Royal mistresses were, for centuries, a fixture in royal courts. Some were loved, others hated and some became amongst the most important advisers at court. One of the most influential royal mistresses of all was Madame de Pompadour.
Born in Paris in December 1721 as Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, she came from a well-to-do background and at the age of five, she was sent away to school run by the Ursuline order. Unfortunately, by the time she was nine, she has returned home because of ill health, attributed to whooping cough. It was shortly after coming home that Jeanne’s mother took her to a fortune teller who told her that, one day, Jeanne would reign over the heart of a king.
That day would be February 25, 1745. Jeanne Antoinette attended a masked ball hosted by King Louis XV at the Palace of Versailles. It was there, Louis XV declared his affection for her in front of all his guests. A month later, Jeanne Antoinette separated from her husband, moved into Versailles and received the title of ‘official mistress.’ In order to be introduced to the royal court, she needed a title. King Louis XV acquired the marquisate of Pompadour and presented it, along with the coat of arms, to Jeanne, who was now known as Madame de Pompadour.
In her role of ‘official mistress,’ Madame de Pompadour was captivating to the King but she also earned his trust and he thought of her as the only person who would tell him the truth. This trust paid off for her. In the 1750’s, her ill health began to take its toll on her physical relationship with the king. Her whooping cough had life long side effects and she went through miscarriages, persistent colds, headaches and bronchitis.
However, Madame de Pompadour proved to be a vital advisor. Now she became more of a minister. She handled royal appointments and dismissals, domestic policy and foreign policy. Heads of State even requested she step in on international matters. Because of her, France became allies with Austria in the signing of the first Treaty of Versailles. This alliance led to France participating in the Seven Years’ War which would prove far from successful. However, she also supported ministers and policies that resulted in France becoming the richest nation in the world.
Madame de Pompadour was also a great supporter of arts and culture. She began the royal porcelain factory in Sevres and supported the building of the Place de la Concorde. She is credited with the ‘Rococo’ style of decorating. Madame de Pompadour was also an amateur gem engraver, printmaker, actress and artist. She was also the originator of the pompadour hairstyle, with hair swept up from the front, back and sides.
In 1764, Madame Pompadour died of tuberculosis at the age of 42. King Louis XV took care of her in her final weeks. On the day of her funeral it rained and he was reportedly devastated and commented on the weather, “The marquise will not have good weather for her journey.” Today she is buried in Couvent des Capucines in Paris.
