Lot Essay
Françoise Athénais, Marquise de Montespan (1641-1707), the French courtier, was a favourite of Louis XIV. She bore the King seven children and was later supplanted by Madame de Maintenon, her children's governess. She left court in 1691 and retired to a convent.
Charlotte de la Tremoulle, Countess of Derby (d.1663) is famous for her heroic defence of Lathom House (1644) and of the Isle of Man (1651).
Madame de Sévigné (1626-1696) was left an orphan at a young age. She was brought up by her uncle, Christophe de Coulanged, Abbot of Livry. She married the dissolute Marquis Henri de Sévigné but he was killed in a duel in 1651. From then on she devoted herself to her children, Françoise Marguerite and Charles. On the marriage of her daughter she began a series of letters to her daughter. The 25 years of letters reveal the inner history of the time of Louis XIV.
Charlotte de la Tremoulle, Countess of Derby (d.1663) is famous for her heroic defence of Lathom House (1644) and of the Isle of Man (1651).
Madame de Sévigné (1626-1696) was left an orphan at a young age. She was brought up by her uncle, Christophe de Coulanged, Abbot of Livry. She married the dissolute Marquis Henri de Sévigné but he was killed in a duel in 1651. From then on she devoted herself to her children, Françoise Marguerite and Charles. On the marriage of her daughter she began a series of letters to her daughter. The 25 years of letters reveal the inner history of the time of Louis XIV.