Pauline-Félicité de Mailly
Encyclopedia
Pauline Félicité de Mailly (1712–1741), marquise de Vintimille, was the second of the five famous de Nesle sisters, four of whom would become the mistress
of King Louis XV of France
.
, the niece of Cardinal Mazarin. Pauline Félicité had four full sisters:
The only one of the de Nesle sisters not to become one of Louis XV's mistresses was the marquise de Flavacourt. Louise Julie was the first sister to attract the king followed by Pauline Félicité, but it was Marie Anne who was the most successful in manipulating him and becoming politically powerful.
Pauline Félicité also had a younger half-sister, Henriette de Bourbon (1725 - 1780), Mademoiselle de Verneuil, from her mother's relationship with the duc de Bourbon, the chief minister of Louis XV from 1723 to 1726.
In her youth, Pauline Félicité was known as Mademoiselle de Nesle.
, the king's official mistress, asking to be invited to court. She received the invitation, and during her stay proceeded to seduce the king, who fell passionately in love with her.
Mademoiselle de Nesle then became the second official mistress of Louis XV, although her sister kept the position of maîtresse en titre. The king lavished her with gifts, the greatest being the castle of Choisy-le-Roi
, newly decorated in blue and silver. To provide her an appropriate status at court, the king arranged for her to marry a nobleman only too pleased to leave the couple alone. On 28 September 1739, Mademoiselle de Nesle married Jean Baptiste Félix Hubert de Vintimille, marquis de Vintimille, comte du Luc (b. 1720), who departed to the country after their wedding. The new marquise de Ventimille soon became pregnant by the king.
Madame de Vintimille was described as graceful with a long, swan-like neck, but not beautiful. She was much more ambitious than her older sister and predecessor, Madame de Mailly, and possessed a great desire for money and political influence; her arrogance quickly made her hated within the court and by the people.
She could have been as politically influential as her two successors, Madame de Châteauroux and Madame de Pompadour
, if not more, but her period as royal mistress was cut short; she died while giving birth to the son of the king in 1741.
Her corpse was placed at Lit-de-parade in the town of Versailles
, but during the night the guards left the room to drink and a mob broke in and mutilated the corpse of "the king's whore".
Both the king and her older sister, Madame de Mailly, were deeply devastated by the death of their lover and sister, and Madame de Mailly is said to have begun to wash the feet of the poor as a Catholic sign of remorse.
The son of the king and Madame de Ventimille was named Louis after his father and given the title of duc de Luc. He so resembled his father that he was called Demi-Louis, "small Louis". He was raised by his aunt, Madame de Mailly. The king took care of his needs but never paid him much attention. Later, Madame de Pompadour wanted to marry her daughter to him, but the king would not allow it.
Mistress (lover)
A mistress is a long-term female lover and companion who is not married to her partner; the term is used especially when her partner is married. The relationship generally is stable and at least semi-permanent; however, the couple does not live together openly. Also the relationship is usually,...
of King Louis XV of France
Louis XV of France
Louis XV was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1 September 1715 until his death. He succeeded his great-grandfather at the age of five, his first cousin Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, served as Regent of the kingdom until Louis's majority in 1723...
.
Early life and family
Pauline Félicité was born the second daughter of Louis de Mailly, marquis de Nesle et de Mailly, Prince d'Orange (1689 - 1767), and his wife, Armande Félice de La Porte Mazarin (1691 - 1729). Her parents had been married in 1709. Her mother was the daughter of Paul Jules de La Porte, duc Mazarin et de La Meilleraye (1666 - 1731), the son of the famous adventuress, Hortense ManciniHortense Mancini
Hortense Mancini, duchesse Mazarin , was the favourite niece of Cardinal Mazarin, chief minister of France, and a mistress of Charles II, King of England, Scotland and Ireland...
, the niece of Cardinal Mazarin. Pauline Félicité had four full sisters:
- Louise Julie de Mailly, Mademoiselle de Mailly, comtesse de Mailly (1710 - 1751),
- Diane Adélaïde de Mailly, Mademoiselle de Montcavrel, duchesse de Lauraguais (1714 - 1769),
- Hortense Félicité de Mailly, Mademoiselle de Chalon, marquise de Flavacourt (1715 - 1763).
- Marie Anne de Mailly, Mademoiselle de Monchy, marquise de La Tournelle, duchesse de Châteauroux (1717–1744).
The only one of the de Nesle sisters not to become one of Louis XV's mistresses was the marquise de Flavacourt. Louise Julie was the first sister to attract the king followed by Pauline Félicité, but it was Marie Anne who was the most successful in manipulating him and becoming politically powerful.
Pauline Félicité also had a younger half-sister, Henriette de Bourbon (1725 - 1780), Mademoiselle de Verneuil, from her mother's relationship with the duc de Bourbon, the chief minister of Louis XV from 1723 to 1726.
In her youth, Pauline Félicité was known as Mademoiselle de Nesle.
Mistress to Louis XV
In 1738, Pauline wrote to her elder sister, Madame de MaillyLouise Julie, Comtesse de Mailly
Louise Julie de Mailly, comtesse de Mailly was the eldest of the five famous de Nesle sisters, four of whom would become the mistress of King Louis XV of France.- Early life, family and marriage :...
, the king's official mistress, asking to be invited to court. She received the invitation, and during her stay proceeded to seduce the king, who fell passionately in love with her.
Mademoiselle de Nesle then became the second official mistress of Louis XV, although her sister kept the position of maîtresse en titre. The king lavished her with gifts, the greatest being the castle of Choisy-le-Roi
Choisy-le-Roi
Choisy-le-Roi is a commune in the southeastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.-Geography:Crossed by the Seine river, it is located from the center of Paris....
, newly decorated in blue and silver. To provide her an appropriate status at court, the king arranged for her to marry a nobleman only too pleased to leave the couple alone. On 28 September 1739, Mademoiselle de Nesle married Jean Baptiste Félix Hubert de Vintimille, marquis de Vintimille, comte du Luc (b. 1720), who departed to the country after their wedding. The new marquise de Ventimille soon became pregnant by the king.
Madame de Vintimille was described as graceful with a long, swan-like neck, but not beautiful. She was much more ambitious than her older sister and predecessor, Madame de Mailly, and possessed a great desire for money and political influence; her arrogance quickly made her hated within the court and by the people.
She could have been as politically influential as her two successors, Madame de Châteauroux and Madame de Pompadour
Madame de Pompadour
Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, Marquise de Pompadour, also known as Madame de Pompadour was a member of the French court, and was the official chief mistress of Louis XV from 1745 to her death.-Biography:...
, if not more, but her period as royal mistress was cut short; she died while giving birth to the son of the king in 1741.
Her corpse was placed at Lit-de-parade in the town of Versailles
Versailles
Versailles , a city renowned for its château, the Palace of Versailles, was the de facto capital of the kingdom of France for over a century, from 1682 to 1789. It is now a wealthy suburb of Paris and remains an important administrative and judicial centre...
, but during the night the guards left the room to drink and a mob broke in and mutilated the corpse of "the king's whore".
Both the king and her older sister, Madame de Mailly, were deeply devastated by the death of their lover and sister, and Madame de Mailly is said to have begun to wash the feet of the poor as a Catholic sign of remorse.
The son of the king and Madame de Ventimille was named Louis after his father and given the title of duc de Luc. He so resembled his father that he was called Demi-Louis, "small Louis". He was raised by his aunt, Madame de Mailly. The king took care of his needs but never paid him much attention. Later, Madame de Pompadour wanted to marry her daughter to him, but the king would not allow it.