We are going to focus on some of the raunchy characters of France’s Bourbon dynasty at the Palace of Versailles. This history isn’t exactly dark history, but definitely something the gets glossed over midst all of the other scandalous stories during the Absolutist era until the beginning of the first revolution.
We will begin our story with Louis XIV (aka “The Sun King”). Louis was known for his extravagant taste and his even stronger desire for power. Versailles became a permanent residence for the royal family during his reign, and it also became the new residence of the entire court. Louis wanted to keep the aristocracy close in order to prevent any power to be shifted from the crown to the rich. His bedroom was located in the center of the upper floor, and the courtiers were required to attend his waking and his bedtime everyday in order to keep their place in the court.
Louis XIV and his successors did limit their power in one way: Communion. Louis XIV and Louis XV were both known for their extramarital affairs and would cancel a ceremony where they would supposedly heal people because it would be sacrilegious to perform it whilst unclean.
The most prominent affairs were those of Louis XV. His two most famous (or possibly infamous) mistresses are Madame de Pompadour and Madame du Barry. The king and queen did not share the same bed, so passages were built from the mistresses’ quarters (and yes several lived in the palace at once) to the king’s bedroom. The women would be called upon and expected to make their appearance immediately upon request. Madame de Pompadour (and her successor du Barry) was the “official mistress” and also one of his closest confidantes. According to primary sources, she was said to have great sway with his policies and funding. She was a learned woman and after she grew too old to be his mistress, she stayed at Versailles as part of the court and became an official unofficial adviser. du Barry was his last mistress leading up to his death. Louis showered her with extravagant gowns and a diamond necklace. After he died, she was banished to an abbey by Marie Antoinette. She was later executed during the Reign of Terror.
Madame de Pompadour
Madame du Barry
We have to end with the infamous sexual relationship between Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. The two were arranged to be married from a very young age and were only 16 and 15 when they wed. The court was originally required to witness the consummation of the marriage, but it is said that the two were not able to actually have intercourse for the first time until weeks later. Many historians have theorized that he might have had a condition that made it painful for him to have sex. Antoinette was disliked for her foreign birth, but became even more hated when she could not produce an heir. Once again, historians theorize that the fault lied with Louis.
Next week we will be exploring the Louvre and its famous thefts. French monuments such as Versailles and the Louvre have had tumultuous histories and have seen the rise and fall of several regimes.
