Great love of King Louis XIV, Madame de Montespan gave birth to 7 children in 10 years . To avoid scandal, her pregnancies and her children will be hidden from view, at least until Louis XIV decides otherwise. Through this article, I invite you to discover the life of Madame de Montespan's children , the most famous favorite of the Sun King.
The first child of Madame de Montespan and Louis XIV
Françoise Athénaïs de Rochechouart de Mortemart, better known as Madame de Montespan , stole the heart of Louis XIV from Louise de la Vallière . Her undeniable charm and her fiery personality immediately attracted the Sovereign, who was beginning to get tired of his first favorite. Only a few months after their first gallantries, the Montespan, then become the new favorite, is expecting a child. The first of his relationship with the King of France. This newborn, probably a girl, was born at the end of March 1669 in a small house on rue de l'Echelle near the Tuileries. This house, the Montespan rented it so that her illegitimate children could be brought up there in anonymity the most complete. We know very little about Madame de Montespan's first child with the king because he died very young, probably around the age of 3.
Louis-Auguste, Duke of Maine
Only 3 months after giving birth, the Marquise de Montespan fell pregnant again. She must once again hide her pregnancy from everyone's eyes and prepare for her delivery in the greatest of secrets . We are in the middle of the night, in March 1670, at the Château de Saint-Germain en Laye. While the whole castle is sleeping, including the Queen of France on the upper floor, the Marquise de Montespan gives birth to her second child born of her relationship with Louis XIV. Louis-Auguste, future Duke of Maine, was born in silence, in the greatest of secrets. It is even said that barely born, Louis-Auguste was taken away to be entrusted to Françoise d'Aubigné, Madame de Maintenon , the second of the wives of Louis XIV . Very quick-witted, the Duke of Maine however suffers from a physical handicap. Born with an atrophied leg, he needs daily care and assistance. Of a virtuous and empathetic nature, Madame de Maintenon developed a real affection for this child . His governess takes him regularly for cures to treat his legs / Despite everything, he will spend his life with a cane.
When he was only 3 years old, Louis XIV decided to legitimize the children he had with Madame de Montespan. This is how Louis-Auguste becomes the Duke of Maine. His sharp mind and intelligence endear him to his royal father . In 1680, the Duke of Maine was declared Prince of Bourbon. In 1682, he became Governor of Languedoc and in 1686 Duke of Aumale and Knight of the Holy Spirit. Madame de Montespan's child received promotion after promotion, making his father and king proud. Despite Louis XIV's reluctance, his son was finally married to Anne-Louise-Bénédicte de Bourbon-Condé.
Despite the many royal favours, the Duke of Maine cannot manage to detach himself from this image of bastard and son of Madame de Montespan, fallen favourite. His wife regularly reproaches him for being born badly. Despite everything, Louis XIV greatly appreciated his legitimized son . Advancing in age, and seeing his heirs die one after the other, the Sun King decides to establish a royal edict authorizing the Duke of Maine, first child of Madame de Montespan, to ascend the throne if no heir was to survive. It is ultimately the great-grandson of Louis XIV, future Louis XV, who ascends the throne on the death of the Sun King.
Louis-César, Count of Vexin
Born on June 20, 1672 at the Château du Génitoy, Louis-César was the third child of Madame de Montespan and Louis XIV. Born weak, Louis-César reveals a somewhat deformed physique . His spine remains crooked, and the child is unfortunately hunchbacked. Everyone around him severely doubts that he will survive, including his parents and his governess Madame Scarron, future Madame de Maintenon. Like his older brother, he was legitimized by Louis XIV in 1673, thus becoming the Count of Vexin. It is from this moment that the child is finally revealed to the entire Court of France as being the child of Madame de Montespan and the Sovereign.
The child then becomes a freak, and the doctors of the Court try by all means to get rid of this bump. Is it really to relieve him? Or out of pure convenience with the courtiers? Be that as it may, the treatments inflicted on the little boy will in no way remove this bump, and will even have the opposite effect. His health is weakening treatment after treatment. In 1678, Louis-César was at his worst. We no longer see him in the company of his brothers and sisters, Madame de Montespan's child stays in bed all day. While she has fallen out of favor with her beloved king, the favorite Montespan watches day and night with her son. She who until then had never revealed any maternal instinct, will reveal herself as a loving and watchful mother . For several months, the Marquise de Montespan will spend a large part of her time in her son's room to support him and watch over him. However, this surge of love did not prevent the young count from dying on January 10, 1683. He was only 10 years old at the time.
