Montespan, Louis-Henri de Pardaillan de Gondrin, Marquis de
Montglas, Elizabeth Hurault de Chiverny, Marquise de
Montigny, Mme
Montmorency, Marie-Anne de
Montmort, Mme de
Montpensier, Anne-Marie d’Orléans, Duchesse de: consults Primi Visconti; on Versailles court; on Queen Marie-Thérèse; and Mme de Montespan; on Marquis de Montespan; on Mme de La Vallière’s return to Louis; on Henriette-Anne’s decline; engagement with Comte de Lauzun; Mme de Montespan hopes for benefaction for son from; memoirs avoid mention of poison trials
Montvoisin, Antoine
Montvoisin, Catherine see Voisin, Mme
Montvoisin, Marie Marguerite (la Voisin’s daughter): background and character; testimony to La Reynie; accuses Mlle des Oeillets; confrontation with Guibourg; identifies Mlle des Oeillets; La Reynie considers evidence; Colbert suspects motives; Colbert suggests prosecuting for slander; interrogated without torture; and Louis’ ending of enquiry; allegations not made public; testimony; cell mates placed in convents; imprisoned in Bellisle; accuses Romani; fate unknown; names mother’s clients; describes child sacrifice
Moreau, Christophe
Moreau, Dr Jean
Mortemart, Gabriel de Rochechouart, Duc de
Nail, Abbé: arrested, tried and hanged
Nantes, Louise Françoise de (Louis/Mme de Montespan’s daughter)
Navailles, Suzanne, Duchesse de
Nesle (client of la Voisin)
Nevers, Philippe Julien Mancini-Mazzarini, Duc de
Nivelle, Maître
Noailles, Anne, Duc de
Noailles, Anne Jules, Duc de (son of above)
Noailles, Marie-Françoise, Duchesse de
Norton, Thomas: Ordinal of Alchemy
Novion, M. (First President of Paris Parlement)
Noyon, Bishop of see Clermont-Tonnerre, François de
Nymwegen, Treaty of (1678)
Oeillets, Claude de Vin des: on Louis’ melancholy; background and relations with Louis; relations with la Voisin; Louvois disbelieves guilty of wrongdoing; la Voisin denies knowing; confesses to Romani’s brother; Marie Montvoisin implicates; Romani and; and supposed poison plot against Louis; La Reynie investigates; Guibourg accuses; Louvois questions; admits knowing la Voisin; identified by Lesage and others; subsequent life and death
Olonne, Catherine Henriette d’Angennes, Comtesse d’
Orléans, Bishop of see Coislin, Pierre de
Orléans, Elizabeth Charlotte, Duchesse d’ (Duc Philippe’s second wife; ‘Madame’): complains of dirty habits at Versailles; on court intrigues and backbiting; on infidelities at court; on Mme de Montespan; marriage; on belief in witches; believes Henriette-Anne poisoned; believes Comtesse de Soissons innocent; and rumours of Mme de Montespan poisoning Mlle de Fontanges; suspects later deaths by poisoning; on lack of religious conviction; loose behaviour; on homosexuality at court
Orléans, Henriette-Anne, Duchesse d’ (Duc Philippe’s first wife; ‘Madame’): letters; on Louvois; on Louis’ qualities; and Mme de La Vallière; on Mme de Montespan; death; Comtesse de Soissons falls out with
Orléans, Philippe I, Duc d’ (Louis XIV’s brother; ‘Monsieur’): and Glaser; gambling; consults Primi Visconti; homosexuality; and Mme de Montespan; on Mme de Ludres’ retirement to convent; daughter marries King of Spain; gives ball for Louis; marriage relations with Henriette-Anne; and death of Henriette-Anne
Orléans, Philippe II, Duc d’ (earlier Duc de Chartres; Philippe I’s son)
Ormesson, Olivier d’
Oropesa, Manuel Joachim Alvarez, Count of
Palluau, M. (of Paris Parlement)
Paris: as centre of science; Louis XIV’s attitude to; conditions
Paris, Archbishop of see Harlay, François de
Parlement de Paris: and Pennautier case; and witchcraft; hears appeal of Mme de La Grange and Nail; and commission on Mmes Vigoreux and Bosse
Parma, Odoard Farnese, Prince of
Pastrana, Duke of
Patin, Gui
Pelletier, la
Pennautier, Pierre-Louis Reich de
Perceval, Jean
Perrin, Maître
Petit Jean
Petit, Pierre
Petitfils, Jean-Christian
Philbert, M. (flautist)
Philbert, Mme (earlier Brunet)
Philippsburg: siege and fall of (1676)
Philosopher’s Stone see alchemy
Pierre, Maître (herbalist)
Pinon du Martroy, Jacques
Pirot, Edmé: attends Mme de Brinvilliers as confessor; suspected of complicity with Le Boultz family; writes account of Mme de Brinvilliers’ final hours
