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Francoise d'Aubigné

Francoise d'Aubigné (1635-1719), also known as Madame Francoise de Maintenon, or Marquise de Maintenon, was a French noblewoman, born in the prison of Niort, where her father was incarcerated as a Protestant. Though well inoculated with Protestant principles she turned a Catholic, married the poet Scarron in 1652, became a widow in 1660.

She was entrusted with the education of the children of Louis XIV and Madame de Montespan. However, she supplanted the latter in the king's affections, and was secretly married to him in 1684, though she was never considered to be queen. She exercised a great influence over him, not always for good, and on his death in 1715 retired into the Convent of St. Cyr, which she had herself founded for young ladies of noble birth but in humble circumstances.

Wisdom & Quotes

  • Delicacy is to love what grace is to beauty.
- Maximes de Mme, de Maintenon

Louis XIV


Page last modified on Thursday December 23, 2021 12:57:39 GMT-0000