The Kings' Mistresses by Elizabeth C Goldsmith

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.

Time

Pictures from London (2009)

On a visit to London in autumn 2009 it was wonderful to
revisit some of the places I had been so many years earlier
when on my travels.

Even though it was autumn in London, the streets seemed vibrant
with colour and the flowers in Hyde Park were magnificent.  Hyde Park
is beautiful with the Serpentine Lake and on this visit I enjoyed walking
through the park and admiring he autumn colours of the leaves. 

Brightly
coloured baskets of flowers were hanging from balconies and I had also
noticed this in Los Angeles.  This was noticeable as I made my way
to the British Museum.  It was so wonderful to visit these places and
hope to return.
  At the British Museum are wonderful exhibits of Egyptian
jewellery and artifacts which are also quite fascinating to view. 

By the Embankment/Temple area of London by the Thames is the place
where John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster had his great palace of the Savoy,
with terraced gardens going down to the river and pennants flying high so
all could see from a distance the Savoy Palace.  It is fascinating to wander
around this area where there is also a medieval church from tudor times.
Looking down the Thames River from a bridge can be seen all of the
wonderful splendour and architecture of London.  Domes, spires, cathedrals.
Even on an overcast day of autumn the magnificence seems to tell its own story.

I wrote this poem earlier in the year:

TIME

Through these splendoured Halls of Fame

Whence the courtiers and kings came

In the whirls of worlds before

In the in-between shadows

and times forestalled;-

Of life and love

and a reign supreme-

As time turned around

from before

the in-betwixt time

the kings and queens also did shine:

Time is an open book, they say:-

Never to stop,

Not look back

and which, in its path

all life must brook

As the jackdaws at a tower do stalk;

Bells chiming merrily

beside the Thames-

And good wishes from all her friends-

Beautiful London,

green and treasured,

magnificent city

Palaces and shrines;

Old London Town,

which could tell

A thousand stories

many glories;

As Henry VIII and his six wives

moved on,

at a relentless pace,

From a time, the Pilgrimage of Grace;

Reformation, new ideas, - queens

The tower for two, divorce for two,

Survival for one, loss of another one.

And now at the Abbey did she shine:-

Kate looking happy,

“The Most Happy” -

Anne Boleyn's motto

From a not so distant past:-

Westminster Abbey,

beautiful, serene,

a resting place

of kings and queens,

and poet's corner;

A Magnificent Setting,

A Perfect Wedding Theme:-

And now today

the accolades and cheers

A Duchess of Cambridge

at the Stairs:

A magnificent history of Time-

And from whence now,

The King James Bible doth shine:-

400 years, this year,

an anniversary,

1611;

2011;

and now time revolves again,

A Thousand years of history

And the Wedding Bells did chime

A beautiful, London Wedding fine:

The silver line of

Old Father Thames-

beautiful, picturesque postcard

reality;

Atop the bridge,

Tower Green,

the saddest place on earth,

tells its own story;

From along the banks of the riverside-

A feast of sights,

of old churches, domes, beside

Stand out prominently

beneath the gaze

of a traveller who looks in wonderment

at this maze:-

Old London Town comes alive

with its cobbled streets,

horses and carts,

akin to the time of Shakespeare;

and later,

of the Globe and theatres

of the time of Nell Gwynn:-

Herein also lies a story,

Of the magnificent restoration of Charles II

to the throne.

London with its stories

old and new

will never cease to amaze:-

And we can all lift our hearts

to praise:

Mighty London

and strength of kings,

Therein lies a secret

of a Destiny:

Louis XIV

Gardens at Versailles October 2009

Versailles La Cour from wikipedi:

A picture of Marie Mancini from wikipedia:

An engraving of Vaux-le-Vicomte,

an inspiration for the Chateau of Versailles

Louis XIV holds a special place in history and also for me,

a favourite person to enjoy reading about. His time on the

throne spanned many years and he certainly is remembered

today for the wonderful achievement of the Chateau of Versailles and

the magnificent gardens which hark back to a more structured time in

society. A time of magnificence and grandeur, respect and admiration for

the young king, who became king at such an early age, when his father Louis XIII passed away and

Louis XIV was still at a young and at an impressionable age.

He was brought up by his mother, Anne of Austria, and Cardinal Mazarin,

who in turn brought his three nieces to the court of Versailles, where at

one stage, Louis XIV wished to marry Marie Mancini and Charles II of

England wished to marry her sister, Hortense Manicini. Unfortunately,

at the time, both kings being young, though for very different reasons

these marriages were not approved.

Marie Mancini was considered not a suitable prospect for the king of France.

This situation caused great distress for the young king. There was a musical

play on the stage in Paris “Le Roi Soleil” which was wonderful to watch on

you tube where the king

invites Marie Mancini to dance with him. At the end of the scene Marie

Mancini appears to be seated on a throne.

Had not Louis XIV been a king,

with the prospects of marrying a royal princess not been expected of him,

and perhaps if he had been Louis de Bourbon and not a king, his life would have been

very different. Louis XIV married Infanta Maria Theresa from Spain and

Marie Mancini was sent away from the court.

It was from the time spent with Marie Mancini and the influences of Cardinal

Mazarin that Louis XIV developed a love of Italian culture and art which

later was reflected in the beauty of the artistic designs of the chateau of

Versailles and its surroundings and landscape.

Unfortunately for Charles II of England, although his mother and sister,

Princess Henriette of England, (popularly known as Minette who subsequently

married the king's brother, Monsieur) were welcome at the court, Charles II for

political reasons was expected to move on. Louis XIV was young at this

stage and not in control.

Charles II spent many years in exile in Europe in

poverty, though with many loyal followers, who had also left England during

the Cromwell years. As Charles II was a king without a throne, his prospects

were suitably diminished and Cardinal Mazarin declined the marriage proposal

on behalf of his niece, Hortense Mancini.

Later, in years to come, when Charles II

was restored to the throne of England, Cardinal Mazarin broached the subject of

marriage again with the king regarding Hortense Mancini. By this time,

Charles II would have experienced many adventures during his travels and time

on the Continent and by this stage he did not wish to marry Hortense, probably for

various other reasons as well. Charles II, because of his experiences so different

from those of Louis XIV, may have had a different outlook on life, perhaps

more understanding of poverty and its consequences. Charles II married Katherine

of Braganza.

Charles II had started to build a palace at Winchester of which the plans were drawn by Sir

Christopher Wren, designer and architect of St Paul's Cathedral in London. He viewed the

beginnings of the building works with Nell Gwynn. Unfortunately, even though this palace

was to be built on a similar design of Versailles, surrounded by town houses, this plan did

not come into fruition and the palace was not completed due to the death of Charles II.

Versailles is a magnificent wonder of beauty and is a favourite place to visit. A real showpiece

of seventeenth century endeavour. The Chateau of Vaux-le-Vicomte may also have been an

inspiration for the young king with its wonderful gardens, fountains and outdoor entertainment

venues. Quite modern in concepts and design for the seventeenth century. Previously, many of the

older chateaux may have been more of a gothic design and built for defense purposes. Louis XIV

and his family lived at the Louvre in Paris and St Germain-en-Laye where he was born. When he first visited Vaux-le-Vicomte for the entertainments provided there,

he travelled with his family by carriage from the renaissance palace of Fontainebleau.

Castle of Fontainebleu from wikipedia:  a beautiful and serene place to visit;

Louis XIV by Le Brun