Welcome to Versailles, home of the king, queen, and many, many more mistresses. Who could live without them? Definitely not the state! Some of these women were intrinsic in determining domestic and foreign policy in politics, religion, art, and everything in between.
Françoise d’Aubigné, Marquise de Maintenon was the chief mistress of King Louis XIV. They first met through Louis’s illegitimate children of himself and Madame de Montespan, for official mistress. Louis XIV was at first put off by her religious piety, but warmed to her when he noticed the care she gave all of his children, but particularly his favorite, Louis-Auguste, who viewed Mme de Maintenon as a mother. Once Louis legitimized his children, she became Royal Governess and moved into Versailles where, because she was a governess, was one of the few people able to speak freely and equally with Louis XIV. This endeared her greatly to him, who spoke with her about politics, religion, and economics.
After the death of Louis’s wife, they married in what was an open but unspoken secret until Louis’s death. This affair was guarded with jealousy by Mme de Montespan who was infuriated by the gifts Louis gave her and increasingly annoyed Louis with her temper. The two women frequently argued over childcare but once Mme de Montespan left, leaving Mme de Maintenon official mistress, Maintenon provided to be a good influence on the king. His queen, who had been rudely treated by Montespan, declared that she had never been so well treated by Louis then when Maintenon was around.
Her political influence was considerable. Not only did she act essentially as a prime minister, people found her more easily approachable than the king and could bring issues to her. Maintenon also advocated for girls’ education, founding the Maison Royale de Saint-Louis, a boarding school for poor girls of noble birth. She, considered a natural born teacher, wrote out every rule herself and frequently acted as a motherly influence on students. Her dedication to her king and country was such that Czar Peter I of Russia remarked to his aides about it.
Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, Marquise de Pompadour was chief mistress, confidante, friend, aide, and advisor of King Louis XV. Born a commoner, she had many political enemies and was of frequently frail health. But she took charge of the king’s schedule and tried to introduce fun into his life: unlike the other women in the king’s life, she not only accompanied him hunting but also played cards and toured properties with him. Unlike previous royal mistresses, she established a cordial and incredibly respectful relationship with Queen Marie Leszczyńska, which she recognized as easing the king’s guilt and allowing him to have a better relationship with his children. Their sexual relationship ended in 1750, but she and king remained devoted to each other until her death in 1764 from tuberculosis; the king himself nursed her through her last two weeks and was heartbroken at her death. Upon seeing rain on her funeral day, he’s reported to have said: “The marquise won’t have good weather for her journey.”
Pompadour’s political influence could not be understated. It got to the point where an Austrian diplomat actually approached her to intervene in the peace negotiations after the War of Austrian Succession and what followed was the Treaty of Versailles and what followed next was the Diplomatic Revolution, France allying itself to former enemy, Austria. However, the alliance with Austria and Russia against Britain and Prussia in the Seven Years’ War proved to be disastrous. France was defeated soundly by Prussia and Britain absorbed France’s North American colonies, surpassing France as the premier colonial power—-something blamed solely on Madame de Pompadour, who continued to support these policies. The Seven Years’ War left France both almost bankrupt and diminshed literally and metaphorically. She also supported more fruitful policies, such as Bertin and Machaut’s fiscal and financial reforms, which helped France claw back its wealth.
Mme de Pompadour’s influence was not just influencing politics internationally, however. She also made Paris the internationally-acclaimed center of elegance, style, architecture, art, literature, and philosophy across Europe and the world. Pompadour had great Rococo tastes, planning buildings as well as interiors, and great influences in the decorative arts, as well. The porcelain manufacturer at Sevres was her doing and it paid off: Sevres porcelain quickly became the greatest across Europe. Pompadour not only made arts, but patronized them as well. She employed artists such as Francois Boucher and writers like Voltaire; she defended Diderot’s Encyclopedie, protected the Physiocrates, and paved the way for Adam Smith’s writings.
Mme de Pompadour was everything from queen to prime minister to first lady, and her legacy reflects that.
Jeanne Bécu, Comtesse du Barry took the place of Mme de Pompadour after her death; like Pompadour, she was also a commoner, and lived on the street before she came to the attention of pimp to work as a high-class courtesan consorting with the highest levels of Parisian society—-including the king. She was famous for her extravagant dresses and hair styles—-frequently cossesseted with diamonds—and was equally extravagant with the treasury, as well. That being said, she was equally famous for her good disposition and nature: she twice asked the king to lessen penalties from death penalties for innocents. The first incident was also her first request of Louis XV as official mistress and he was charmed by it: “Madame, I am delighted that the first favour you should ask of me should be an act of mercy!”
Unlike Pompadour, du Barry took little interest in politics outside the court. But her interest and success at court intrigue has huge ramifications for the realm. Her fiercest enemy was the Duc de Choiseul and his sister; his sister because she had supplanted her as maîtresse-en-titre, the brother because as du Barry’s influence grew at court he feared his own waned.
Marie-Antoinette, however, despised du Barry in part because Choiseul’s sister had been one of Marie-Antionette’s ladies-in-waiting. Furthermore, Marie-Antionette was shocked by the debauchery and immorality of du Barry as a former courtesan turned mistress. Marie-Antionette almost caused a scandal by refusing to talk to or acknowledge du Barry at court. After her mother urged her not to jepoardize relations, Marie-Antionette finally gave a half-hearted try. During the New Year’s Eve Ball she commented in the direction of du Barry “there are a lot of people at Versailles today,” which du Barry could take or leave. She took it.
However, like Marie-Anoinette, du Barry ended her life as a victim of a Reign of Terror. Alike in spending, appearance, and death, the only thing that was different was their station. It didn’t save either of them from the Madame de Guillotine, but it did save du Barry from the hate of the court, unlike the queen.