Louise-Françoise, Miss de Nantes
Fourth child of Madame de Montespan and Louis XIV, Louise-Françoise is their first daughter. Born on June 1, 1673 in Tournai, she was, like her older brothers, entrusted to the governess Françoise Scarron from birth. She remains hidden from all eyes , but only for a few months. The young woman was legitimized by her father Louis XIV when she was only 6 months old, thus becoming Miss de Nantes. Louise-Françoise looks exactly like her mother, La Montespan. Endowed with a certain charm, great beauty, and a sharp mind, she is the pride of her mother . Her love for Montespan also pushes her to hate her governess, the future wife of Louis XIV. When she was only 12 years old, she was married to Louis III de Bourbon, Prince of Condé and grandson of the Grand Condé. Miss de Nantes then becomes Duchess of Bourbon.
Her husband is her exact opposite. He has a somewhat unsightly physique, and is sorely lacking in intelligence. Their marriage is a real failure . Even though her husband fulfills his marital duty, which gives birth to 9 children, he openly cheats on his wife. In addition to having an absent and frivolous husband, Louise-Françoise is disappointed over the years by her children, who are subject to numerous scandals. To console herself, Madame de Montespan's child falls into the arms of the Duke of Bourbon, a cultured man who is physically very pleasant to watch. That is to say the complete opposite of her husband. But this affair did not last, the lover being promised to the throne of Poland.
After the death of her husband the Prince of Condé, it was with Léon de Madaillan that she found comfort. This liaison, little appreciated by his children, remains however discreet. The illegitimate daughter of Louis XIV and La Montespan is accepted into the intimate circle of Louis XV , with whom she often converses. She evokes with him the memory of her parents and grandparents, whom Mlle de Nantes knew well. Madame de Montespan's daughter died at a very advanced age for the time, 70, at the Palais Bourbon which she had built a few years earlier.
Louise-Marie-Anne, Miss of Tours
Second daughter of the illegitimate couple Madame de Montespan and Louis XIV, Louise-Marie-Anne was born on November 12, 1674 at the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Unlike her older siblings, Louise-Marie-Anne did not have to be hidden from view at birth . Elders having been legitimized. She is still entrusted to Madame Scarron who will manage her education. The little girl was legitimized by her father in January 1676, giving her the title of Mlle de Tours. Its title gives it the affectionate nickname of “Doggy” . The daughter of the official mistress is particularly close to her older sister, Mlle de Nantes.
Growing up, the young girl reveals a somewhat fragile health. Louise-Marie-Anne is regularly ill and bedridden. As for his brother Louis-César, we fear a lot for his life . When she is only 7 years old, the child of Madame de Montespan and Louis XIV is sent to take the waters. But this will not have the desired effect. In September of the same year, the little one was increasingly ill and suffered from violent headaches. The doctors remain helpless in the face of his suffering. The child died on September 15, 1681. Her mother, the Marquise de Montespan, was unfortunately unable to arrive in time to be at her daughter's bedside.
Françoise-Marie, Miss de Blois then Duchess of Orléans
Last of the daughters of Madame de Montespan and Louis XIV, François-Marie was born on May 4, 1677 at the Château de Maintenon. This castle is the residence of Madame de Maintenon. Although she took care of the education of her older brothers and sisters, the governess did not wish to take care of the little girl , from an illegitimate relationship. Very pious, the Scarron widow never supported this extra-marital relationship. The last of the daughters is therefore brought up by the Marquise de Montchevreuil. Having been disgraced shortly after her birth, the Montespan fears that her daughter will not be recognized by her father the Sun King. But 4 years after her birth, Françoise-Marie was also legitimized by Louis XIV, in November 1681, becoming Mademoiselle de Blois. The child of Madame de Montespan very quickly shows a very daring and above all ambitious character. Mlle de Blois wants to rise in society. She is therefore delighted when she learns of the Monarch's will to marry her cousin Philippe de Bourbon-Orléans, Duke of Chartres. This is the son of Monsieur, brother of the King, and of the Palatine. She therefore married on February 18, 1692 in Versailles Philippe de Bourbon-Orléans, future regent. Thanks to this union, Françoise-Marie rises in society and stays within the royal circle. With the death of the King's brother, Mlle de Blois rises to the rank of Duchess of Orléans.
