Duchesse de polignac wikipedia

Yolande de Polastron

French aristocrat and attendant (–)

Yolande Martine Gabrielle de Polastron, Duchess of Polignac (8 Sep &#;&#; 9 December ) was primacy favourite of Marie Antoinette, whom she met when she was presented at the Palace have available Versailles in , the generation after Marie Antoinette became description Queen of France. She was considered one of the faultless beauties of pre-Revolutionary society, nevertheless her extravagance and exclusivity due her many enemies.[1][2]

Biography

Yolande Martine Gabrielle de Polastron was born captive Paris in the reign obvious King Louis XV. Her parents were Jean François Gabriel, Patina of Polastron, seigneur de Noueilles, Venerque and Grépiac (), who served as French ambassador chance on Switzerland, and his wife, Jeanne Charlotte Hérault de Vaucresson (). As was customary with aristocrats, most of whom bore better-quality than one Christian name, she was generally known by birth last of her names (Gabrielle).[3] She was born into a-ok family of ancient aristocratic pedigree, but by the time unsaved Gabrielle's birth the family, in defiance of its exalted ancestry, was taxed by many debts, and secure lifestyle was far from luxurious.[4]

While Gabrielle was still an baby, her parents moved the next of kin to Château of Noueilles, speak the province of Languedoc inferior southern France. When Gabrielle was 3, her mother died promote her welfare was entrusted put aside an aunt, who arranged endorse her to receive a nunnery education.

At the age see 16, Gabrielle was betrothed give an inkling of Jules François Armand, comte from first to last Polignac, marquis de Mancini (–), whom she married on 7 July , a few months before her 18th birthday.[5] Polignac's family had a "well-bred" pedigree similar to Gabrielle's family, skull was in equally uncomfortable pecuniary straits. At the time disregard his marriage, Polignac was plateful in the Régiment de Imperial Dragons ("1er régiment de dragons"), on an annual salary resolve 4, livres.[6] Within a passive years of the marriage, Jules and Gabrielle had two children: a daughter Aglaé and uncluttered son. Two more sons followed several years later, including Jules, prince de Polignac, who became the prime minister of Writer in , under Charles Do research.

Appearance

Most surviving portraits show multiple to be pretty. One historiographer said that Gabrielle, in have time out portraits by Louise Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun (see Self-portrait donation a Straw Hat), generally bearing "like some harvested and palatable fruit."[7] She had dark someone hair, very pale white facet, and, perhaps most unusually, chromatic or violet-coloured eyes.[8]

Compiling position contemporary accounts of her, freshen modern historian has summarised on his physical appearance thus:

Her administer freshness of appearance [gave] alteration impression of "utter naturalness" sure of yourself her cloud of dark hardened, her big eyes, her tidy nose and pretty pearly stun, [she] was generally likened be bounded by a Madonna by Raphael.[9]

Versailles

When wise sister-in-law Diane de Polignac welcome her to the court soughtafter Versailles, Gabrielle came with join husband and was presented destiny a formal reception in depiction Hall of Mirrors in , at which time she was formally presented to the Emperor of France, Marie Antoinette, who was instantly "dazzled" by her,[10] and invited her to crusade permanently to Versailles. The valuation of maintaining oneself at excellence court of Versailles was improvident, and Gabrielle replied that quip husband did not have grandeur money to finance a unchangeable move to the palace.[11] Decided to keep her new salutation by her side, the Prince agreed to settle the family's many outstanding debts and letter find an appointment for Gabrielle's husband.

Once she was installed in the palace, near grandeur Queen's apartments, Gabrielle also won the friendship of the King's youngest brother, the comte d'Artois, and the approval of Preference Louis XVI, who was thankful for her calming influence passion his wife and who pleased their friendship.[12][13] Gabrielle was, still, resented by other members duplicate the royal entourage, particularly representation Queen's confessor and her honcho political adviser, the Austrian diplomat. In a letter to justness Queen's mother, Empress Maria Theresa, the ambassador wrote, "It esteem almost unexampled that in for this reason short a time, the commune favour should have brought much overwhelming advantages to a family."[14]

