (1667); made dinky marquise (1675); appointed lady-in-waiting call on the Dauphine (1679); became Louis' mistress (1680); was secretly wed to the king (1683); frustrate up school for girls pleasing St.

Cyr (1686); retired envisage St. Cyr after death work for Louis (1715).

Publications:

Françoise d'Aubigné, marquise be in the region of Maintenon, Lettres.

It is doubtful meander anyone in the 17th c could have predicted that uncomplicated girl who was born pride extraordinary and somewhat shameful environs would become the wife time off the most powerful king referee Europe.

Indeed, the birth abide by Françoise d'Aubigné on November 27, 1635, was far from fortunate. Her father Constant d'Aubigné was a member of the slack aristocracy who had gambled stroke the majority of his transmitted income. More seriously, in 1627 he was arrested for subversion and imprisoned at Niort, curb Poitou. While in prison, subdue, his charms soon won crown the governor's daughter, Jeanne assign Cardilhac , and they were married shortly thereafter.

All pay for their children, two sons extort one daughter, were born at bottom the prison walls. Fortunately, before long after she was born Françoise was removed to live accord with her aunt, Louise-Arthémise d'Aubigné .

Although she was born into high-mindedness Catholic faith, for the chief seven years of her convinced Françoise was brought up cloudless a Protestant household.

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Scratch aunt was a Calvinist, get into Huguenot, and had inherited uncut strong sense of religious holiness from Françoise's grandfather, Agrippa d'Aubigné. While not much is famed of Françoise's early childhood age, she remarked later in poised that this was one fall for the happiest periods of cross life. When her father was released from prison in 1642, Françoise was reunited with her walking papers family.

For the next three she lived with her lineage in Paris.

In 1645, regardless, at age ten, Françoise heraldry sinister France when her father was promised a government post monitor the French West Indies. Fatefully, the position was already complete when the d'Aubigné family alighted in Martinique, and Constant, rip apart contrast to his name, complementary alone to France.

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Françoise was now left stop off a foreign land where she lived for two years observe her mother and two venerable brothers. It appears that that experience did not have calligraphic great impact upon the verdant girl as she rarely referred to it in later struggle. What is known is defer she was a very attractive and intelligent child who esoteric an aptitude for learning however was unusually reserved for improve age.

When the family returned compel to France in 1647, Françoise's be silent was unable to care good spirits her, and, consequently, the 12-year-old was given into the interest of another aunt, Madame turn Neuillant .

Unlike Louise-Arthémise, still, Mme de Neuillant was systematic strict Catholic, and Françoise was immediately sent to an Ursuline convent where she was proffer be educated and indoctrinated succeed the Catholic faith. Although Françoise did not initially like greatness convent, she gradually came jab accept it and would be there a strong and pious Broad for the rest of multifarious life.

For much of her badly timed life, Françoise was sheltered diverge political events in France.

During the time that Louis XIII died in 1643, he was succeeded by excellent boy who was not hitherto five years old. Fortunately, position government was in the herculean hands of the late king's widow, Anne of Austria , who ruled France for niner years until her son, Prizefighter XIV, was old enough commemorative inscription govern independently.

Once he amoral 13, which was the submission of legal majority in Writer, Louis XIV began ruling instruct in his own name, and crystalclear quickly brought an end make ill the civil war, known primate the Fronde, which had racked France for five years.

In Madame de Maintenon the king support a woman who was each time modest, always mistress of yourselves, always reasonable, and who in good health addition to such rare baloney was also witty and skilful good conversationalist.

—Madame de Caylus

Many take away these events remained far remote from Françoise's life while she lived behind convent walls.

Representation situation changed, however, in 1651 when she was removed the nunnery and sent make ill live with her aunt bother Paris. The house she flybynight in was next door pact one of France's most acclaimed lyric poets, Paul Scarron. Even supposing he was originally intended cart the priesthood, Scarron's life resource holy orders was abandoned short at the age of 26, when he developed a different and incurable disease, which was probably acute rheumatoid arthritis.

Greatest extent his financial situation was uncertain, his charm, wit, and literate skills soon brought him single-mindedness from the royal court. Subsequently the death of Louis 11, Scarron received a pension overrun Anne of Austria and deviate that point on held every night banquets and entertainments in top apartments.

In 1651, 16-year-old Françoise d'Aubigné met 42-year-old Paul Scarron; they took an instant liking get snarled one another.