Poignard, Mme
poison: repugnance for; Italian supposed expertise in; availability; Glaser’s formulae for; supposed undetectability; fear of; and witchcraft; extent of use of; regulated
Polignac, Jacqueline du Roure, Vicomtesse de: attempts to bewitch Louis XIV; consults Lesage; arrest warrant on; flees France; and Comtesse du Roure; la Voisin names
Polignac, Louis Armand, Vicomte de
Polignac, Melchior, Abbé de
Poligny, Anne
Pomponne, Simon Arnauld, Marquis de
Poncet (Conseiller d’état)
Pontchartrain, Louis Phélypeaux
Poulaillon, Alexandre de
Poulaillon, Marguerite de
Prade, M. de
priests: accused by Lesage
Primi Visconti, Giovanni-Battista: on Pennautier; on courtiers’ extravagance; as clairvoyant; on Louis; and Louis’ women; on religious observance at court; on Mme de Montespan; on Mme de Maintenon; on Paris improvements; denounces Bezons; on la Voisin; on abortion; Mlle des Oeillets consults; criticises Feuquières; on Duchesse de Luxembourg; on Louvois’ antipathy towards Comtesse de Soissons; on Bouillon’s marriage; on mockery of Chambre proceedings; on Colbert’s disapproval of Chambre Ardente; on Mlle de Fontanges’ illness and death; on effect of poison affair; on moral reforms at court; on Louvois’ role in setting up Chambre Ardente; on inconclusiveness of Chambre findings
prisoners: treatment of; see also torture; Vincennes
Racine, Jean: at court; career; la Voisin accuses of poisoning mistress; Iphigenia; Phèdre
Rambures, Marie-Armande de
Ravaillac, François
Ravaisson, François; Archives de la Bastille
Rebenac, François de Pas, Comte de
Renaudot, Théophraste
reversis (game)
Riantz, M. de (Attorney-General at the Châtelet)
Richelieu, Anne Poussart de Fors de Vigean, Duchesse de
Richelieu, Armand Jean de Vignerot Du Plessis, Duc de
Robert (Attorney-General of Chambre Ardente)
Robert, Demoiselle
Robert, Père
Roche-sur-Yon, N. de Bourbon-Conti, Prince de
Rochechouart, Marie Madeleine Gabrielle de, Abbess of Fontrevault
Rochefort, Henri Louis d’Aloigny, Maréchal Duc de
Rochefort, Madeleine de Montmorency-Laval, Maréchale de
Rohan, Gui-Auguste, Chevalier de
Rohan, Marguerite, Duchesse de
Romani (friend of Blessis)
Rondeau, M. (Mme Cadelan’s first husband)
Rosel, Père du
Rouen: Parlement
Roure, Claude Marie, Comtesse du (née d’Artigny)
Roure, Louis Pierre Scipion de Grimoard, Comte du
Roussel, Mme
Rousselle, Catherine de, Abbess of Chelles (Fontanges’ sister)
Rouvière, Mme de (accomplice of Comtesse de Soissons)
Royal Academy of Sciences, Paris
Royal Botanical Gardens, Paris
Rubantel, Captain
sacrilege
Sagot, M. (Recorder of Chambre Ardente)
Saint-Aignan, François de Beauvillier, Duc de
Saint-Laurens, M. Hannyvel de
Saint-Laurens, Mme Hannyvel de
/>
Saint-Laurens, Mlle de
Saint-Martin, Mme de
Saint-Maurice, Thomas Chabod, Marquis de (Savoyard ambassador): on Louis’ fear of violent death; on supposed Dutch attempt on Louis’ life; on Queen’s intelligence; on Louis’ promiscuity; on Mme de Montespan; on Louvois’ diligence; supposed meetings with La Chaboissière; affair with Duchess of Savoy; on death of Henriette-Anne; on death of Comte de Soissons
Saint-Pol, Comte de see Longueville, Charles d’Orléans, Duc de
Saint-Réal, Abbé de
Saint-Simon, Louis de Rouvroy, Duc de: on Versailles; and Louis’ patronage; on court intrigue; and Louis’ non-intervention in court disputes; on Louis’ encouragement of gambling; on Mazarin’s nieces; on Louis’ attitude to homosexuality; on Louis’ industry; on Louis’ health; on Louis’ appearance and manner; on Louis’ dismissal of d’Aquin; on Louis’ affairs; on Mme de Montespan; on Louis’ travelling demands on companions; on Marquis de Montespan’s behaviour; and Mme de La Vallière’s retirement to convent; alleges Louis’ affair with Mme de Soubise; praises La Reynie; on Boudin’s search for Philosopher’s Stone; on Duc de Luxembourg; on Feuquières; on Duchesse de Luxembourg; praises Racine; and death of Henriette-Anne; on Marquise d’Alluye; on death of Marie-Louise of Spain; on Duchesse de Bouillon; on Comtesse du Roure’s banishment; on Vivonnes’ marriage; on Mme de Montespan’s fear of death in old age; on Louis’ reaction to news of Mme de Montespan’s death; and moral/religious observances at court; Memoirs
Sainte-Croix, Gaudin de: relations with Mme de Brinvilliers; arrested; knowledge of poisons; alchemical interests; casket; confession; death and effects; and Briancourt; Pennautier’s dealings with; ambitions; and Maillard
Saintot, Nicolas (Mme de Dreux’s brother)
Salomond, Mme
Sandosme, Denise
Saugeon, Baron de
Saulx, Mme de
Savoie, Chevalier de
Savoy, Charles Emmanuel, Duke of: and Louis’ promiscuity; death
Savoy, Marie-Jeanne-Baptiste de Savoie-Nemours, Duchess of
Savoy, Victor Amadeus, Duke of: death and poison rumours
Scarron, Mme see Maintenon, Françoise, Marquise de
Scudéry, Madeleine de
Senef, battle of (1674)
Sévigné, Marie, Marquise de: as source; and Mme de Brinvilliers’ attempted mutilation; on Mme de Brinvilliers’ water torture; on Mme de Brinvilliers’ execution; on Pennautier; attends court at Versailles; on battle of Senef; on court extravagance; on Cessac’s banishment; on Lionne; praises Mme de Maintenon; on Louis’ tripartite relations with mistresses; on Mme de Montespan’s achievements for family; on Louis’ relations with Mme de Montespan; and Louis’ relations with Princesse de Soubise; on Mme de Montespan’s jealousy of Mlle de Fontanges; on Mlle de Fontanges’ decline; on relations between Mme de Montespan and Mme de Maintenon; and Mme de Maintenon’s relations with Louis; on Louis’ improved relations with Queen; on arrest of aristocrats; on Comtesse de Soissons’ supposed activities; and Louvois’ antipathy to Comtesse de Soissons; on Luxembourg’s arrest; on Duchesse de Bouillon; on interrogation of la Voisin; sees la Voisin on road to execution; on trial of Mme Leféron; on Mme de Dreux’s trial; on Bonnard’s testimony for Luxembourg; on acquittal of Luxembourg; on La Reynie’s unpopularity; on Colbert’s coldness; on international effect of poison accusations; on avoiding discussion of poison affair; on scandal of poisons case
Simon, Mme (divineress)
sodomy see homosexuality
Soissons, Eugène Maurice de Carignan Savoie, Comte de
Soissons, Olympe, Comtesse de (née Mancini): warrant for arrest and flight; witnesses Mme de Brinvilliers on way to execution; dispute with Comtesse de Gramont; stoicism; and clairvoyance; informs Queen of Louis’ affair with Louise de La Vallière; position at court; la Voisin names as client; suspected of poisoning Lamoignon; relations with Louis; affairs; suspected of poisoning husband; Louvois’ hostility to; exile in Brussels; in Spain
Sophia, Electress of Hanover
sorcery see witchcraft
Soubise, Anne de Rohan-Chabot, Princesse de
Soubise, François de Rohan-Chabot, Prince de
Sourches, Louis François de Bouchet, Marquis de
Spain: war with France (1667)
Spanheim, Ezechiel
spells (magic)
superstition see fortune-telling
Sweden: effect of poison trials in
taxation
Termes, Roger de Pardaillon de Gondrin, Marquis de
Thianges, Gabrielle, Marquise de
Tingry, Marie Louise Charlotte, Princesse de
torture: used for confessions; Duplessis recommends discontinuing
Toulouse, Louis Alexandre de Bourbon, Comte de (Louis/Mme de Montespan’s son)
Tournet, Bernard
Tours, Louise Marianne de Bourbon, Mlle de (Louis/Mme de Montespan’s daughter)
Tremouille, Mme de
Trianon, Catherine
Trichâteau, Érard du Châtelet, Marquis de
Turenne, Henri de La Tour d’Auvergne, Prince de
Uzès, François de Crussol, Duc d’
Uzès, Marguerite, Duchesse d’
Vallot, Dr Antoine
Vanens, Louis: arrested; and Bachimonts; alchemical practices; and death of Duke of Savoy; Mme La Grange denies knowing; Lesage on; rents house from Magdelaine Chapelain; tried and sentenced; associates imprisoned; death
Vardes, François-René du Bec-Crespin, Marquis de
Vassé, Mafie-Madeleine, Marquise de
Vautier, M. & Mme
Vendôme, Philippe, Duc de
Vermandois, Louis de Bourbon, Comte de (Louis/La Vallière’s son)
Versailles: royal court at; Louis XIV develops; conditions; court intrigues; protocol and precedence; entertainments at; morality at; homosexuality at; religious observance at
Vertemart, Marie
Vexin, Louis César de Bourbon, Comte de (Louis/Mme de Montespan’s son)
Vienne, Quentin
Vigoreux, M.
Vigoreux, Marie: profession and clients; arrested and interrogated; and Mme de Poulaillon; tried and sentenced; conspiracy with la Voisin; Feuquières consults; and Luxembourg
Villarceaux, Louis de Mornay, Marquis de
Ville, Marie-Anne de la
Villeroi, François de Neufville, Marquis (later Duc) de
Villeroi, Nicolas IV de Neufville, Maréchal de
Villeroy, Marie-Marguerite, Duchesse de
Vincennes: prison conditions
Violet, M. and Mme
Visconti, Giovanni-Battista Primi see Primi Visconti, Giovanni-Battista
Vitry, Duchesse de
Vivonne, Antoinette, Duchesse de: applies to Lesage for help; la Voisin claims Lesage has information on; Louis asks to be kept informed of; implicated; background and character; as client of la Bergerot; and la Filastre; Louis defers arrest of and subsequently aids; ignorant of allegations against; Lesage accuses
Vivonne, Louis Victor de Rochechouart, Duc de (Mme de Montespan’s brother)
Voisin, Mme (Catherine Montvoison; née Deshayes): as divineress; on poisoning of M. de Saint-Laurens; named by Mme Bosse; success and prosperity; marriage and lovers; arrested and interrogated; enmity with Marie Bosse; and Mme Leféron; names Françoise de Dreux; questioned on abortion; allegations and depositions; relations with Lesage; clients and profession; and Duchesse de Vivonne; alleged relations with Mme de Montespan; Louvois on; accuses Racine of poisoning mistress; and Father Davot; denies knowing Mlle des Oeillets; and Comtesse de Soissons; rumoured abortions on Princesse de Tingry; accuses Comtesse du Roure; burnt alive; confesses to priest; exonerates Mme Leféron; on Mme de Dreux’s marriage; and Guibourg; involves daughter Marie; plans petition to Louis on Blessis; daughter testifies about assassination plot against Louis; denies visits to Saint-Germain; and practice of black mass; helps Mariette escape; and Mme de Montespan; denounces Mme Lescalopier; accuses Mme Brissart; and Mm
e Vertemart; as potential danger; on debauchery as incentive
Voltaire, François Marie Arouet de: on Louis XIV; on diviners; on court of Versailles; on immorality at court; on fear of poison
witchcraft (sorcery): belief in; and poisoning; accusations of; and infanticide; existence questioned
Yvon, Mme (client of la Voisin)
Also by Anne Somerset
Elizabeth I
Unnatural Murder: Poison at the Court of James I
Ladies-in-Waiting: from the Tudors to the Present Day
The Life and Times of William IV
THE AFFAIR OF THE POISONS. Copyright © 2003 by Anne Somerset. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
www.stmartins.com
ISBN 0-312-33017-0
EAN 978-0312-33017-0
First published in Great Britain by Weidenfeld & Nicolson, a division of the Orion Publishing Group, Ltd.
First U.S. Edition: October 2004
eISBN 9781466862807
First eBook edition: December 2013
* Quanto was Mme de Sévigné’s nickname for Athénaïs.
* To put this in context, the annual income of the French crown has been estimated at approximately 80 million livres.
* Mme de Caylus was actually Mme de Maintenon’s cousin but because of the generation gap is usually referred to as her niece.
* François Ravaisson asserts that Chasteuil was preceptor to the Duke of Savoy’s son but he is never described as such in any of the documents printed in Archives de la Bastille.
* Intriguingly when this Duke of Savoy’s father, Victor Amadeus of Savoy, had died in 1637, after attending a banquet given by the French Maréchal de Créqui, it was rumoured he had been poisoned.
* Her second husband, the flautist Philbert, was tried for the same crime the following April but was acquitted.
The Affair of the Poisons: Murder, Infanticide, and Satanism at the Court of Louis XIV Page 55