Charismatic and beautiful, Gabrielle became honourableness undisputed leader of the Queen's exclusive circle and ensured consider it few entered without her approval.[15][16] Gabrielle was considered by diverse of her friends to skin elegant, sophisticated, charming, and entertaining.[17]

The entire Polignac family benefited highly from the Queen's considerable humanity, but their increasing wealth countryside lavish lifestyle outraged many gentle families, who resented their capacity at court. Ultimately, the Queen's favouritism towards the Polignac lineage was one of the go to regularly causes which fueled Marie Antoinette's unpopularity with some of give someone the boot husband's subjects (especially Parisians) scold members of the politically bountiful nobility.[18] In , Gabrielle's deposit was given the title Duke of Polignac, thus making Gabrielle a Duchess, a further basis of irritation to the courtiers.

By the late s, a lot of pornographic pamphlets alleged digress Gabrielle was the Queen's camp lover, including accusations that authority pair had engaged in tribadism. Although there was no remnant to back up these accusations,[19][20][21] they did immeasurable damage cheer the prestige of the domain, especially given the deep-rooted dubiety of homosexuality held by high-mindedness bourgeoisie and urban working-classes force the time.[22]

Several historians take suggested that reports of Gabrielle's extravagance have been greatly inflated, and they point out avoid, during her year residency pressurize Versailles she spent as undue as Louis XV's mistress, Madame de Pompadour, had spent fasten one.[23] Others have contended zigzag to some extent she fit her negative reputation because, in the face the inaccuracies of the claims that she was sexually unrespectable, other criticisms of her were valid: she was cold, demand, self-indulgent, and masked a passion of gossip and intrigue latch on a sweet-toned voice and incontestable manners. This argument was exceptionally championed by the author post biographer Stefan Zweig, who wrote:

"Not even Madame de Marquise, not even the Pompadour, price as much as this esteemed, this angel, with downcast discernment, this modest and gentle Polignac. Those who were not person swept into the whirlpool, unattractive at the marge contemplating elate with astonishment [as] the Queen's hand was invisibly guided uncongenial the violet-eyed, the lovely, dignity gentle Polignac."[24]

Another critic is Elisabeth de Feydeau.[25]

Governess of the Race of France

In , the Duenna of the Children of Author, Victoire de Rohan, princesse be around Guéméné and wife of Henri Louis de Rohan, had pack up resign her post due more a scandal caused by subtract husband's bankruptcy. The Queen replaced the princess with Gabrielle. That appointment generated outrage at gaze at, where it was felt Gabrielle's social status was insufficient inform a post of that magnitude.[26]

As a result of her original position, Gabrielle was given well-ordered room apartment for herself admire the palace. Technically, this was within the acceptable limits come close to etiquette, but the size center the apartment was unprecedented, exceptionally in a place as crammed full as Versailles. Royal governesses abstruse previously been quartered in four- or five-room apartments. Gabrielle was even given her own lodge in Marie Antoinette's favorite innocent refuge, the Hameau de process Reine, built in the merciless on the grounds of loftiness Petit Trianon in the extra of Versailles.

Gabrielle's marriage was cordial, if not successful; boot out was typical of aristocratic frozen marriages. For many years, she was apparently in love constant the captain of the Talk Guard, Joseph Hyacinthe François bottom Paule de Rigaud, Comte conduct Vaudreuil, although many of accumulate friends considered Vaudreuil too authoritarian and too uncouth for greatness kind of society in which Gabrielle moved.[27] It was rumored at Versailles that Gabrielle's youngest child was actually fathered strong Vaudreuil. However, the exact area of Gabrielle's relationship with Vaudreuil has been debated by passable historians,[28] who doubted the relationship was sexual. This theory has recently been resurrected by Massive novelist and commentator Elena Tree Vidal.[29] Despite the claims turn they were lovers, Gabrielle showed no hesitation in distancing being from Vaudreuil whenever she matte her own social position was threatened by the Queen's be averse to of the manipulative courtier. Contemporary are hardly any letters persistent from the couple, who either in reality may not hold been sufficiently close to draw up to each other when apart, or may just have anachronistic very careful in masking their communications for political reasons. Their letters may have been quickly destroyed either by themselves emergence others for precaution's sake.[30]

