author
Madame de Maintenon
1635–1719
Rising from poverty to the inner circle of Versailles, she became one of the most intriguing women in the court of Louis XIV. Remembered as Madame de Maintenon, she also left a lasting mark through her support of girls' education.
1 Audiobook
The Correspondence of Madame, Princess Palatine, Mother of the Regent; of Marie-Adélaïde de Savoie, Duchesse de Bourgogne; and of Madame de Maintenon, in Relation to Saint-Cyr
by Madame de Maintenon, Duchess of Burgundy of Savoy Marie Adelaide, duchesse d' Charlotte-Elisabeth Orléans
About the author
Born Françoise d’Aubigné in 1635, she came from troubled and financially unstable circumstances and was first known in Paris as Madame Scarron after her marriage to the writer Paul Scarron. Her intelligence, self-control, and social skill helped her move into influential circles at court.
She later became governess to the children of Louis XIV and Madame de Montespan, a role that brought her close to the king. After the death of Queen Marie-Thérèse, she is widely described as Louis XIV’s second wife in a secret marriage, though she was never publicly acknowledged as queen.
Madame de Maintenon is also remembered for founding the Maison royale de Saint-Louis at Saint-Cyr, a school created for girls from impoverished noble families. Alongside her reputation for discretion and piety, that work has helped keep her name alive long after the politics of Versailles faded.