What do you think?
Rate this book
The Creation of the French Royal Mistress: From Agnès Sorel to Madame Du Barry
Kings throughout medieval and early modern Europe had extraconjugal sexual partners. Only in France, however, did the royal mistress become a quasi-institutionalized political position. This study explores the emergence and development of the position of French royal mistress through detailed portraits of nine of its most significant incumbents: Agn�s Sorel, Anne de Pisseleu d'Heilly, Diane de Poitiers, Gabrielle d'Estr�es, Fran�oise Louise de La Baume Le Blanc, Fran�oise Ath�na�s de Rochechouart de Mortemart, Fran�oise d'Aubign�, Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson, and Jeanne B�cu.
Beginning in the fifteenth century, key structures converged to create a space at court for the royal mistress. The first was an idea of gender already in place: that while women were legally inferior to men, they were men's equals in competence. Because of their legal subordinacy, queens were considered to be the safest regents for their husbands, and, subsequently, the royal mistress was the surest counterpoint to the royal favorite. Second, the Renaissance was a period during which people began to experience space as theatrical. This shift to a theatrical world opened up new ways of imagining political guile, which came to be positively associated with the royal mistress. Still, the role had to be activated by an intelligent, charismatic woman associated with a king who sought women as advisors. The fascinating particulars of each case are covered in the chapters of this book.
Thoroughly researched and compellingly narrated, this important study explains why the tradition of a politically powerful royal mistress materialized at the French court, but nowhere else in Europe. It will appeal to anyone interested in the history of the French monarchy, women and royalty, and gender studies.
Beginning in the fifteenth century, key structures converged to create a space at court for the royal mistress. The first was an idea of gender already in place: that while women were legally inferior to men, they were men's equals in competence. Because of their legal subordinacy, queens were considered to be the safest regents for their husbands, and, subsequently, the royal mistress was the surest counterpoint to the royal favorite. Second, the Renaissance was a period during which people began to experience space as theatrical. This shift to a theatrical world opened up new ways of imagining political guile, which came to be positively associated with the royal mistress. Still, the role had to be activated by an intelligent, charismatic woman associated with a king who sought women as advisors. The fascinating particulars of each case are covered in the chapters of this book.
Thoroughly researched and compellingly narrated, this important study explains why the tradition of a politically powerful royal mistress materialized at the French court, but nowhere else in Europe. It will appeal to anyone interested in the history of the French monarchy, women and royalty, and gender studies.
238 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 16, 2020
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 13, 2020
I've read (devoured would be a more appropriate word) this book quickly and felt kind of empty when I finished because it was so good . Tracy Adams & Christine Adams provided wonderful portraits of women who held the post of maîtresse-en-titre, titular royal mistress, at the French court.
This book spans a period from Agnès Sorel, Charles VII's mistress, to Madame du Barry, titular mistress of Louis XV, or roughly from the 1440s to 1770s.
The authors demonstrated that royal mistresses were not only sexual companions of kings but powerful political figures who carved out spaces for themselves at court. They credibly suggest, for instance, that Agnès Sorel may have been a victim of political assassination. They base their view on the fact that Agnès died of massive overdose of mercury shortly after travelling to warn the King of a conspiracy hatched against him. Agnès is usually perceived as "La Belle Agnes", a pretty face and Charles VII's sexual companion, but she was far more than that, as suggested in the book.
The authors closed their impeccably researched book with a strong epilogue, discussing how the lack of an official royal mistress during the reign of Louis XVI's contributed to the perception of Marie Antoinette as a "mistress-queen". This departure from custom made Marie Antoinette more unpopular and contributed to her downfall.
I also enjoyed reading authors' notes; they contain a wealth of information so make sure not to miss them during your reading sessions.
This book will be an invaluable help & companion for students and general readers alike.
This book spans a period from Agnès Sorel, Charles VII's mistress, to Madame du Barry, titular mistress of Louis XV, or roughly from the 1440s to 1770s.
The authors demonstrated that royal mistresses were not only sexual companions of kings but powerful political figures who carved out spaces for themselves at court. They credibly suggest, for instance, that Agnès Sorel may have been a victim of political assassination. They base their view on the fact that Agnès died of massive overdose of mercury shortly after travelling to warn the King of a conspiracy hatched against him. Agnès is usually perceived as "La Belle Agnes", a pretty face and Charles VII's sexual companion, but she was far more than that, as suggested in the book.
The authors closed their impeccably researched book with a strong epilogue, discussing how the lack of an official royal mistress during the reign of Louis XVI's contributed to the perception of Marie Antoinette as a "mistress-queen". This departure from custom made Marie Antoinette more unpopular and contributed to her downfall.
I also enjoyed reading authors' notes; they contain a wealth of information so make sure not to miss them during your reading sessions.
This book will be an invaluable help & companion for students and general readers alike.
February 26, 2026
Actual rating 1.5 stars
April 6, 2023
Fascinating and perceptive history.
July 8, 2025
The four stars refer to the last third of the book. The beginning for me only warranted three stars. It was too dry lacking in "in-depth" description of those earlier mistresses lives. I found it quite boring and I am surprised that I actually continued reading.
The last third involving the mistresses of Louis XIV and XV was more interesting, maybe be because the authors had more information on these ladies.
The last third involving the mistresses of Louis XIV and XV was more interesting, maybe be because the authors had more information on these ladies.
June 4, 2025
Pretty fascinating but felt a bit surface level (though I still do love Mme de Montespan, and Agnès Sorel, and Diane de Poitiers…).
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews