The 4 Sisters Who Became the Mistresses of Louis XV
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- Опубликовано: 1 окт 2024
- The de Mailly-Nesle sisters lived in France during the reign of Louis XV. They were the five daughters of a noble couple and four of them became the mistresses of the King of France. “Sisterly love” is a concept that has a different meaning in their case. Today we will follow their story.
The images used are in the Public Domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
Music - YT Audio Library.
Sources / Further reading
The Confidantes of A King, The Mistresses of Louis XV by E. de Goncourt, Translated by Ernest Dowson, T. N. Foulis, London & Edinburgh, 1907
Madame de Pompadour by H. Noel Williams, New York, Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1902
Thank you! I was wondering when a video on The Mailly-Nesles sisters was gonna be downloaded. Most people only know about Madame de Pompadour and Madame du Barry. Poor Louise was cruelly treated by her younger ambitious sisters and died in poverty. Marie Anne was the most haughty of the girls. Louis XV was sucker for dominant women even Madame de Pompadour in her own way was one. The difference was Madame de Pompadour didn't go out of her way to be insolent to Queen Marie unlike Pauline and Marie Anne.
Very well said. I totally agree with you. I'm glad you liked the video. Thank you very much for watching.
I feel sorry for Louise being criticized for a lack of beauty. I think she looks very pretty in her portrait.
I agree with you entirely. Thank you for watching.
Agreed she look like the prettiest in her portrait
She's very pretty in the portrait.
Me too, I think she was very pretty. Maybe some of the others were just jealous of her kind nature and thought that she was weak, being that they were all such snakes.
Louise Julie was noted to "BODY SHAMING" the always pregnant Queen Marie Leszczyńska and was very mean like her sisters based from numerous accounts such as the marquis de Argenson, Duke de Richelieu, duke de luynes, president heanault etc..The brown colored dress lady with a hat is actually just a "presumed portrait of Louise Julie de Mailly" by her fans as their was no description on it and the numerous accounts mentioned of her having "two huge teeth that gave her a comical look" Louis XV once said of her apperance to a courtier " a beautiful mouth indeed I cant believe you can scarcely write about it"..Louise was very jealous of the King's love for his wife in spite of cheating on her and Duke de Richelieu noted that she and her sisters desperately tried to brainwashed the King that his wife doesn't love him etc or the Queen hates him ..the ones found in the Internet/blogsites "glamorizing" her as a sainted kind and respecful mistress and that "she did not enrich herself and only wanted Louis XV's love" is completely FALSE information made by modern day fans of the de nesle sisters and Marquis de Argenson noted she enjoys a salary as a secret mistress and a much bigger income as a declared mistress and had 700,000 gambling debts paid by the King himself and was noted for buying expensive dresses noted by duke de luynes while Louis XV had her younger daughters exiled to a convent so as to accomodate the demands of Louise Julie.. Queen Marie regarded her as the most painful mistress😢..it is sad that but a reality that there are always people who will glorify the mistress and create false information while "wife shaming" the legitimate spouse..
Wow people were harsh back then saying they weren’t attractive - I think they’re beautiful especially considering there was no good makeup or hair straighteners and products back then 😂
Portraits back then were different to how you actually looked. Compare Queen Victoria's pictures and portraits and you will se what i mean.
I agree with you Jess. Thank you for watching.
The truth has to be spoken, doesn't matter how harsh it is.
Different standards…there are so many women and men considered beautiful then who are not considered so today. Beautiful, for me, comes from the personality, but I’m weird that way.
They were attractive just not morally upright... They were gross to have sex with the same man (even if he was the king)...
How could all of these so called, "sisters" back stab each other so much? With close family like that, who needs enemies? It's really horrible to think about...The only sister who wasn't a treacherous cow to her own kin, was the first sister, Louise. And from the account being given, if true, Louise was kind and forgiving to the end, even though she was treated so badly. She really was too good for all of them, the king, her horrible sisters, none of them deserved her.
Very well said. I agree with you.
So….his wife scolded him for being drunk and he punished her by moving his mistress in next door 🚪? Sigh 😌
Difficult to comprehend the king's logic ... You're right. Thank you for watching.
What a morbid and sad tale: These women were commoditized and morally diminished by powerful men and made to compete for the attention of a shallow, vapid king. While I'm in love with Versailles' architecture and art, court life seemed to be soul-crushing by design. I'm happy to be an arm-chair tourist today, rather than a person of importance in the court of Versailles.
Very well said, Jeff. I agree with you completely. Thank you for watching.
Lmao modern feminism. Women behaving badly but blame it all on the men. Louis XV was crap, but the sisters were equally as bad.