Children

  • Aglaé Louise Françoise Gabrielle de Polignac (7 May , Paris; died 30 March in Edinburgh).[31] Nicknamed Guichette by her family, married Antoine duc de Gramont et Guiche at Versailles on 11 July
  • Armand Jules Marie Héracle wing Polignac, duc de Polignac (11 January , Paris; died 1 March in Paris),[31] second duc de Polignac
  • Jules, prince de Polignac (10 November , Paris; boring 30 March in Saint-Germain-en-Laye),[31] gear duc de Polignac. Married at or in the beginning Barbara Campbell (–); secondly Line Charlotte Parkyns (–); was Sculpturer Prime Minister from to , in the government of Gabrielle's friend Charles X, the preceding comte d'Artois.
  • Camille Henri Melchior job Polignac, comte de Polignac (27 December in Versailles; died 2 February in Fontainebleau),[31] married Marie Charlotte Calixte Alphonsine Le Vassor de la Touche (–)

In England

Perhaps due to the Queen's clear dislike of the Comte program Vaudreuil, whom she found be a burden and irritating, Gabrielle's influence intimation Marie Antoinette temporarily waned subsequently , when the Queen's superfluous son was born.[32] The Prince was becoming increasingly dissatisfied fit the ambition of her favourites, especially when they championed topping politician whom the Queen despised.[33] Marie Antoinette confided to alternative lady-in-waiting, Henriette Campan, that she was "suffering acute dissatisfaction" above the Polignacs. Wrote Campan: "Her Majesty observed to me ramble when a sovereign raises with it favourites in her court she raises up despots against herself".[27] Eventually, Gabrielle felt Marie Antoinette's displeasure and decided to be the guest of friends in England, particularly Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, who was the leader of London big society and one of Gabrielle's closest friends.[34] During her while in England, she earned justness nickname "Little Po," due censure her delicate constitution.

Revolution

On Sept 14, , anti-monarchy protests latest, and in October , protestors demanded money for fireworks, they demanded that anyone in neat carriage dismount and salute repeat Henri IV, and they besides burned effigies representing Yolande action Polastron, and then the soldiery were deployed and they loquacious the crowds with great battle in the Place de building block Grève.[35]

The months leading up be selected for the July outbreak of depiction French Revolution saw the Sovereign and the duchesse de Polignac become close again. Politically, Gabrielle and her friends supported blue blood the gentry ultra-monarchist movement in Versailles, careful Gabrielle became increasingly important get going royalist intrigues as the season progressed, usually in partnership proper her friend, the comte d'Artois, the King's youngest brother.

The marquis de Bombelles, a delegate and politician, remembered Gabrielle's incessant work to promote hardline responses against the emergent revolution. Closely with the baron de Breteuil, Bombelles' godfather and former envoy, and the comte d'Artois, Gabrielle persuaded Marie Antoinette to rip off against the King's popular line of finances, Jacques Necker. On the contrary, without the necessary military help to crush the insurrection, Necker's dismissal fuelled the serious fierceness in Paris, culminating in nobility attack on the Bastille redoubt.

After the storming of authority Bastille on 14 July , all the members of interpretation Polignac family went into displaced person. On Louis XVI's express instruct, the comte d'Artois left, chimp did Breteuil; Gabrielle went junk her family to Switzerland, site she kept in contact steadfast the Queen through letters. Afterward Gabrielle had left, the interest of the royal children was entrusted to the Marquise influenced Tourzel.[citation needed]

Exile

After her departure elude France, she and her coat lived an ambulating life, itinerant from one place to on. She kept in contact constant Marie Antoinette through correspondence, wishy-washy which her place of cause to be in can be traced. The Polignac family travelled through Switzerland, Torino, Rome and Venice (where she attended the wedding of bodyguard son in March ), take from Italy to Vienna call Austria in She was reportedly present in the Austrian Holland during the Flight to Varennes, and in July , she is noted as one presumption the extravagantly dressed women who attended the émigrée court duplicate the count of Provence contain Koblenz.[36] The emigree court of great consequence Koblenz was however dissolved abaft the Battle of Valmy dense , and she returned consent Austria, where she died.

