Women in France During the Eighteenth Century Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1893 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VTIT. MADAME DE POMrADOUK IIEE POLITICAL POWER AND GENERAL INFLUENCE--MADAME DU MARCHAIS AND THE ECONOMISTS--MADAME DU BARRY--DEATH OF LOUIS XV. However degrading for society it may bo to confess it, it is nevertheless true, that, besides the democratic influence of the bureaux d'esprit, there existed another power in French society during the eighteenth century--the power of royal mistresses; exercised, not because they were clever or intelligent women, but because they were the acknowledged favourites of a profligate monarch. On the death of Madame de Chateauroux, Richelieu, anxious to console the king for her loss, and to have the honour of procuring him another mistress as attractive, went to seek the beautiful Madame de Flavacour, and offered her the post which had been successively occupied by her four sisters. She coldly listened to his proposals, and merely replied, "I prefer, to what you offer me, the esteem of my contemporaries." Several other ladies of equal virtue were found, even at the court of Louis XV.; but too many eagerly sought the disgraceful honour a simple bourgeoise was destined to win. Before the king left Versailles for his army in Flanders, the keen eye of Madame de Chateauroux had noticed a singularly beautiful woman who always placed herself in the path of Louis XV. whenever he hunted in the forest of Senart. The instinct of jealousy led her to suspect in this unknown lady (for she did not belong to the court) a future rivaL Her surmise was correct; and when the king's grief for her loss had somewhat abated, Madame de Chateauroux was succeeded in the post of royal favourite by the intriguing Madame le Normand d'EtiolIes, better known as Madame de Pompadour. According to some accounts, Jeannette Poisson, the daughter of a ...