If there is someone to really pitied its the Queen Marie Leczinska and their children😢 as she and Louis XV's marriage became a LOVE MATCH based from numerous accounts such as their letters alone and diaries of courtiers...Most of these women became the King's CHIEF mistresses on their own free will while the Queen was always pregnant when Louis XV was literally force to cheat on her by throwing him on top of a half naked Louise Julie by his valet.. Money was one of the motivation for them and know what they were going into since they most were already mistresses to other married men before the King..They were the one's who actually pursued the King first..these was noted from the memoirs/diaries of the those people alive and present such as the friend of the King Duke de Richelieu etc.. when these affairs were abou to happen..they even admitted such as Louise Julie de Nesle that it was she who seduce the King first..as well as her sister Pauline..madame de pompadour herself pursued the King in the forest of Senart by painting her carriage pink so as to get the King's attention..the married Louise Julie was the mistress of the also married man Marquis de Puysieux before the King Louis XV
His wife, Queen Marie Leczinska who was heavily pregnant with their 7th child and suffering from hemorroids and fistula violently wept when she found out about Louis XV's first affair with Louise Julie de Nesle who was her lady in waiting..the Queen regarded Louise as the most painful and hurful mistress..because she was the first and actually was rude to her and Louis XV and Louise humiliated the Queen many times such as not allowing her to sit down and had her stand up for 20 mins during a ceremony while she and Louis XV sitting were busy talking ( this is based on many contemporary accounts )..Louise was the one who had a deep impact to Marie and her childrens life as they were sad and angry of the way their mother was treated..
after the death of Marie Anne Marquise de La Tournelle the next royal mistress was Madame Pompadour actually Marie Anne forbade Pompadour from showing up at court so she had to wait for Marie Anne to die before she could seduce the King but they met and he fell in love whit Pompadour during the masquarade ball in honor of the wedding of Louis Ferdinand and Marie Therese Raphaelle the king was dressed as a yew trea and Pompadour as the goddess Diana
Louise was my favourite sister of the four, a beautiful kind careing lady, thank you as always, superb narration as you always do. 😊
Mine too! Thank you for watching Robert.
@@livesandhistories always a plesure lives & Histories and thank you for all the time and research you put into your videos. 😊
Yes the others only seem to care about wealth and position.
@@conniecarroll7222 Totaly agree with you Connie 😊
Respectful? CARING? SHE was only kind and caring to her own family her sisters...you forget that she hurt the Queen who was pregnant with their 7th child by literally seducing him " The Queen violently wept when she found out of the affair" 😢( source memoirs of Duke de Richelieu the Kings bestfriend available in the internet for free) numerous historical accounts also mentioned of her being BODY SHAMING The pregnant wife. Louise Julie was sterile..as such have all the time to sleep with the King while she was making fun of the wife and humiliating her as Marquis ds Argenson noted in his diary "Madame de Mailly/Louise Julie fails to give the Queen proper respect which might give her future trouble"..bear in mind the Louis Xv and Marie Leszczyńska's marriage was a love match not a cold arrange marriage..Louise Julie was also quoted of saying "There is no such thing as he'll! He'll is an old wives tale" source: Memoirs de Duke de Luynes..she believes that the hurt she gave to the Queen there's no karma but karma did return to her.. "She was the bolder and more enticing of the two" writes another courtier...she never apologize to the Queen for the a decade of mental pain she cause her as well as the children that were also hurt .the ones found in blogsites who are modern day fans of the mistress is false..that she was these sweet caring woman is false as she was known for her "assuming an air of arrogance of a declared mistress" and did benefit financially based on court documents.. she was also noted of being rude to the King himself " it isn't surprising because you are here" she once told the King when she lost in playing cards.. she also got angry everytjme the King visits his wife..she along with her sisters was always wife shaming the Queen (source: Duke de Richelieu beat friend of Louis XV he was present coz he was part of Louis Xv's night dinner parties)
Such selfishness. No wonder the people of france couldn't stand this monarchy anymore
They replaced one form of monarchy to A another form of monarchy.
Madame de Pompadour and Madame du Barry are quite famous. It's astonishing how the tale of four sisters is lesser known than the last two mistresses. They were very beautiful, each prettier than last. Though it makes me wonder, why these four siblings attracted the king? Was there a shortage of women in the french court? Thank you for the amazing video and letting us know about these gorgeous ladies.
You might be right ... there could have been a shortage of ladies at the French court at that moment :) As always, thank you for watching.
I can’t wait for the movie about king Louis and Madame Du Berry coming out this year. Hope it is available for streaming in the US.
I can imagine the historian who was recording this stuff rolling his eyes at this court drama
Marie Anne was the worst of the sisters and the first one was like " love makes you blind" begging over and over. At least she seemed to have a good heart. Still disgusting for them to sleep with the same man.
