In 1679, a trial began in Paris, called the "Case of Poisons", in which hundreds of accused participated. The investigation was led by the head of the Parisian police, Nicolas la Rainey, and personally supervised by Louis XIV. Paris, like the muddy and dirty waters of the Seine overflowing its banks, was seething, filled with terrible rumors about witches, sorceresses, innocently murdered babies and black masses, where they served not God, but the devil. In the process, along with the names of noble courtiers, the name of the Marquise de Montespan, the official favorite of the king, appeared every now and then. From the terrible web of witness testimony, a picture emerged that the chief of police was forced to present to Louis with a shudder - the Marquise's appeal to the devil through the "witch" art coincided with crises in her relationship with the king. But in 1682 the process was closed. By the decree of the king, 106 people were found guilty, some of them were burned alive, and the rest were imprisoned, from where they would hardly have dared to mention the name of the beautiful Athenais again.
Belonging to the Rochechuar de Mortemar family means being "superhuman," believed Gabrielle de Mortemar, the older sister of Françoise, the future Athenais de Montespan.
One of the oldest and most famous families in France, the Rochechouards have lived on their estate Lussac since the 8th century. Gabrielle had been friends with Louis XIV since childhood (and later periodically let him into her bed) and loved to tease: "The Bourbons, unlike the Rochechouars, cannot boast of such immaculate blood." Later, her sister Françoise, having become the king's mistress, will be the only one who will allow herself to ridicule him …
The girls' father - Gabriel de Rochechouart, Duke de Mortemar, Prince de Tonne-Charent, Marquis de Lussac - was brought up with Louis XIII and held several prominent posts in the kingdom. He loved women, gastronomic pleasures and hunting as well as music, literature and art. His wife Diana, virtuous and gentle, was the maid of honor of Anna of Austria, the king's mother, and her confidant. From her mother, Atenais will inherit her Catholic faith (but not virtue), and from her father - a good appetite and sensuality. Although her parents were not the happiest couple, they gave birth to five children who possessed the famous “spirit of Mortemar”. Voltaire wrote: "They could charm and captivate anyone with their conversation, in which jokes and thoughtful tirades alternated with feigned innocence and skillful knowledge."And Saint-Simon noted in his memoirs: "Athenais de Montespan had an invaluable gift of speaking phrases, both funny and significant, sometimes without even knowing what she said."
At the age of 12, Atenais was sent to a monastery founded in the 11th century, where, in addition to religious subjects, she was taught to embroider, sew, read, count, housekeeping, and even cook. At the age of 20, Anna of Austria introduced young Mortemar to the court of her daughter-in-law, Queen Maria Theresa. She found her flawless. She was really good: an ideal figure, thin wrists, waist, lush chest, snow-white teeth (an unusually rare gift of nature for that time), bright blue eyes, a straight nose and a firm stubborn chin. She raised her thick and shiny hair high at the crown of her head, and from there it fell in myriads of curls over her neck, cheeks and shoulders the color of fresh, freshly whipped cream. Her attractive beauty was daring, defiant (it was she who brought into fashion not only a frivolous hairstyle, but also a frank disability from thin transparent fabrics). She demonstrated herself shamelessly, triumphantly, bathing in the rays of her own luxurious body and the power that she already felt.
In the famous Parisian salon of Marshal D'Albret, Françoise de Mortemard shone not only with her beauty, but also with the famous “spirit of Mortemars”. This spirit is a conscious force, a kind of substance that can serve as an excellent means to achieve power in a society full of prejudices and hypocritical rules and laws. It was there that she once stated that from now on her name was Athenais (that is, Athena). Why this particular Greek goddess? Maybe because the patroness of Ancient Athens was associated with wisdom, victories and muses? Or did her image in a helmet and tunic made of dragon skin, with a shield decorated with the head of the gorgon Medusa, whose gaze turned into stones, gave impudence?..