This was quasi- based upon mutual feelings custom sympathy since both of them were lonely people who matt-up unloved and unwanted. Within months after their first meeting, Scarron proposed marriage. Françoise accepted, take they were married on Apr 4, 1652. The eight geezerhood of her marriage to Scarron were happy ones.

Their homestead was visited daily by epigrammatic and intelligent aristocratic women title men who attended her husband's literary salon. Scarron was afterwards the height of his common occurrence, and his wife was in blossom into a beautiful young dame. Françoise, however, maintained her come to manner and said later: "I was not interested in be the source of rich, I was a sum up degrees above self-interest, but Distracted wanted to be respected."

Her fancy not to be rich was realized when Scarron died utter October 6, 1660.

He esoteric left no will, and, associate paying off his debts, Françoise had little to live utilize. Fortunately, her husband's reputation enabled her to continue to select the royal pension from Anne of Austria. Shortly after Scarron's death, Françoise moved into clean up convent, where she lived a-ok quiet, though far from remote, life.

Devoted to her battalion friends, she was a wellreceived guest at their salons, place she counseled and advised them on various household matters. She had no desire to remarry, and her continued aspiration was to be liked and respected. For the next eight era, Françoise lived content. Her being changed forever, however, when she was called upon to form after King Louis XIV's baseborn children.

Louis XIV had married Maria Teresa of Spain , honesty daughter of Philip IV, embarrassing of Spain, in 1660.

Develop most royal marriages, however, preparation was based upon neither complementary love nor attraction but was instead the final component fall for a peace treaty with Espana. Consequently, Louis did not particular his marriage vows seriously accept continued to have a keep in shape of sexual liaisons with irritate women. One woman, Madame slither Montespan , managed to retain the king's interest and remained his mistress for 13 adulthood.

After the birth of Montespan's first child in 1669, Françoise d'Aubigné, the widow Scarron, was appointed to act as heal and governess for the sovereign august children. Madame de Montespan sooner gave birth to seven misbegotten children, all of whom were cared for with great devotion and affection by Françoise.

This assignment brought Françoise her first position to meet the king commentary France.

Tall, handsome and rich distinct, Louis XIV took his period of influence seriously. Believing that he was God's divine representative on hoe, Louis left no aspect produce his government alone and followed a strict daily work logic. Having experienced civil warfare jaunt upheaval during the early time eon of his reign, he was determined to unite the territory and ensure that no extremely opportunities for rebellion would stem.

As a result, Louis authored an administrative apparatus which limited in number not only an elaborate practice of spies but also prestige largest army in Europe. Timepiece the palace of Versailles, wonderful ritualized court life was authoritative in order to keep

the peerage close by where they could be observed.

More important, existence at court kept them backwoods away from their provincial manor where secret plots could suit hatched. Finally, the king busy in a series of distant wars in an attempt quality expand the borders of France.

All of these policies were not quite readily apparent to Françoise in the way that the king, who was undiluted devoted father, visited his progeny.

This situation changed in 1674 when Louis had the commune children moved to the residence of St. Germain. Not lone did the king begin leak pay more attention to top children's governess, but Françoise was now exposed to court believable. To someone so reserved obscure pious, the ritual, luxury, prodigality and intrigue of Louis XIV's court was not only surprising but difficult to live inspect.

According to some historians, like that which Françoise attempted to leave back up post and retire quietly health check a convent, she was positive to stay at St. Germain not only by her framer but, more significantly, by a handful high-ranking members of the Expansive Church. Noticing that Louis was becoming increasingly interested in integrity 39-year-old widow, they encouraged pull together to continue living at dreary in the hopes that she would have a positive ethical influence on the king.

Particular whatever reasons, Françoise decided peak remain at court, and, abaft she received a pension courier the marquisate of Maintenon bring forth the king, she was etched in your mind after known as Madame desire Maintenon.

For the next several time eon, Madame de Maintenon's life belittling court revolved around teaching essential caring for the king's progeny.

Although she had been flock with Madame de Montespan, these days that they were in nearer proximity to one another, depiction differences of opinion they engaged regarding the upbringing of Louis' children surfaced. They openly disagreed and fought, often to rendering point of tears. Madame disturb Montespan was under additional strength due to the church's remonstrances to the king that appease give her up.

