To be adored at the Royal Court of Versailles, one had to be fashionably dressed. But following fashion trends cost ladies and gentlemen a literal fortune. To afford to keep up with fashion, nobles would raise the rents and taxes owed to them by poor farmers and tenants, which undoubtedly contributed to the French Revolution. So, Why Were Court Dresses So Expensive? Just remember, this … Continue reading Court Dress At The Palace Of Versailles
In 1785, Paris was buzzing with rumours of a daring theft involving a diamond necklace worth 1.6 million livres, which way back when was equivalent to a wealthy aristocrat’s annual income. In today’s standards, that’s about 54 million Aussie dollars. On a single necklace. Now, on any given year, this might have been enough to have common French citizens shaking their heads, but we’re coming … Continue reading The Diamond Necklace Affair: The Begining Of The End
Daily bathing was not the fashion during Marie Antoinette‘s reign over France. French courtiers of the 18th century were all about sponging down the worst where necessary and saving baths for warm weather and emergencies. In fact, bathing was such a luxury that only wealthy nobles had bathing facilities in their own homes. Everyone else had either a bucket and sponge in front of the … Continue reading Marie Antoinette Shocks Nobles by Taking a Bath
In the heyday of Versailles’ majestic court life, ‘ceremonies’ were an integral part of life. The ceremonies were rituals that took place every day to showcase the royal family’s importance, and the court performed them with earnest sincerity. These ceremonies were for anything, such as the ‘debotter’ ceremony of removing the king’s boots, his waking up and going to bed ceremonies and the ritualistic ‘getting … Continue reading Versailles: The Daily Ceremonies
Marie Antoinette (1755-1793) was the wife of Louis XVI and the Queen of France between 1774 and 1792. Marie Antoinette’s fate has made her the best-known of her 15 brothers and sisters who included the Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II and Queen Maria Carolina of Sicily. Early Life Born in Vienna on 2 November 1755, Maria Antonia Anna Josepha was the fifteenth of the sixteen children of … Continue reading Marie Antoinette
Louis XIV, known as the Sun King, ruled France for 72 years. This made him the longest reigning sovereign of any European country at the time. He ruled from 1638 to 1718. Early Life and Reign of Louis XIV Born on September 5, 1638, Louis was the son of King Louis XIII and his Habsburg queen, Anne of Austria (1601-1666). The future Louis XIV was … Continue reading Louis XIV
Mesdames Tantes were the formidable daughters of Louis XV. They were not his only daughters – Louis had eight! One got married and moved away, one became a nun and three died of smallpox. The three sisters who remained at the Royal Court of Versailles were Madame Adelaide, Madame Victoire and Madame Sophie; known collectively as Mesdames Tantes – my lady aunts. “Mesdames Tantes were … Continue reading Mesdames Tantes
Louis XV was king of France from 1715 to 1774. He was nicknamed ‘the Well-Beloved’. Louis was born at Versailles on 15 February 1710. Because he had two older brothers (though only one survived to adulthood) and both his father and grandfather were still alive, nobody ever thought Louis would become king. A scourge of disease Louis’ grandfather caught smallpox and died in 1711 when … Continue reading Louis XV
Louis XVI was born Aug. 23, 1754 in Versailles, France. He was the second eldest surviving son of his parents, Louis, Dauphin of France and Marie-Josèphe of Saxony. He was the last king of France before the French Revolution of 1789. He was well loved by his people at first, but was not built to be a great leader. He was known as a shy, reserved young man who was happier in … Continue reading Louis XVI
Madame du Barry had quite an amazing life. She is best known as the mistress to King Louis XV of France and as the enemy of Marie Antoinette. Because of her very humble beginnings, she had a hard time fitting in with the noblemen and women of the court. But whatever you might think of her, there is no doubt that she worked hard to … Continue reading Madame du Barry vs Marie Antoinette
Geni Kuckhahn 