In 1653, the Duke de Mortemar, father of Athenais (he was already over 50), began to live openly with his mistress Marie Boyer, wife of the head of the Paris Chamber of Commerce. He lived with her for about the last 20 years of his life. But not betrayal, as such, but such an enviable constancy - that's what dealt the most painful blow to his wife, mother of Athenais - Diana de Mortemar. Only 10 years later, she managed to achieve a legal formulation - separate from her husband's "table and bed." It was a truly striking act that required a lot of courage. Such was the relationship in Françoise's family …
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Fast wedding
On a January evening in 1663, a group of young courtiers left the Tuileries Palace, where the king's brother was giving a ball. Suddenly a fight broke out between them. And at dawn, all the participants in the quarrel went to sort things out near Paris. One of the seconds was Louis-Alexandre de Tremolle, Marquis de Noirmuatier, fiancé of Athenais de Mortemar. The young man from a good family was handsome, not arrogant, and most importantly, he found her small dowry quite acceptable. During the duel, three participants were seriously injured, and one was killed. The king, who forbade his courtiers to duel and even obtained from parliament a law on the execution of the surviving duelists, was enraged. Fortunately, the groom Athenais managed to leave France … After his departure to share the mutual grief,the abandoned bride was visited by the brother of the murdered young man, the Marquis de Montespan, and suddenly fell in love himself. Despite his noble birth and kinship with the Spanish kings, the marquis had neither money nor position at court, but even this did not prevent the Mortemars from quickly preparing for the wedding. The family was not doing well to count on an enviable groom, especially after the recent scandal. In addition, Atenais has already turned 22 years old …
It soon became clear that her husband was best at spending money. His machinations with his wife's dowry, the loss of her jewelry, the need to negotiate with creditors left not the slightest trace of his former sympathy. Immediately after the birth, the marquise returned to the court to get a place as one of the Queen's 6 maids of honor - these ladies were paid a salary, and they had their own apartments. But even after taking an enviable position, Atenais experienced a deep sense of dissatisfaction. Especially acute - during the grandiose divertissement, which the king gave in honor of his now officially recognized favorite Louise de Lavalier. The fireworks turned night into day, but it was not she who shone in the daytime sky, nee Rochechouard de Mortemar, magnificent and confident. Wasn't she supposed to be in the place of this pathetic doll that looked like a village milkmaid?
Considering the constant absence of her husband not only at court, but also in Paris, his debts, which endangered the future of their children, not to mention his miserable adventures with the cooks, Athenais had reason to find herself a lover in order to console her wounded pride. And hardly anyone would dare to throw a stone at her. But she did not, keeping her retinue of fans at arm's length. She knew that Louis often finds himself in bed with women of easy morals (for example, with her own sister), but he could only make her favorite one whose reputation was not stained. Meanwhile, having received the official title of the king's mistress, Louise de Lavalier was ashamed of him and in society she continued to behave like a devout sinner. She needed to communicate heart to heart with someone - especially during the next pregnancy, and, of course,Athenais became confidential. The latter even managed to win the sympathy and trust of the queen, the little ugly Spanish woman Maria Theresa, who adored her husband, but doomed only to sigh for her "cousin in a hat with a blue feather." Louis showed his wife the necessary respect, fulfilled his marital duty, but never took her seriously - neither as a woman nor as a queen. Louise more and more often invited Atenais to intimate dinners, where the king became more and more carried away by her exquisite mocking mind and teasing sensual beauty, until the desire to possess her began to frighten him … But Atenais remained unapproachable: she wanted to make sure that his passion was not only the result of her a successful strategy.but doomed only to sigh for her "cousin in a hat with a blue feather." Louis showed his wife the necessary respect, fulfilled his marital duty, but never took her seriously - neither as a woman nor as a queen. Louise more and more often invited Atenais to intimate dinners, where the king became more and more carried away by her exquisite mocking mind and teasing sensual beauty, until the desire to possess her began to frighten him … But Atenais remained unapproachable: she wanted to make sure that his passion was not only the result of her a successful strategy.but doomed only to sigh for her "cousin in a hat with a blue feather." Louis showed his wife the necessary respect, fulfilled his marital duty, but never took her seriously - neither as a woman nor as a queen. Louise more and more often invited Atenais to intimate dinners, where the king became more and more carried away by her exquisite mocking mind and teasing sensual beauty, until the desire to possess her began to frighten him … But Atenais remained unapproachable: she wanted to make sure that his passion was not only the result of her a successful strategy.where the king became more and more attracted by her exquisite mocking mind and tantalizing sensual beauty, until the desire to possess her began to frighten him … But Athenais remained unapproachable: she wanted to make sure that his passion was not only the result of her successful strategy.where the king became more and more attracted by her exquisite mocking mind and tantalizing sensual beauty, until the desire to possess her began to frighten him … But Athenais remained unapproachable: she wanted to make sure that his passion was not only the result of her successful strategy.
