FranĂ§oise d'AubignĂ©, Marquise de Maintenon : religion, power and politics : a study in circles of influence during the later reign of Louis XIV, 1684-1715
The thesis examines the career of the marquise de Maintenon at the court of Louis XIV, to whom she was secretly married in 1684. Maintenon has traditionally been depicted either as a scheming religious bigot, or as a powerless and dutiful wife whose only concerns were her finishing school at Saint-Cyr and the king's salvation. This study demonstrates that Maintenon was a collaborator rather than a conspirator. It contends that Louis was compelled to share the burdens of monarchy with his discreet and astute consort, who became the king's chief confidante and counsellor as his age increased, his troubles mounted and his confidence diminished. The thesis charts the erratic and unpremeditated evolution of the marquise's mĂ©tier primarily using the vast, largely unpublished, correspondence she transacted with French and foreign dignitaries, including popes and sovereigns. It investigates her private and public works, preoccupations and relationships, illuminating her clandestine clientage and patronage networks, exposing the mechanisms and balance of power at court, and unveiling the complexity of her unofficial position entrenched next to Europe's most powerful monarch. It concludes that she made a dramatic impact
Bryant, Mark
History
FranĂ§oise d'AubignĂ©, Marquise de Maintenon : religion, power and politics : a study in circles of influence during the later reign of Louis XIV, 1684-1715. The thesis examines the career of the marquise de Maintenon at the court of Louis XIV, to whom she was secretly married in 1684. Maintenon has traditionally been depicted either as a scheming religious bigot, or as a powerless and dutiful wife whose only concerns were her finishing school at Saint-Cyr and the king's salvation. This study demonstrates that Maintenon was a collaborator rather than a conspirator. It contends that Louis was compelled to share the burdens of monarchy with his discreet and astute consort, who became the king's chief confidante and counsellor as his age increased, his troubles mounted and his confidence diminished. The thesis charts the erratic and unpremeditated evolution of the marquise's mĂ©tier primarily using the vast, largely unpublished, correspondence she transacted with French and foreign dignitaries, including popes and sovereigns. It investigates her private and public works, preoccupations and relationships, illuminating her clandestine clientage and patronage networks, exposing the mechanisms and balance of power at court, and unveiling the complexity of her unofficial position entrenched next to Europe's most powerful monarch. It concludes that she made a dramatic impact
religion power politics study circle influence later reign louis_xiv examines career court louis_xiv married traditionally depict either scheme religious wife whose concern finish school saint king salvation study_demonstrate collaborator rather contend louis compel share burden monarchy consort become king chief age increase trouble mount confidence diminish chart evolution tier primarily use vast largely unpublished correspondence french foreign include pope sovereign investigates private_public work preoccupation relationship illuminate clandestine patronage_network expose mechanism balance_power court unveil complexity unofficial position entrench next europe powerful monarch concludes make dramatic impact