The first one was the most hurful for Queen Marie Leszczyńska the King's wife.whom he married for love..Louise Julie de Nesle never apologize to the Queen for a decade of mental pain she caused her their affair started when Marie was pregnant with their 7th child and was often ill..she was also noted to make fun of the Queen's appearance and humiliated her several times..that's Karma for Louise..
They were attractive just not morally upright. They were GROSS!!! 4 sisters who slept with the same man is DISGUSTING!!!!!
The court of Versailles at its worst.
I think have stated before that I love you showing the portraits when possible. Love seeing the outfits they wore.
Thanks Connie.
Maitresse in Titre, that the formal name for the kings lover. The King, the Queen an the Maitresse in Titre. And they always had beautiful apartments in Versailles.
"Maîtresse en titre", or "Favorite". Both were used. Do you know how Louis'XV daughters used to call madame de Pompadour ? "Maman putain" ("Whore Mummy", or "Mamma putana" lol) Very funny.
These sisters really looked out for each other...
I know! :) Thank you very much for watching.
I love French history and your videos are always fascinating:-)
@@marcus8258 I am so glad you find them fascinating. Thank you :)
Except for the first one, the others seemed to go out of they way to get rid of her so they could be THE Mistress. They didn't even care about the Queen or the what they did do the Country most Misstress did.
Wow, thank you so much for this video, was so interesting. I know hardly anything of the French court in that time, aside from Lois XVI and Marie later on. I've always tended to love to study and am more familiar with Tudor Englad and English history as a whole. But I definitely like the change in subject and would love to learn more about different European country's and their Royal histories.
I'm really glad you find this interesting. Thank you very much for watching.
Hortense did not accept the King's offer to be an official mistress as she was given death threats by her husband if she did. This would be a very smart move as if she had accepted she would have had a tough life at court and would have been constantly bullied by the Dauphin and the mesdames. She not accepting the role like her other sisters would also save her from the guillotine 50 years later. She died in 1799 a few days short of the new century
Wonderful narrative voice and thank you so much for telling this historical story.
I am glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for your support Aileen.
I appreciate the quote from Lord Byron at the beginning of this video, especially in light of how recently I have watched your video about him :)
And I love this quote so much, because even though it might sound very strange, there is a lot of truth in it. Or maybe is it because it sounds strange that we can find so much truth?
However you look at it, i think there are many many facettes to this quote.
For example it reminds me that sometimes people seemingly tend to believe the "lie"/fiction more than the truth because the truth sounds so strange to them and the lie is exactly what they want to hear.
Also further than that, for me it is also a reminder that if something looks strange, maybe it is worth lookingly more closely at it. You might just find something very true, very interesting, very important and/or very beautiful.
Maybe I'm just stating obvious things, but I like how one single, strange quote can be true in so many ways.
And I haven't even said a single thing about this video's story yet, oh my.
And what a strange story it is, indeed. One can only imagine what went through the king's mind, or what didn't. And through the minds of everyone else involved, for that matter.
"Sisterly love" has a very different meaning here, that is so true. Maybe I shall refrain from any more puns about it though, otherwise it might get very .. strange?
I guess already the beginning of it all, a cardinal who used to preach loyalty and the consequences of breaking it, arranging an extramarital affair, is very telling, isn't it?
Though then again, a king having mistresses and a cardinal perhaps lacking virtue and closing his eyes towards a sin or two was not necessarily unheard of by any means.
Oh, I can't begin to imagine all the gossip at court. Probably I don't even want to.
I know, I am looking at the following very much from my own perspective, and the perspective they would have had back then is obviously vastly different than mine, but I must admit that hearing about the first of the four sisters being disregarded by the courtiers et al. as "not beautiful enough" for the king is painful to me.
At least in my opinion, there is so much more to beauty than meets the eye. Again, this is a royal court with its own rules and workings, so them being so superficial and shallow probably shouldn't surprise me after all. Still, I can't help but feel compassion for Madame de Mailly in this case. Being looked down upon just because of your external appearance ... just hurts. A lot.
Especially because her heart and soul seemed to be, at least according to your description, truely beautiful as far as we know.
All in all in think this is a testament that royal courts seem to have been just as strange as many fictional stories imagine them. Maybe even more strange than that, because they were real after all.
Or maybe i should just stop with my strange musings for today.
In any case, thank you so so much for the video!
You know i really love and enjoy watching them :)
I am very much looking forward to the next one!
And I wish you all the best and wonderful :)
"One can only imagine what went through the king's mind, or what didn't." :) I could not agree more! Thank you for watching. Your support is much appreciated!
Style of beauty changes with the times , but I think all these girls were beautiful .Poor Louis, it must have been so confusing with the Cardinal preaching fidelity to stay right with God and then turning it all around later.Maybe he was scared to try new things because there were so many other changing rules too. 😂🤣 🇨🇦
Quite so. Thank you for watching Shanny :)
Can I make a suggestion for a video can you do a video about the last de'medici Anna Maria Luisa
Yes Anna Maria Luisa such an interesting women.
