Feb 08 2009
Madame de Pompadour
Ironically, although her last name, Poisson means ‘fish’ in French, Madame de Pompadour, born as Jeanne Antoinette de Poisson in 1721, was a butcher’s daughter. At least, officially. It was rumored that her real father was a rich banker. Supported by said banker’s finances, she received an excellent education and married a nobleman on her first step on the ladder from commoner to nobility.
She attended a masked ball and attracted the attention of King Louis XV. Shortly afterwards, she was offficially installed as his mistress and separated from her husband. To be able to perform her role as the King’s mistress, she needed a title and was given the title of Duchesse de Pompadour.
She was not only very beautiful, but also extremely intelligent and educated. During her marriage she had founded her own salon in Paris which was frequented by such intellectuals as Voltaire. She was multi talented and an accomplished singer and actress, all qualities which stood her in good steed in her role with the King, which was not an easy one. Luous needed to be amused and entertained and was notorioulsy fickle. Jeanne furthered the arts and literature and founded th procelaine manufactury of Sevres. She also held strong opinons on politics and gained a lot of influence over the king and his decisions. She was blamed for the 7 year war and after the defeat of France by the Prussians in the battle of Roosted, she famously uttered the words: apres nous le deluge - after us the flood.
With growing age her attraction to the king abated in favour of new, younger mistresses, but he still kept in conact with her until her death of tuberculosis in 1764.