Despite the lack of love, and the frivolous character of her husband, Françoise-Marie gave birth to eight children, including a boy. But the education of her children is particularly neglected. She must finally send her daughters to the convent. On the death of Louis XIV, her husband became the Regent of the Kingdom until the young Louis XV was old enough to reign. The last of Madame de Montespan's daughters then became First Lady of the Court . Mademoiselle de Blois is the last of Madame de Montespan's children to die. She died on February 1 in Saint-Cloud, when she was 71 years old.
Louis-Alexandre, Count of Toulouse
The last of Madame de Montespan's children, Louis-Alexandre was born on June 6, 1678 in Versailles. The little boy was born in a relatively tense environment, his mother was no longer Louis XIV's favorite . Unlike all her other children, Madame de Montespan will keep her last child with her, rather than entrusting her child to a governess. The Marquise has a real affection for her latest child. Perhaps it represents the memory of his past love with Louis XIV. Louis-Alexandre becomes Count of Toulouse after being legitimized on November 22, 1681. 2 years later, the young boy receives the office of Admiral of France , and the following year he became colonel of an infantry regiment. Throughout his life, the Count of Toulouse took the responsibilities given to him very seriously. As he enters his fourteenth year, Louis-Alexandre will prove himself as a warrior. He accompanies his father in the war against William of Orange. On the battlefield, the prince shows great courage , which will be rewarded by Louis XIV. The Count of Toulouse becomes a Knight of the Orders of Saint-Michel. Madame de Montespan's youngest child leads a quiet life, without any scandals to his credit. He then shines in a military career, making his father and mother proud. Louis-Alexandre dated Marie-Victoire de Noailles for many years, whom he finally married in secret.
To conceal her pregnancies, Madame de Montespan launched the fashion for swinging dresses
The passion that unites King Louis XIV to his great favorite Madame de Montespan gives birth to 7 children in 10 years. Fruits of a double adultery – because it must be remembered, Louis XIV and Madame de Montespan were married on their own , the Marquise's pregnancies must be concealed. It is absolutely necessary to avoid the scandal for the former lady of honor of the queen. And even bigger problem, according to French law, the legal father of these children is none other than the husband of the favorite, the Marquis de Montespan. He has every right to take all the bastard children of the king and his wife. By all means, the Marquise de Montespan works to conceal her pregnancies . She then begins to wear what are called swing dresses, which are simply assimilated to dressing gowns. The dresses are far too uncomfortable for the mother-to-be, and reveal too much of her growing belly. The young woman knew how to give the change during her first pregnancies. But very quickly the Court understands that when the favorite takes out her flapping dresses, it means that a newborn is born . This kind of relatively ample dress is little by little frowned upon by courtiers. It is associated with light women, of small virtue.
Madame de Montespan's children are raised in discretion
After concealing her pregnancies, the favorite must also hide children from the Court. No way for her to risk scandal , and to attract the desire for revenge of her husband. Each delivery takes place discreetly, in silence. The Marquise de Montespan foresees everything. Before giving birth to her first child, she bought a house on rue de l'Echelle near the Tuileries. She wants to hire a governess, who will have to manage the whole house and the education of Madame de Montespan's children. The one who will be chosen is none other than Madame de Maintenon , his long-time friend. Barely born, the children of Madame de Montespan are wrapped in a cloth, and taken outside to be entrusted to the widow Scarron, Madame de Maintenon. The Montespan does not have a great maternal instinct, at least in the early years. She is more concerned about her reputation and the king's affection for her , than the love of his children. Except for the last children of Madame de Montespan, who will be entitled to signs of love and affection.
All the children in the family, except the youngest, begin their lives in the greatest discretion, far from the Court of France and their parents . No one should know that their father is none other than Louis XIV and their mother the Marquise de Montespan. It is only when they are legitimized that Madame de Montespan's children are revealed to the whole world.