Royal harem
On a hot night in Flanders, Louise de Lavaliere sobbed bitterly, but her tears ceased to be "precious drops of moisture" for Louis. And the queen, eternally in the dark, could not understand why her husband had changed his habit: usually, though at dawn, he always appeared to share the matrimonial bed with her. Louis took the queen with him on a military campaign in 1667 - to conquer the Spanish possessions in Flanders - only in order not to part with Athenais. Few could bear the life of a soldier Louis, but Montespan, unlike Louise and Marie-Theresia, easily endured the hardships of campaigns. The reward was love, which she could no longer and did not want to doubt. Having caught up on his white horse with the carriage, where the maid of honor of the queen rode, Louis sang their favorite arias to her … On this campaign, during one of the halts, she became his mistress:Having changed into a soldier's uniform, he entered her when the beauty was taking a bath, and stood discouraged by his own trick until she threw back the towel and called him over to her. Unlike Louise, who suffered from the consciousness of her sinfulness even in moments of closeness with the king, Athenais refused to suffer - and this new sensation gave an extraordinary piquancy to their relationship. Moreover, she became the only woman in Louis' life who could satisfy his love appetites. Atenais refused to suffer - and this new sensation gave an extraordinary piquancy to their relationship. Moreover, she became the only woman in Louis' life who could satisfy his love appetites. Atenais refused to suffer - and this new sensation gave an extraordinary piquancy to their relationship. Moreover, she became the only woman in Louis' life who could satisfy his love appetites.
Louis XIV.
Meanwhile, the Queen learned that for some time now her husband had almost ceased to be interested in Louise, and was quite happy with this. Lavalier retained the status of the official favorite for another six years. The king used her as a cover to avoid the scandal and accusations of Atenais. He even visited Louise's bedroom from time to time. The legal spouse of Atenais tried to achieve fame in military campaigns and also did not suspect anything until, once he returned, he found out about her pregnancy.
For childbirth, Louis rented a small house near the Tuileries. The woman in labor lay in a mask on the bed in a room where there were clearly too few candles burning. The obstetrician, not understanding what was happening, demanded to make the lighting brighter, but a young man, also in a mask, emerged from under the curtain of the bed and offered him a glass of wine and advised him to get down to business as soon as possible. The king held Atenais by the hand, stroked her hair … The baby girl was immediately carried away under cover of night, and she died three years later, far from her parents.
And the legal spouse, meanwhile, was furious: he burst into the bedroom of the Marquise in their house (where she had to temporarily move) and showered her with dirty curses. He publicly denounced the king, calling him a thief and a lecher. He boasted that he specially went to the cheapest brothels in Paris in order to catch Venus disease and infect his unfaithful wife with it. Louis assigned four guards to Atenais. And then he used his right to issue decrees in the so-called special cases, which no one could veto. A week in the cold prison somewhat cooled the ardor of the Marquis. Montespan departed for his estate with two children and a ban on appearing at court. Atenais will only be able to see them again after many years … In the estate, Montespan demanded to expand the gates and doors - his horns are so large that otherwise he will not be able to enter anywhere,and announced the "death of his wife because of coquetry and ambition." He invited all the neighbors to the "funeral" of Atenais and ordered a funeral mass. Her "scarecrow" was buried at the local cemetery, and all household members, by the order of the marquis, put on mourning clothes for a long time.
Rendezvous with La Voison
Now Athenais had no choice but to focus on the main goal - the elimination of Louise de Lavalier. It was to this time that the testimony of the participants in the "Case of Poisons" about the visits of the most famous Parisian witch, La Voison and her assistants, by the Marquise belonged. One of them, an abbot nicknamed Lesage, was La Voison's lover and during the investigation boasted of his ability to make love potions (among the ingredients - the Spanish fly, bat blood) for their noble clients, among whom was Montespan. Lesage often took part in the black masses. The naked woman served as a kind of altar, on her belly, barely covered with a napkin, rested a bowl filled with the blood of innocent babies (they were specially killed, and then burned the remains and "fertilized" the rose garden with them in the luxurious La Voison garden), the cross overshadowed her flesh,but the wicked priest chanted incantations to the devil. This is how the terrible black masses were described in the documents collected during the investigation. Moreover, Lesage made a very specific "confession" - he personally assisted La Voison in 1667, when Athenais de Montespan ordered a mass "in the name of fulfilling her diabolical designs". He allegedly even remembered by heart the spell of the time, with which another henchman of the witch and one of the many accused, the former monk Gibburg, whose disfigured terrible face could very well pass for a devilish guise, turned to the devil, on behalf of the marquise. The Marquis, in the words of Lesage, who did not skimp on “revelations”, “asked for the favor of the king and His Highness Dauphin, so that this affection for her would last forever, so that the queen could no longer bear children and the king left her bed,and she would receive from him whatever she wanted. And the most important thing is that he finally leave Louise de Lavalier. " It was then that Louise became seriously ill and miraculously survived, believing, however, that her torment was the payment for a sinful life.