Will look into it. Thank you for your suggestion.
Yeah I think Anna Maria Luisa's Story is very interesting.
I'm pleased to say that the video on Anna Maria Luisa de Medici is live on my channel, if you want to watch it. Thank you
@@discoveryhistory5210 I'm pleased to say that the video on Anna Maria Luisa de Medici is live on my channel, if you want to watch it. Thank you
Always interesting🌻🌻 Merci beaucoup 🌸🌸
Thank you for watching Stella. Enjoy your weekend!
The sisters's mother was a daughter of Hortence Mancini one of the Mazarinettes
Yes. Thank you for watching.
@@livesandhistories however the susters's grand-aunt Olympia Mancini was a victim of domestic violence from her husband that's one of the reasons she escaped to England and she pushed Louise de Kerouaile out of Charles II's favor Louise de Kerouaile is my favorite royal mistress ever her portrait by Peter Lely is the background of both my PC and mobile phone
@@plamenivanov92 Nice :-)
@@livesandhistories plus one of the sisters Marie Anne was the royal mistress before Pompadour and she forbade Pompadour from showing up at court as long as Marie Anne lived so Pompadour had to wait for Marie Anne to die and one more thing my PC lock screen is Lady whit Ermine depicting Cecilia Galeranni lover to Ludovico Maria Sforza Il Moro 4th Duke of Milan
@@livesandhistories Hortence's sister Olympia was not only a lover of both Louis XIV and Charles II but allso was considered the family beauty and was the favorite niece of her uncle Cardinal Jules Mazarin even though my personal favorites are the first born of the Mazarinni kids Paolo Julio (Paul Jules) and Laura Victoria (Laura Victoire) they were actually twins
Great video! I love your history videos! Can’t wait for more uploads! :D
Thank you Alex. I'm glad you like them :)
Seriously all the King thought of & all his supporters & opponents were who he was doing!! 🙄🙄 And that first sister was too much goody goody 😸👀
Wow I like your content. Editing and narrating make your channel my favorite. Your work should be admired . You are deserve more subscriber I hope you must gain 1 Million subscriber by the end of this year. Please keep continue this type of amazing work. Your admirable hard work and deep research make you the best channel on RUclips. But brother I am waiting for an promised video on Skanderbeg when it will come?
As always, you're very kind. I will endeavour to include all the suggestions I received as topics for future videos in the coming months. It will take some time to do the research though. Thank you very much for your support. I really appreciate it.
@@livesandhistories thank you so much
I demur. The opportunity for jokes are too obvious, even for me.
I'm smiling already :) Thank you for watching Patricia.
He was a total creep!
Such a handsome king
The 18th century All In The Family show.
Armand de Vignerot du Plessis Le Duc du Richelieu was a notorious womanizer among his many lovers are two of Monsieur Le Regent`s daughters Marie Louise Elisabeth and Charlotte Aglae Monsieur Le Duc even conspired against Le Regent along whit Louis Auguste Du Maine his wife Louise Benedicte and Charlotte Aglae (the infamous Cellamare Conspiracy)
True.
@@livesandhistories Louis XV and Marie Leszczynska had 10 kids and only 2 of them Marie Therese (Madame Troisieme) and her brother Phillippe Louis Le Duc de Anjou died in childhood
@@livesandhistories it was actually Louise Benedicte herself ho was the leader of the Celamare conspiracy
@@livesandhistories allso Hortence Mancini I have reasons to believe she was bi-sexual because she had an affair whit Anne Countess of Sussex the oldest daughter of Charles II and Barbara Palmer
@@plamenivanov92 Yes, that was the case.
Wow you somehow made history interesting 😅good job👌🏽
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for watching.
Fascinating. What a beautiful and rotten place that palace was. I doubt it's rotten anymore.
I know; you're absolutely right. I myself shook my head in disbelief when reading about what went on at Versailles during those times.
@@livesandhistories Probably a lot of fun provided you were the right person and had no moral scruples whatsoever. And didn't get a venereal disease...
@@shamsam4 🙂
My yorkie dog love your video and he says hello.
Oh, that's nice :) Hello to him.
.
Is one of these sisters Marie Antonette?
No.
Do you know what happened to the remaining sisters after they were gone from court?
Louise dedicated her last years to helping the poor and Hortense lived through the years of the French Revolution.
Louise had a "good heart", but was an adulterous. Hmmm? Guess it depends on your definition of "good."
Marriages in this time period were arranged. You are not a bad person when you cheat in an arranged marriage.
You don't say no to a King, if you do your family can be overthrown and cast into the street penniless with lands and funds confiscated by the crown.
Or one can go along with the affair and be favored with titles and riches and some kings would arrange a favorable marriage with a nobleman for thier old favorites