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The Visit of Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
In 1777 it had been seven years since the 14-year old Archduchess Maria Antonia had married the French dauphin, Louis Auguste. Seven years and no children had come from the union. Worse yet, the...
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A Perfumer's Dream: Favourite Scents of Louis XVI's Court
It is not for nothing that Versailles was referred to as "the perfumed court" - ever since the court moved there in 1682 the halls and salons was flooded with the sensual notes of perfume. While Louis...
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Cardinal Family Connections: The Mazarinettes
Cardinal Mazarin served Louis XIV as prime minister both during and after the tumultuous Fronde-years. Once the civil war had been won the Cardinal set about consolidating his power at court. This...
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Le Grand Mazarin
November 2017 saw one of France's most famous gemstones be put up for auction by Christie's. The diamond was mined in India (more specifically in the Golconda mines) and made its way to France where...
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The Crown Jewels of France
As one of the most powerful countries in Europe and a court infamous for its style, it is hardly surprising that the House of Bourbon boasted quite a collection of jewels. These included individual...
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Cardinal Mazarin's Jewel Collection
Cardinal Mazarin used his immense wealth and influence to amass collections of art greater than that of the king himself. One of his most prized collections consisted of 18 exceptional gemstones. These...
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The House of du Crussol
The family originated in Languedoc and spread into three distinct branches: the Duc d'Uzès, the Marquis du Crussol and de Montausier and the Marquis de Florensac. Of these three branches the main one...
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The Jewels of the Crown of 1691
In September 1691 the Crown Jewels of France was entered into an inventory that survives to this day. The inventory is divided into chapters which I have chosen to copy here. These included the...
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The Tragedy of the Comtesse de Stainville
Thérèse de Clermont d'Amboise had become Comtesse de Stainville by her marriage to Jacques Philippe de Choiseul-Stainville in 1761. The marriage proved to be unhappy and both parties sought romance...
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The First Ladies-of-Honour to the Queen
The First Lady-of-Honour to the queen held the second-highest position in the queen's household. She was only surpassed by the superintendent whom she would act on behalf of in the latter's absence....
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Madame de Maintenon's Apartment
Madame de Maintenon's apartments underwent a massive transformation in 2014 where they were transformed from the dull, bare rooms to a décor much more in tune with what it would have been. The...
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The Cabinet des Tableaux
In 1685 this room was created for Louis XIV's impressive art collection. Initially, his collection was housed in two separate rooms but it was changed in 1692.The wall was broken down to unite the two...
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Louis XIV's Cabinet du Roi
In the years 1668-1678 the king's council met in the Salon of War until the Cabinet du Roi took over that purpose. It was quite a narrow room since it retained the shape from the original hunting...
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Cabinet de Billiards
One of the first cabinets at Versailles to be decorated with white and gold woodwork, the cabinet was reserved for one of Louis XIV's favourite games. An actual billiard-table was placed there in...
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Salon of the Small Staircase
The staircase opens into this room which gives it its rather unimaginative name. Actually, one of the reasons for why Louis XIV chose to even dedicate a room to such a purpose was to preserve the...
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Cabinet of the Shells
The cabinet is most likely named for the shells depicted on the cornice of the room. The fireplace was of red marble from Languedoc which was accompanied by a large mirror. Treasured objects from the...
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The Cabinet of the Wigs
Louis XIV's much-amired luscious hair began to fall out which left him practically bald by the age of 30. Consequently, the king needed wigs and quite a lot of them. This is where they were stored in...
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The Oval Cabinet
The cabinet was created with one purpose in mind: creating a suitable passage between the king's collections. Before, a small hallway had stood in its place but it was soon replaced. The room is...
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The Small Gallery
Following the festival of 1668 it was quickly made apparent that the château was far too small to accommodate the court that Louis XIV desired. Thus, the first extensions to the original château was...
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Cabinet of Curiosities
Established in 1682-1683, it is not directly connected to the other part of the king's private apartment. The only way to access this cabinet was through the Salon of Abundance; the king would only...
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