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Chemise à la Reine
Made famous by Marie Antoinette who preferred to wear at her retreat of Petit Trianon, it sparked a scandal when Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun painted the Queen wearing the informal dress.It became...
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The Choiseul Faction
The Choiseul Faction grew around Étienne François, Duc de Choiseul, who acted as France's Foreign Minister. It was largely thanks to him that the marriage contract that would bring Marie Antoinette to...
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The Dévots Faction
The dévot faction (or Devoted Faction) was mainly made up by the adult children of Louis XV (including Mesdames Tantes), the Dauphin, Louis Auguste (future Louis XVI) the Comte d'Argenson and the...
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Tasty Potato Croquettes
From the table of Louis XVIIngredients (6 people):2 pounds of potatoes2 tablespoons butter1/4 tablespoon white pepper1/4 tablespoon nutmeg½ cup of grated Parmesan1 teaspoon of parsley½-1 teaspoon salt2...
View ArticleFashion Plates
Fashion plates were used to showcase some of the most dominant trends of the ancien regime; in a way they worked as a kind of Vogue of the 18th century.It appears as if fashion plates did not really...
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Fashion Plates: 1680-89
1681-831682-83168316831683168416841684168516871687168716871687168716871687168716871688
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Monsieur & Madame: the Ladies
Yolande de Polignac,Duchesse de PolignacMarie Louise of Savoy,Princesse de LamballeAnne d'Arpajon,Comtesse de NoaillesLouise Marie Adélaïde de Bourbon,Duchesse de ChartresLouise Anne de...
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Monsieur & Madame: the Gentlemen
Étionne François,Duc de ChoiseulJoseph Hyacinthe François de Paul de Riguad,Comte de VaudreuilLouis Armand,Prince de ContiAbel Francois Poisson de Vandières,Marquis de Marigny and de MenarsArmand de...
View ArticleCoveted Simplicity: the Simpler the Better
Being known simply as "Madame" or "Monsieur de ..." at court was a highly coveted privilege since it meant that the person in question held a position important enough to be addressed simply - in other...
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The Royal Cadet-Branches
Since the House of Bourbon (itself a cadet-branch of the Capetian dynasty) was the reigning house in France it is only natural that there should be several cadet-branches that secured the members of...
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Louise de Lorraine, Duchesse de Bouillon
Born Louise Henriette Gabrielle de Lorraine on 30 December 1718, Louise was a Princesse by birth as the daughter of the Prince de Mortagne.Not a lot is known of her childhood except that she was the...
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Portraits: Elizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate
Name: Elizabeth CharlotteRelation: Wife of Philippe d'Orlèans, sister-in-law of Louis XIVTitle: Duchesse d'OrlèansBy Elle the Elder (1673)By François de TroyBy Hyacinthe Riguad
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House of La Tour d'Auvergne
There were two branches within this family but the eldest died out before Louis XIV was born so I will only deal with the second branch.Coat-of-arms of the familyThe second branch was founded by...
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House of d'Albert de Luynes
Originally from Italy, the family were forced to remove to France during the 14th century due to unrest in their native Florence.In 1415 the family was finally acknowledged as a part of the French...
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House of Béthune
The House of Béthune was one of the oldest families and was founded by a younger brother of the Comte d'Artois in the 10th century.The House divided into a good deal of branches; the most important...
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House of La Rochefoucauld
The family name of La Rochefoucauld is the combination of the original Lordship held by the family (La Roche) and the first-name of one of the earliest members of the family Foucauld I.The House of La...
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House of Montmorency
Motto: God aid the first Christian BaronThe House of Montmorency traces its' roots back to the 10th century and had a rather clever way of gaining power. Rather than the usual methods of marriage,...
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House of Grammont
Motto: God help the guardian of KingsThe House of Grammont is mentioned as early as the 14th century as a family of power. The founder of the main house was Hughes II Granges and his descendants...
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House of Rohan
The House of Rohan is from Brittany and claims their descent from the earliest Kings of England. Also, this House is one of the largest noble families with plenty of cadet-branches which means that the...
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House of Beauvilliers
The founder of the House of Beauvilliers is assumed to be Herbert-Émussent de Beauvilliers and the first mention is about 1115. The eldest branch pretty much merged with the House of Chartres which was...
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