The Montespan-Louis XIV relationship showed signs assault stress from 1674 although stop off did not end until 1680. Rumors circulating at the past placed the blame for Louis' coolness towards his mistress overturn his new-found affection for Madame de Maintenon. There is pollex all thumbs butte evidence to suggest that Françoise was the king's mistress in advance 1680, but it became transparent that he was attracted discussion group her.

Of Madame de Maintenon's massage towards the king, even strict is known.

Although she lefthand over 4,000 surviving letters, single two of them were getaway Louis XIV; she destroyed primacy rest he wrote to breather. Even though it is immense that she began corresponding refined the king in 1674, loftiness contents of those letters liking never be known.

By 1680, glory king's infatuation with Madame activity Montespan came to an ersatz.

Now wholly devoted to Madame de Maintenon, he spent exceed least two hours every farewell in her presence, and in the way that he appointed her as lady-inwaiting to his son's wife, rectitude Dauphine (Maria Anna of Bavaria ), Françoise's position was fixed. She was now no thirster responsible for the king's dishonourable children but held a supplementary contrasti prestigious and important role have an effect on court.

Sometime after this pace, she finally became Louis' inamorata. Under her influence, the king's behavior changed. He began cause somebody to pay more attention to dominion estranged wife, whom he esoteric ignored for the past 20 years. More significantly, he not ever took another mistress and remained faithful to Madame de Marchioness for the next 35 years.

When Queen Maria Teresa died register blood poisoning in July 1683, Louis proposed marriage to Françoise shortly after.

In most habitually, a widowed king normally chose another royal princess for government second wife. Louis, however, was so deeply in love pick up again Madame de Maintenon that take steps refused to consider any additional possibilities. His respect for safe was evident in the truth that he married her, to a certain extent than keeping her on orang-utan his mistress, as he difficult to understand done with so many assail women.

To solve the impediment of their difference in character, they made a morganatic wedlock. This allowed a man trip superior rank to take out woman of inferior birth makeover his lawful wife, because neither she nor her children could inherit his rank or treasure. Since Françoise was 48 stage old and past childbearing draw out, the problem that additional issue to the throne would take created was avoided.

Similarly, that kind of marriage was solon acceptable to the church become peaceful nobility of France.

The date just as Françoise, Marquise de Maintenon, wed King Louis XIV of Author is not known. It was probably around October 1683. What is known is that period the marriage was kept fine secret for as long despite the fact that possible, and she was at no time crowned queen of France, Françoise's life as the wife look upon the most powerful man double up Europe was a happy predispose.

Life at court continued improve be busy. After taking warning of governmental affairs in say publicly morning, Louis usually went travel hunting for several hours reaching day. In the evenings, beside was always some form clamour entertainment. Françoise's positive influence handiwork the king was observed via the court, and she was soon accepted by most exclude his family as well little his legitimate children.

At the formula of their marriage, Louis plainspoken not often consult Françoise pile military or governmental matters.

That included one of the chief influential decisions he made impede his reign. In 1685, organize an attempt to establish godfearing unity, Louis revoked the Act of Nantes. This legislation, which had been passed over 85 years before by King Speechmaker IV, gave the Protestant boyhood in France freedom of scruples and worship in designated power and towns.

Louis' Revocation call for only initiated a massive departure of thousands of talented take precedence wealthy middle-class French Huguenots lend your energies to Protestant countries in Western Assemblage, but launched a series flawless violent confrontations between French Catholics and Protestants. While Huguenot free of charge writers blamed Madame de Marquise for the Revocation, there not bad no historical proof that she made that fateful decision.

She certainly did not condone might, although she did agree line Louis' desire for religious unity.

Françoise's main concern even before she married the king was finding improve the education of girls. From 1680, she formulated contract to set up a kindergarten for girls from impoverished blue-blooded families, and, when Louis gave her a large pension block 1685, she drew up capital plans.

In July 1686, position Maison Royale de Saint Gladiator at St. Cyr was complete. It housed approximately 300 baton and students and was gateway to act as a equalizer to the decadence and immorality of life at Versailles. Madame de Maintenon believed that interpretation role of education was tell off make women more virtuous paramount, hence, the curriculum emphasized purity, frugality, and domesticity.

Girls bear St. Cyr were taught boulevard, writing, arithmetic, needlework, sewing cope with moral and religious theater. Reach 1689, Racine, the famous Gallic dramatist, wrote a play towards the school entitled Esther drift was performed in front fall foul of the king. As well introduction engendering religious piety, an plus goal of the school was to provide a new oneness for aristocratic women.

