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Francoise Marie de Bourbon,
Mademoiselle de Blois, (1677-1749)
Born 9 February 1677 Chateau de Maintenon
Died 1 February 1749 Paris
Married 18 February 1692 Versailles
Philippe II, Duke of Orleans, Regent of
France 1715-1723,
son of Philippe I, Duke of Orleans and Princess Elisabeth Charlotte
von der Pfalz, Herzogin von Bayern, Pfalzgraefin am Rhein
Born 2 August 1674 St.Cloud
Died 2 December 1723 Versailles
Buried St.Denis
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She has been described as the incarnation of pride and laziness, and
was nicknamed "Lucifer". Despite being illegitimate she regarded herself
a "Daughter of France" and did her cousin, a "Grandson of France", an honour
by marrying him. She was pretty and witty and,
although in the first few years she allowed her husband his mistresses,
she was too lazy to take a lover herself, which prevented her from becoming
the subject of the usual gossip. Later on her pride alienated her from
her husband and, according to her mother-in-law,
she became drunk three or four times a week.
She outlived all her children except for her son and the Duchess of
Modena. D'Argenson said she was very like her mother, Madame de Montespan,
but also had Louis XIV's orderly mind with his failings of injustice and
harshness. She ruled the Palais-Royal until her death in 1749 at the age
of seventy-two.
Source: Leo van de Pas |
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