The Kings' Mistresses
The Liberated Lives of
Marie Mancini, Princess Colonna, And
Her Sister Hortense, Duchess Mazarin
by Elizabeth C Goldsmith
The Kings' Mistresses by Elizabeth C
Goldsmith is
a fascinating story of the lives of
Marie Mancini and
her sister, Hortense, during the time
of the seventeenth
century in Europe. As such , it gives
a valuable insight into
of the history and politics of the time
in France, Italy, Spain and England.
The author refers to correspondence and
letters to tell a
compelling story of two sisters who
decided to challenge
the expected norms of society of the
time.
And what a story it is!
The stars of both these sisters shone
brightly.
Brought to the court of France by their
uncle, Cardinal Mazarin,
from Italy, they lived a privileged
life and were feted by the court, enjoying
its many entertainments and
activities.
Louis XIV wished to marry Marie
Mancini. It is poignant that six days after his marriage to the
Infanta of Spain, Marie- Therese, Louis XIV
wished to leave his travelling party at
La Rochelle and pay a solitary visit to Brouage
where he had last seen Marie Mancini.
Of course he would have known that Marie was
not there and Cardinal Mazarin was
alarmed when he heard of this detour of the young
Louis XIV.
Anne of Austria and Cardinal Mazarin
had done everything to try and separate
Marie Mancini and Louis XIV. Marie had
been recaled to Paris by this time.
It is also poignant that Marie Mancini
during all of her life retained a string of pearls
which the king had given her a year
before his marriage to Marie-Therese.
Charles II of England had wished to
marry Hortense, who was a bright spark, vivacious
and beautiful. Cardinal Mazarin did
not wish for his niece to marry Charles II at the time
as he was a king without a throne.
Charles II had been displaced by Oliver Cromwell and
it would be after many years of poverty
and travelling in Europe before he would be restored
to the throne of England in 1660.
Cardinal Mazarin raised the issue of his marriage
to Hortense at the time with Charles II
but Charles II's ministers advised him to forget Hortense and have a
more ambitious marriage with Katherine
of Braganza.
Cardinal Mazarin, being in ill health
by 1661 was determined to arrange fortuitous marriages for his nieces
as he had arranged marriages for Laure
Mancini, a sister of Marie and Hortense,
to Louis de Bourbon-Vendome, Duc de
Mercoeur, and also the marriage of a cousin of Marie and Hortense,
Anne-Marie Martinozzi to Armand de Bourbon -Conde, Prince de Conti.
The story of Marie's life in Rome is
fascinating to read of the account of the arts, theatre, processions
and general sociability of the times as she brought something new to
Rome which
was not previously acceptable by the
standards of the day. She did seem to have more freedom
than the Roman noblewoman of the time.
Marie did a lot for the arts in Rome, building a theatre at the
Colonna palazzo and also becoming involved with the carnival in
Venice when she was married to Prince Colonna.
Marie was also the author of two books
of astrology.
She was learned and cultured. Louis
XIV had developed a love and passion for the Italian arts
and poetry from spending many hours in
the company of Marie and also from the influences
of Cardinal Mazarin who had a fine art
collection.
Hortense was married to Duc Mazarin in
1661.
The story culminates in the adventures
of these two sisters who decided to live their lives
differently.
It is a poignant and stark tale but
also has great merit describing the fascinating encounters
in London of Hortense and
Saint-Evremond, who had been exiled many years previously by
Cardinal Mazarin. They became great
friends and Saint-Evremond, knowing that Hortense
enjoyed romance novels would describe
himself in his correspondence to her as the sad-faced knight and
Hortense would often sign herself to
him as his “Dulcinea to Don Quixote” from Don Quixote.
Hortense hosted a salon of visiting
artists writers and travellers to London which people enjoyed for the
lively and interesting conversations.
This book is well recommended.
It is enjoyable and gives many insights
into the seventeenth century modes of conduct, law and
outcomes. It gives the reader an
understanding of the culture and attitudes of society of the time.
The vibrant and engaging personalities of the sisters, their travels
and adventures give a sense
of wonder to the book set in a time not
so distant and yet so different from today.