But as long as Louise remained in the adjoining rooms, Athenais could not feel confident about her future. In addition, Lavalier, knowing full well that Louis hates feeling guilty, from time to time asked his permission to visit the monastery - for absolution. The ruse worked: he persuaded Louise to stay. The king's penchant for polygamy turned the harem existence for the proud Atenais into a real torture. She was not free in her movements and could not receive visitors when she wished. Louis passed through Louise's rooms to get to her, and vice versa …
Fortunately, the long wanderings of a “break up with her husband” lawsuit (like the one her mother won) ended in victory. The marquis was charged with paying his wife all the money received as a dowry, paying her a pension, and also paying off the debts that she herself had during their joint residence. He was forbidden to approach his ex-wife, and to top it off, Atenais demanded an inventory of his property. However, when the Marquise saw the pitiful list, her rage and thirst for revenge for the humiliation she experienced vanished. She told her lawyers to completely rewrite the terms of the divorce and pledged herself to pay Montespan some of her funds for the education of the children. When the marquis died, records were found in his possession: all 35 years after breaking up with his wife, he suffered and could not forget her. In his will, he begged her in the name of that sincere tenderness and friendship,which I always felt for her,”pray for him and wrote to her all his modest state.
One in the whole kingdom
In 1674, Louise de Lavalier finally realized the futility of trying to restore her former status. With her penchant for melodramatic gestures, she received permission to become a nun in one of the strictest orders - the Carmelite monastery, after publicly begging forgiveness from the queen. Louis this time limited himself to only advice to choose an orphanage with a less strict charter. In the same year, Abbot Lesage and his assistants, after a long and secret investigation, were sentenced - although not mortal. Actually, shortly after their arrest, the "Chamber of Interrogations" was created and the investigation began on the most famous trial of the 17th century.
Louise de Lavalier. Miniature by Jean Petito.
But the king was still afraid of publicity, was not ready to believe the testimony of the "wicked" and ordered the chief of police Nicolas la Rainey not to apply the "most severe tortures" to the witch La Voison - fortunately, she herself, unlike her talkative lover, preferred testimony not to mention the name of the royal mistress. And be that as it may, but Atenais received the long-awaited recognition at the court and the status of an official favorite. The only thing that the king did not allow her was to participate in state affairs, but she was not at all hungry for political influence - it was enough for her to know that she personified the desire of the Sun King to be the center of his empire and the whole world. It was not without reason that she sometimes accused Louis that his love for her was based on the awareness of his royal duty - to love the most beautiful, intelligent and desired woman in the kingdom. Atenais included her old acquaintances in the circle of the king's friends: Moliere, Racine, La Fontaine and Boileau. It was she who appointed Moliere and Racine as court chroniclers and official historians at court. Together with the king, they listened to the authors' reading of their manuscripts, and then discussed. The Marquise had a particular weakness for Moliere as a relentless critic of the hypocritical morals of society. “Versailles is me,” Louis said about his beloved palace, and Athenais participated in the development of architectural projects during the construction of the palace. The king trusted her taste. Her suite at Versailles consisted of 20 rooms, while the Queen had only eleven. But if Louise insisted that she prefers to love a man, and not a king in Louis, then Athenais knew how to love a king like an ordinary man. Although, according to the witnesses,who were interrogated with particular passion in the "Case of Poisons", the Marquis de Montespan did not always rely on her own witchcraft. However, in fairness it is worth noting which of the noble ladies did not buy love drinks and potions then?
