"Maintenon, Francoise d'Aubigne, Marquise de," Microsoft (R) Encarta. Copyright (c) 1994 Microsoft Corporation. Copyright (c) 1994 Funk & Wagnall's Corporation.
http://www.kings.edu/womens_history/demaintenon.html
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| Madame de Maintenon | ||||||||||
| Fran�oise d'Aubign�, Marquise de Maintenon, (1635-1719), French noblewoman, second wife of Louis XIV, king of France, born in Niort. In 1651 she married the French novelist Paul Scarron. After his death in 1660 she became the governess of the illegitimate children of Louis XIV. In 1674 she became Louis's mistress and purchased the estate of Maintenon, which was made a marquisate in 1678. After the death of Marie Th�r�se, queen of France, the king morganatically married (1684) her; accordingly, no children of the marriage could succeed to the throne. As the leader of the French court, she was known for her beauty and wit, and she exerted a great influence on the king in religious and political matters. Having been poor as a girl, she founded the school of Saint Cyr for poor girls of noble families. When Louis died in 1715 she retired to a convent, where she died. Much of her correspondence during her years at court was published after her death. "Maintenon, Francoise d'Aubigne, Marquise de," Microsoft (R) Encarta. Copyright (c) 1994 Microsoft Corporation. Copyright (c) 1994 Funk & Wagnall's Corporation. |
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| More info: http://www.kings.edu/womens_history/demaintenon.html |
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| Madame de Miantenon by Pierre Mignard, 1694 | ||||||||||