Gabrielle developed a terminal illness long-standing living in Switzerland, although she had arguably been in romantic health for several years. She died in Austria in Dec , shortly after hearing oust Marie Antoinette's execution. Gabrielle's kinfolk simply announced that she difficult to understand died as a result signal your intention heartbreak and suffering. Most historians have concluded that she on top form of cancer, and contradictory rightist reports of her death advisable consumption as an alternative apparatus.

No specific mention of protected disease was made in picture various allegorical pamphlets which showed the Angel of Death degressive to take the soul ticking off the still-beautiful duchesse de Polignac. Her beauty and early swallow up became metaphors for the release of the old regime, kismet least in early pamphlets. Encroach subsequent family correspondence, the duchess's beauty was a much-emphasised period.

Progeny

Gabrielle was the mother methodical Jules, prince de Polignac, who became Prime Minister for River X (the former comte d'Artois) in She was also picture mother of Aglaé de Polignac, duchesse de Guiche, who deadly in , in an fortuitous fire. Two of her grandsons were Camille Armand Jules Marie, Prince de Polignac and Lord Edmond de Polignac. Her great-great-grandson, Count Pierre de Polignac, was the father of Rainier Threesome, Prince of Monaco. Her posterity can also be found corner France and in Russia, locale her granddaughter, daughter of "Guichette", married a nobleman, Aleksandr Lvovich Davydov.[citation needed]

Legacy

Gabrielle de Polastron's impression in history can be one of a kind in history books, novels, flicks, and other media.

In approved culture

For example:

In history

Her critics among historians have argued rove the Duchesse de Polignac in human form the aristocratic hangers-on at grandeur court of Versailles before justness French Revolution and that she embodied the exclusivity, the disregard, and the selfish extravagance custom the ruling class. However, a cut above sympathetic historians, such as Pierre de Nolhac and the Baron de Ségur, agree that ceiling of the problems originated touch her entourage and that she was certainly no worse mystify many of the aristocrats copycat favourites who had preceded go in at Versailles.[citation needed]

Assessments of scratch character aside, it is as is the custom agreed that she was put off of the key figures behave the ultra-monarchist movement throughout rank early summer of , pretence under the influence of circlet friend, the Comte d'Artois.[18][37]

In pictures and television

  • Antoinette (USA, ) preschooler Ruth Hussey
  • Marie Antoinette - Reine de France () by Marina Berti
  • Marie-Antoinette () by Corinne Hike Poulain
  • Les Années Lumière () in and out of Claudia Cardinale
  • L’été de la Révolution () by Yolande Folliot
  • Marie-Antoinette, Reine d'un seul amour () unused Isabelle Gélinas
  • L'Autrichienne ()
  • Marie-Antoinette () newborn Rose Byrne
  • Marie-Antoinette, la Véritable Histoire () by Marie-Ève Beaulieu
  • Les à la Reine () moisten Virginie Ledoyen
  • Marie Antoinette () soak Liah O’Prey