Athenais was a good psychologist: Louis did not like constant requests, which is why she only occasionally demanded patronage for her relatives. I have never openly sought expensive gifts either. The king, of his own free will, presented her with the Porcelain Trianon - a wonderful palace with an amazingly beautiful garden in which their favorite tuberose, jasmine and orange trees grew. To maintain a garden of fresh flowers and trees throughout the year, gardeners had to grow about 2 million plants in pots. The toy Trianon was the perfect place for a midnight date. But Louis also presented Athenais with a real castle in Clagny, which became one of the most beautiful palaces of that time. Of course, there was also a huge park filled with wonderful inventions - after all, Athenais shared this passion of Louis.
But the most important evidence of her influence on the king and his love for her was an unprecedented event: the king found a legal opportunity to recognize his children from Atenais as legitimate. (Of the seven children born to the king, four survived.) Now they could be returned to the court.
An evil joke of providence
On her wedding day with the poet Paul Scarron, 16-year-old Françoise, who was born in a prison cell (her father was a thief) and miraculously ended up in a monastery, where she received not only shelter, but also an education, in response to the notary's question to the groom: “What can he do to give to your wife?”I heard the answer:“Immortality”. The prediction turned out to be accurate. Only history will remember Françoise not because of her husband.
Pierre Mignard. Madame de Montespan with children.
After Scarron's death, his widow became a welcome guest in the salons and homes of Parisian aristocrats, despite her more than dubious origins. Her intelligence and elegant manners (Scarron taught his wife not only foreign languages, but also the ability to conduct a witty and lively conversation) were combined with a desire to help (she could sit at the patient's bedside, not disdaining any duties). It was easy and pleasant to be friends with her - Françoise never challenged the superiority of her aristocratic patroness.
One of these ladies was the Marquis de Montespan. And here Providence played a cruel joke on Athenais, who for some reason did not feel the ambitions that raged in Madame Scarron's heart, her desire to take revenge for her villainous fate. Otherwise, the marquise would hardly have chosen this woman as the secret governess for her children, born to the king. Françoise consulted with her confessor, and then demanded that the king personally explain her duties to her. The marquise rented a house on the rue Vaugirard, surrounded by a closed garden where children could play without fear of prying eyes. Madame Scarron conscientiously fulfilled her duties, for some time in the salons they were lost in conjectures: where did she disappear? It is not surprising that even then gratitude to her alternated in Atenais with fits of frenzied jealousy - a governess who received a lot of money,expressed her disapproval of the behavior of the marquise during her rare visits to the rue de Vaugirard. Meanwhile, the king was very pleased with the upbringing given to his children, and with the teacher herself. Therefore, having received the opportunity to live at the court in 1674, they moved there together with the governess. Did Françoise herself dream of becoming the king's mistress at that time? The complexes, combined with a sober mind and a rich imagination, did their job: did God not call her to earth in order to save the immortal soul of the king, delivering him from the society of Athenais and sinners like her? The governess at the court received the nickname Idyshka. After the particularly violent scandals that Atenais arranged for her, Françoise threatened to leave the courtyard and go to the monastery. The king in return gave her gifts and donated the estate and the title of Marquise de Mantenon. Louis found obvious pleasure in the company of this always calm and somewhat mysterious woman, he loved to play in her presence with his children.
Mantenon's first attempt to excommunicate the king from the "sinner" was unsuccessful, although Athenais scared to death. The king had a "religious attack" for almost a year, provoked by the joint efforts of the nanny and the court abbot Busse. And the beloved favorite, having retired to Klany, bit through silk sheets at night, and by morning her bed was wet through with tears. But one day, during another trip to the war, the king ordered to send her 20 thousand orange trees - a gesture that brought Athenais back to life.
