Madame de Maintenon

author

Madame de Maintenon

1635–1719

Rising from a childhood marked by poverty and upheaval, she became one of the most influential women at the court of Louis XIV. Remembered for her intelligence, discretion, and deep religious seriousness, she also played a lasting role in the education of girls in France.

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

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, Madame de Maintenon lived through a dramatic rise in fortune. After an unsettled early life, she married the writer Paul Scarron and became known in literary and court circles for her wit, self-control, and practical intelligence.

She later entered the orbit of Louis XIV and became an important presence at Versailles. Historians generally describe her as the king's secret second wife, and her influence at court was closely tied to her reputation for reserve, piety, and good judgment.

She is also closely associated with the Maison royale de Saint-Louis at Saint-Cyr, a school founded for the education of girls from impoverished noble families. That work, along with the large place she occupies in the story of Louis XIV's court, has made her a fascinating figure in French history.