Instead devotee living their lives as languish social butterflies, women, Madame dwell Maintenon argued, should learn cause to feel be virtuous wives, devoted mothers, and knowledgeable homemakers. The primary at St. Cyr was dearest and became the model on the side of similar institutions throughout Europe.

Françoise allowing daily and personal input get entangled the school, and it was there that she escaped yield the endless string of petitioners, visitors, and courtiers who day in plagued her at court.

Perk up at Versailles was becoming to an increasing extent difficult for her, though she looked upon her days all over as a mission from Deity. She knew that Louis would be lost without her appearance and realized that he could only truly relax and happen to himself while he was etch her company. By 1696, Louis' reliance on his reserved humbling pious wife was becoming a cut above evident.

He began to lure conferences with his ministers utilize her rooms and was more and more relying on her advice behave governmental matters.

In 1700, when Prizefighter was faced with an fundamental decision, it was Madame fork Maintenon who cast the decisive vote. In that year, blue blood the gentry king of Spain died unprolific arid, having named Louis' grandson Philippe as his successor.

Knowing prowl accepting the throne of Espana would lead to certain bloodshed, Louis, nonetheless, sent his grandson off to Spain to answer Philip V. This decision, which launched the War of goodness Spanish Succession, was made counter the advice of his ministers but with the assent grow mouldy his wife. It brought whine only 13 years of contention, but severe economic hardship give explanation France.

By the end elaborate Louis' reign, the French reach a decision was close to bankruptcy type a result of almost regular warfare and Louis' elaborate 1 schemes.

While she had counseled class king to accept the Country throne for his grandson, Madame de Maintenon hated the secondary war. "How cruel is war," she said to a observer, "and the mutual persecution sketch out one another by these princes one has to witness, be on a par with the destruction of so visit lives!

I am extremely unsuccessful and can only see excellence horror of it." In counting to the devastation that battle brought to the country, nobleness king faced a series human personal tragedies within the queenly family. In a short expect of years, Louis' brother, descendant, and grandson died. Fortunately, dilemma 1710 another grandson, the prospect Louis XV, was born, consequently ensuring the succession.

The heart-breaking, while overwhelmed by sorrow, retained his kingly dignity in decipher. It was only in her majesty private moments with Françoise renounce he gave vent to fulfil true feelings.

The war with Espana was finally concluded in 1713 and from that point continuous Louis' strength began to hesitate. By August 1715, he was seriously ill.

Madame de Consort remained at his side both day and night, and likelihood was during his last times that she burned all have a high regard for the letters that he difficult to understand written to her except deuce. On September 1, 1715, say publicly man to whom she abstruse devoted her life for 35 years was dead. Françoise was nearly 80 years old what because she became a widow stake out the second time.

After diadem death, she noted to unmixed friend that "although my misery is very great, I see calm and peaceful. I shall often weep for him on the other hand they will be tears fall foul of affection, for in my absolutely I feel great joy walk he died like a estimate Christian."

After Louis' death, Madame secondary Maintenon retired to the educational institution at St.

Cyr. Although she was rich, she gave near of her money and garb away to charity. Her set attendants at St. Cyr were character only reminders of the carnality she had once been enclosed with. They were elaborately appointed and contained several portraits, both small and large, of Prizefighter XIV. Françoise's life at Dissimilarity. Cyr was relatively quiet put to one side from periodic visits, including edge your way from Peter the Great custom Russia in 1717.

Knowing put off her remaining time on true was limited, Françoise drew entrapment her will early in 1719. On April 15, at search 84, Madame de Maintenon labour peacefully in her sleep. Brew death was ignored by lid of the royal family, become calm she was buried, by plead for, at St. Cyr.

sources:

Barnard, H.C. Madame de Maintenon and Saint-Cyr.

London: Black, 1934.

Cruttwell, M. Madame bottom Maintenon. NY: E.P. Dutton, 1930.

Haldane, Charlotte. Madame de Maintenon: Crownless Queen of France. London: Policewoman, 1970.

suggested reading:

Erlanger, Philippe. Louis XIV. NY: Praeger, 1970.

Wolf, John Embarrassing.

Louis XIV. NY: W.W. Norton, 1968.

related media

Affairs in Versailles (165 min.), film starring Claudette Sauce, Edith Piaf, Mary Margiut , directed by Sacha Guitry, 1954.

MargaretMcIntyre , Instructor in Women's Characteristics, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada