17th Century Women - Women of the Fronde

     The Fronde was a two part civil war in France.  The first part was the Fronde Parlementaire (1648-1649) and the second part was the Fronde des nobles (1650-1653).  The Fronde led to the loss of aristocratic and legislative power and the birth of an absolute monarchy in France.

La Grande Mademoiselle

     Anne Marie Louise d'Orléans, the Grande Mademoiselle and "granddaughter of France, was the cousin of Louis XIV and a very, rich heiress.  Interestingly, Mademoiselle never married, though later in her life she had tried to marry Antoine Nompar de Caumont, duc de Lauzun.  Mademoiselle was in her twenties when the Fronde conflicts began.  She sided with her father, the Duke of Orléans, supporting those against an absolute monarchy.  Her involvement in the Fronde got her in some trouble with the king, who sent her away from court and into exile at her estate, Saint-Fargeau.  Mademoiselle was called back to court in 1657.  She began writing her memoirs which contained her thoughts on the happenings at court.  She often frequented the theater and salons with  her half sister, Marguerite Louise d'Orléans.  She was a very powerful female at court and she declined many proposals for her hand in marriage.  This upset her cousin, the king, who promptly sent her away for a second "exile" at her estate.  When she returned to court, she eventually fell in love with Antoine Nompar de Caumont, but Louis did not allow them to marry.  The Grande Mademoiselle died in 1693 and was buried in the Royal Basilica of St. Denis.

The Rebellious Cousin of Louis XIV

La Grande Mademoiselle wikipedia