5.5.2. "FAVORITES"

THE KING'S CHOICE AMONG THE NOBLE BEAUTIES OF THE COURT RECEIVES AN OFFICIAL POSITION AND ROYAL GIFTS THAT SHE DISTRIBUTES OR KEEPS

Those expenditures keep nobles at court, to receive riches if they are of her clan or intrigue to replace her if they are not. 

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Louise de la Vallière as Diana, 1667

Louise de La Vallière, who genuinely loved the king, was an exception to the ambitious, grasping royal mistresses. She was also alone to leave the king, for an end that was happy because on her own terms:  told here (at the bottom of the page).  

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The Marquise de Montespan in the chateau given by the king, 1680 

Françoise-Athenaïs* de Rochefort-Mortemart contributed to the éclat of the court for 15 years, until disgraced for associating with a witch: story here.

*Sophisticated noblewomen chose antiquity-sounding names to set themselves apart.

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View and Perspective of Clagny Chateau, from the Garden and Swamp of Versailles, print by Antoine Aveline, no date / zoom

"It's barely worthy of an opera girl," said the Marquise of a first chateau the king offered. He had it torn down and built this one, which now only a street name recalls.

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Marie-Angélique de Scorailles de Roussille was 17 when she became favorite and 19 when she died of the effects of childbirth. Louis had already tired of her, embarrassed by her foolishness and lack of culture.  

         

As well, the lavish spending 

of most made them lightning rods, 

drawing popular fury away from the king.                                            -- Simone Bertière, Les femmes du Roi-Soleil, 1998

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Next,

5.5.3.

Creation, destruction, replacement