In honor of her husband, who returned from a military campaign, the queen arranged a ball in the palace. And then he went to Clagny - albeit accompanied by Mantenon and several other ladies, whose duty was to save the royal soul. Athenais quietly interrupted Louis' crumpled speech: “You shouldn't preach a sermon to me. I know my time is gone. " Louis cried, and Athenais too - those were her first public tears. “You're out of your mind,” she finally said. “Yes, I’m crazy because I’m still going crazy with you,” Louis replied, and they bowed gallantly and retired to Athenais’s bedroom. Perhaps this victory came at a much more sinful price. Indeed, at this time, as evidenced by the testimony collected by the police chief of La Rainey during the investigation of the "Cases of Poisons", the Marquis de Montespan came into contact with people who knew the art of black magic. Throughout her reign, Athenais did not attach much importance to Louis' brief forays into other people's bedrooms. But this time the danger was serious - the first favorite of the kingdom herself chose the lovely Angelica de Fontagne. She took this tactical step in order to weaken the growing influence of the former governess, in whose company the king was increasingly resting from the scenes that the Marquis de Montespan arranged for him. Angelica was as beautiful as she was hopelessly stupid, but it soon became clear that the 46-year-old monarch was seriously carried away by Mademoiselle. The courtyard froze in anticipation of the imminent grandiose scandal and the official resignation of Atenais. The only thing that comforted and entertained her these days was the disappointment and fury of the Marquise de Mantenon, who suggested that she join forces against the "sinner" Angelica. After giving birth at the end of 1679, Angelica fell ill and soon bored the king. In bed, she received congratulations on being awarded the title of Duchess and a pension of 80,000 livres. It was then that the first high-profile rumors went - the cause of her illness was the intervention of the Marquise de Montespan. She again at this time, as evidenced by the testimony, turned for help to La Voison, who supplied her clients not only with love potions, but also with various poisons … name and publicity - to keep the terrible events taking place in Paris, arrests and the whole stream of confessions that were poured out by those arrested outside the walls of the Chamber of Interrogations in secret, was beyond the power of even the king. Angelica herself openly claimed that she was poisoned, and even demanded protection for herself. And soon, according to tradition, she retired to a monastery, where she died, suffering from bouts of stomach colic … "The case of poisons" was in full swing, and only the intervention of the king saved the marquis from appearing in the Chamber of Interrogations.
For about ten more years, Athenais remained at court. Although after the death of the queen in 1683, the king secretly married the Marquis de Mantenon. The court was perplexed by this incredible morganatic marriage: what could have attracted the monarch to this middle-aged woman, other than her ability to arouse religious feelings in him? Athenais, on the other hand, knew the answer and cursed herself: if it were not for the suspicions, which she could not avoid during the terrible investigation, the king could have married her, and not this devout goose, who did not even deny how unknown and disliked her sensual joys. He trusted Mantenon, while he no longer believed her. In 1685, Athenais held a ball to mark the engagement of her eldest daughter to the Prince of Condé, Louis of Bourbon. Louis XIV not only set a precedent by recognizing his children from Athenais as legitimate,but also allowed them to marry members of the royal family. The blood of the Marquise de Montespan flows in the veins of many of the royal houses of Europe. But this was, according to Voltaire, "her last triumph at court."
In a fit of despair, she asked her old enemy, the court abbot Busse, to inform the king about her desire to go to a monastery. Louis, who did not dare to remove it himself, ordered to convey that it would be better for everyone. Mortally offended, Athenais left for her palace in Clanya. But from there she was forced to leave by her own son, the Duke du Maine, who did not want to deal with his defeated mother. The son demanded to give him Clanyi as a wedding gift. Athenais tried to return all the jewelry received from him as a gift to the king. But this gesture of independence also left him indifferent. He kindly turned down the offer, taking only one pearl necklace for himself. Soon, Louis will give it to his last mistress - Mary-Adelaide of Savoy, mother of the future King Louis XV.