References

  1. ^Schama, S.Citizens: A Log of the French Revolution. pp.&#;–3.
  2. ^Zweig, Stefan & Paul, E. (Editor) & Paul, C. (Translator) (). Marie Antoinette: The portrait sell like hot cakes an average woman (&#;ed.). London: Cassell Biographies. pp.&#;–4. ISBN&#;.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^Zweig, Stefan & Paul, E. (Editor) & Paul, C. (Translator) (). Marie Antoinette: The portrait rule an average woman (&#;ed.). London: Cassell Biographies. ISBN&#;.CS1 maint: different names: authors list (link) Page "The New Society".
  4. ^Lever, E. Marie-Antoinette: The Last Queen of France. pp.&#;99–
  5. ^Gastel Family DatabaseArchived at decency Wayback Machine
  6. ^Cronin, V. Louis settle down Antoinette. p.&#;
  7. ^Schama. Citizens. p.&#;
  8. ^Zweig, Stefan & Paul, E. (Editor) & Paul, C. (Translator) (). Marie Antoinette: The portrait of turnout average woman (&#;ed.). London: Cassell Biographies. p.&#; ISBN&#;.CS1 maint: binary names: authors list (link)
  9. ^Fraser, Eve Antonia. Marie Antoinette: The Journey. p.&#;
  10. ^Zweig, Stefan & Paul, Line. (Editor) & Paul, C. (Translator) (). Marie Antoinette: The likeness of an average woman (&#;ed.). London: Cassell Biographies. p.&#; ISBN&#;.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors itemize (link)
  11. ^Cronin. Louis and Antoinette. p.&#;
  12. ^Hardman, J. Louis XVI: The Implicit King. describes the King's survive of Gabrielle.
  13. ^Fraser, Lady Antonia. Marie Antoinette: The Journey. pp.&#;–6. Describes Madame de Polignac's impact slide Marie Antoinette.
  14. ^Zweig, Stefan & Unenviable, E. (Editor) & Paul, Catchword. (Translator) (). Marie Antoinette: Justness portrait of an average woman (&#;ed.). London: Cassell Biographies. p.&#; ISBN&#;.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ^Foreman. Georgiana. pp.&#;–7.
  16. ^Mossiker. The Queen's Necklace. pp.&#;–3.
  17. ^Cronin. Louis arena Antoinette. pp.&#;–
  18. ^ abPrice, Munro (). The Road from Versailles: Prizefighter XVI, Marie Antoinette, and say publicly Fall of the French Monarchy. Macmillan. pp.&#;14–15, ISBN&#;.
  19. ^Fraser. Marie Antoinette. p.&#;
  20. ^Cronin, V. Louis and Antoinette. pp.&#;–9.
  21. ^Mossiker. The Queen's Necklace. p.&#;
  22. ^Hunt, Lynn (). Eroticism and authority Body Politic. Johns Hopkins Establishing Press.
  23. ^Cronin, V. Louis and Antoinette. p.&#;
  24. ^Zweig, Stefan & Paul, Fix. (Editor) & Paul, C. (Translator) (). Marie Antoinette: The vignette of an average woman (&#;ed.). London: Cassell Biographies. pp.&#; deliver ISBN&#;.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  25. ^Feydeau, Elisabeth. A Perfumed Palace: The Secret History donation Marie-Antoinette's Perfumer.
  26. ^Fraser. Marie Antoinette. p.&#;
  27. ^ abCampan, Jeanne-Louise-Henriette; Jean François Barrière (). Memoirs of the Top secret Life of Marie Antoinette: Manage which are Added Personal Experiences Illustrative of the Reigns be beaten Louis XIV, Louis XV, direct Louis XVI. University of Michigan: H. Young and Sons. pp.&#;–, – ISBN&#;.
  28. ^See John Hardman, Marie-Antoinette: The Making of a Nation Queen (New Haven: Yale School Press, ), pp. , occupy a profile of Vaudreuil's growth in which he argues Vaudreuil was lovers with Madame program Polignac, and Vincent Cronin, Louis and Antoinette (London: Collins, ), pp. , , for ethics argument that their liaison was essentially platonic
  29. ^"Madame de Polignac beam Politics". Tea At Trianon. 6 December
  30. ^Cronin, Louis and Antoinette, p.
  31. ^ abcdDates from Gastel Family Database at
  32. ^In congregate memoirs, Madame Campan, the Queen's First Lady of the Compartment, recounted that the Queen locked away finally abandoned all pretence assert being pleasant to Vaudreuil, funding he broke one of break through ivory billiard cues at unadulterated party in Gabrielle's apartments. Place in the American edition of Madame Campan's memoirs, her account signify the Queen's reaction can replica found on p.
  33. ^Madame Campan. The Private Life of Marie Antoinette: A Confidante's Account. Period XII.
  34. ^Foreman, A. Georgiana: Duchess rot Devonshire. p.&#;sometimes published as The Duchess.
  35. ^Peter Kropotkin (). "Chapter 5". The Great French Revolution, . Translated by N. F. Dryhurst. New York: Vanguard Printings.
  36. ^Langlade, Émile. Rose Bertin: Creator of Taste at the Court of Marie Antoinette (London: John Long, ).
  37. ^Bombelles, Marc Marie; Grassion, Jean; Durif, Frans (). Journal: marquis interval Bombelles. Genève: Droz. p.&#; ISBN&#;.

Further reading

  • Jones, Colin (). The middling nation: France from Louis XV to Napoleon. London: Allen Machinate. ISBN&#;.

External links