Belated remorse
But she did not go to the monastery. So what if she cuts her hair? They have already lost their shine and color long ago. Can black clothes and a veil, the coldness of the cell, can fence her off from herself? Mortemar's spirit and her cunning mind suggested another solution: Athenais took up charity work. Let this repentance be akin to the satisfaction of vanity, but can't she at least partially atone for her sins? She had to prove that in the role of a philanthropist she could be as gorgeous and inimitable as in the image of a royal favorite. With her money, the monastery of St. Joseph was built for the poor pupils, where they were taught to sew and embroider in order to enable them to live their lives without sin. The nuns of the order chose Atenais as their patroness. The Marquise established a hospital at Fontainebleau,where she decided to support 60 orphan girls and invested money in two more institutions - an almshouse in Saint-Germain and a boarding house for poor girls at the Ursuline monastery, which later became the famous school of the Ursulines, and also provided the Oiron hospital with all the necessary (it still exists) … She herself lived for a long time at the Monastery of Fontevraud and ordered Mass there for several years in advance. Evil tongues gossiped that, having been friends with the devil for so long, the Marquise did not want to continue this friendship after death. Her rooms in the Convent of Saint Joseph, where she moved from Fontevraud, were furnished with elegant simplicity. Atenais continued to wear her "royal" outfits, but under them steel chains with spiky studs tormented her flesh, wrapped around her swollen ankles, waist and wrists …later became the famous school of the Ursulines, and also provided everything necessary for the Oiron hospital (it also exists to this day). She herself lived for a long time at the Monastery of Fontevraud and ordered Mass there for several years in advance. Evil tongues gossiped that, having been friends with the devil for so long, the Marquise did not want to continue this friendship after death. Her rooms in the Convent of Saint Joseph, where she moved from Fontevraud, were furnished with elegant simplicity. Atenais continued to wear her "royal" outfits, but under them steel chains with spiky studs tormented her flesh, wrapped around her swollen ankles, waist and wrists …later became the famous school of the Ursulines, and also provided everything necessary for the Oiron hospital (it also exists to this day). She herself lived for a long time at the Monastery of Fontevraud and ordered Mass there for several years in advance. Evil tongues gossiped that, having been friends with the devil for so long, the Marquise did not want to continue this friendship after death. Her rooms in the Convent of Saint Joseph, where she moved from Fontevraud, were furnished with elegant simplicity. Atenais continued to wear her "royal" outfits, but under them steel chains with spiky studs tormented her flesh, wrapped around her swollen ankles, waist and wrists …having been friends with the devil for so long, the marquise did not want to continue this friendship after death. Her rooms in the Convent of Saint Joseph, where she moved from Fontevraud, were furnished with elegant simplicity. Atenais continued to wear her "royal" outfits, but under them steel chains with spiky studs tormented her flesh, wrapped around her swollen ankles, waist and wrists …having been friends with the devil for so long, the marquise did not want to continue this friendship after death. Her rooms in the Convent of Saint Joseph, where she moved from Fontevraud, were furnished with elegant simplicity. Atenais continued to wear her "royal" outfits, but under them steel chains with spiky studs tormented her flesh, wrapped around her swollen ankles, waist and wrists …
“I assure you, I no longer have ambitions in this world, and I dare to say that I am free from any desires, which in turn makes me insensitive to pain of any kind,” Atenais told her old friend and rival Louise le Lavaliere. The monastery of Saint Joseph was located near the Abbey of the Carmelites, and she visited Louise more than once. “But you are crying,” the former favorite replied with a barely perceptible sneer. "And I don't cry anymore." - “Don't you cry? Never? And I will always mourn my life,”Atenais confessed.
Atenais lay awake in a room brightly lit by dozens of candles. The ladies hired by the Marquis sat at the tables around her bed, talking, laughing, humming, she heard their tired heads falling on the table at dawn along with the cards they had been playing all night. The Marquis was afraid to die, and she had reasons to fear that after death she would face hell. Despite the fact that the king personally destroyed all evidence of her involvement in criminal ties with the devil, poisoning and death, he burned them. He made her his chosen one, which means that she could not choose the devil as her thimble. It was said that the king did not shed a tear upon learning of her death. However, for some time he remained alone in his chambers, and who knows, perhaps he nevertheless took out old love letters from the box, which preserved the smells of tuberose,jasmine and orange tree. These were the smells that both loved so much.
She died on May 27, 1707 in the province of Bourbon, where she went to the water. Her death and funeral became a real farce. The son from the marriage with the Marquis de Montespan, the Marquis D'Antan, interrupted the hunt only in order to rush in to remove from the neck of the dead mother the key from the box, where, most likely, her will was kept. He feared that he would not be the only heir and that the rest of her fortune would go to his brothers and sisters, born of the king. The last will of Atenais remained unknown. The body, once caressed by the king, was entrusted to the hands of the village Aesculapius. The coffin with the remains of Atenais was transported to the Rocheshuar-Mortemar family tomb. Not a single Mass was ordered at court. Only the popular Paris tabloid newspaper Mercure Francais, which always paid tribute to Athenais during her triumph, published a small note:"The Marquise has proven that she can be as great a benefactor as she is a royal mistress." Well, scandals always sell better than any epitaph. But could charity replace the love of the king? “The king no longer loves you - and that means you are dead,” said Athenais as she left the court forever.
Maria Obelchenko