Marie Anne de Mailly-Nesle facts for kids

Marie Anne de Mailly-Nesle, Duchess of Châteauroux (born October 5, 1717 – died December 8, 1744) was the youngest of five famous sisters. Four of these sisters became close companions to King Louis XV of France. Marie Anne was his special companion from 1742 to 1744.

Early Life and Family Connections

Marie Anne was the youngest daughter of Louis de Mailly, Marquis de Nesle et de Mailly, and Armande Félice de La Porte Mazarin. Her parents married in 1709. Her mother's family had connections to the famous Cardinal Mazarin. Marie Anne's mother was a lady-in-waiting, helping the queen at court.

Marie Anne had four older sisters:

• Louise Julie de Mailly, Countess of Mailly (1710 - 1751)
• Pauline Félicité de Mailly, Marquise de Vintimille (1712 - 1741)
• Diane Adélaïde de Mailly, Duchess of Lauraguais (1714 - 1769)
• Hortense Félicité de Mailly, Marquise de Flavacourt (1715 - 1799)

Only one of the sisters, the Marquise de Flavacourt, did not become a companion to King Louis XV. Louise Julie was the first sister to gain the king's attention. Pauline Félicité followed her. However, Marie Anne was the most successful at influencing the king and gaining political power.

Marie Anne also had a younger half-sister, Henriette de Bourbon (1725 - 1780). Henriette was born from her mother's relationship with the Duke of Bourbon. He was a chief minister to Louis XV from 1723 to 1726.

In her youth, Marie Anne was known as Mademoiselle de Monchy. On June 19, 1734, she married Jean Baptiste Louis, Marquis de La Tournelle. She was also a friend of Charlotte Aglaé d'Orléans, a granddaughter of King Louis XIV.

Becoming a Royal Companion

How the Sisters Met the King

In 1732, Marie Anne's oldest sister, Louise Julie, became a lady-in-waiting to the queen. She caught the attention of King Louis XV. Her husband allowed her to become a royal companion. Louise Julie was officially recognized as the king's main companion in 1738. She did not use her position to gain wealth or get involved in politics.

Louise Julie was very loyal to her family. She was happy to introduce her sisters at court. In 1739, her younger sister Pauline-Félicité asked to be invited to court. Louise Julie agreed. But when Pauline-Félicité arrived, she also became the king's companion.

While Louise Julie remained the official companion, the king fell in love with Pauline-Félicité. He arranged for her to marry the Marquis de Vintimille so she could stay at court. He also gave her the castle of Choisy-le-Roi as a gift. Pauline-Félicité soon became pregnant with the king's child. She died giving birth to their son, Louis. The boy looked so much like the king that people called him Demi-Louis (meaning 'Small Louis').

The king and Louise Julie were both very sad about Pauline-Félicité's death. Louise Julie was so upset that she performed a Catholic act of penance. She washed the feet of poor people.

After this, Marie Anne, who was recently widowed, asked Louise Julie for an invitation to court. She used her family connection to get established socially. Marie Anne was very beautiful and charming. She was described as "magnificently beautiful," graceful, with fair hair, glowing white skin, large blue eyes, and red lips. She was also known for her charming wit.

Rivalry with Louise Julie

Louise Julie de Mailly was deeply in love with the king. She always asked for his advice and never got involved in state affairs. This made her acceptable to Cardinal Fleury, the king's chief minister. However, it disappointed the court's nobles. They wanted the king to have a companion who could influence him. They hoped she would push him to engage in warfare, which they saw as important for national pride.

Among these nobles were the king's friends, the Duke of Richelieu and Charles, Prince of Soubise. They were skilled at influencing people. They wanted a new companion for the king. This person could oppose Cardinal Fleury's peace policy and encourage war. They saw Marie Anne de Mailly, Marquise de La Tournelle, as the perfect choice.

At a masked ball in 1742, Richelieu introduced Marie Anne to the king. At first, she turned down the king's advances. She already had a lover, the young Duke d'Agénois. She didn't want to give him up for the king. So, Louis and Richelieu worked together. Richelieu was d'Agénois's uncle. The king sent his rival to fight the Austrians in Italy. Luckily for d'Agénois, he was only wounded and returned to court a hero.

The king was upset, but Richelieu didn't give up easily. He sent his nephew to Languedoc. There, a woman was told to start a relationship with him. She did this very well. They exchanged passionate letters. The woman sent the letters she received to Richelieu. Soon, Marie Anne de La Tournelle saw them. Furious at her lover's dishonesty, she turned her attention to the king. She agreed to Richelieu and Soubise's plan.

Louise Julie de Mailly's downfall was carefully planned. She was removed from her official role as lady-in-waiting. This job was her reason for being at court. Without it, she couldn't formally live there. On September 13, 1742, Amable-Gabrielle de Villars was promoted. This created an open spot among the queen's ladies-in-waiting. Marie Anne's friend, Françoise de Mazarin, had wished for Marie Anne to get a court position. The queen herself asked for Marie Anne to fill the vacant spot. Marie Anne secured the king's approval for this job.

At the same time, Marie Anne convinced Louise Julie to resign from her own lady-in-waiting position. She told Louise Julie to give the job to their sister Flavacourt. Marie Anne claimed the king wanted to favor her sisters because of Louise Julie. Louise Julie agreed. But she resigned on the condition that she would get a future job as a lady-in-waiting to the next crown princess.

When Cardinal Fleury received her resignation, he warned her about the danger to her position. Jean-Frédéric Phélypeaux, Count of Maurepas, also warned her. But Louise Julie refused to believe her sisters were plotting against her. After her resignation was accepted, she went with Marie Anne and Flavacourt to thank the king and queen. Although the queen changed her mind, Marie Anne was appointed on September 19. The next day, Cardinal Fleury refused Louise Julie's future job. Marie Anne had secured her place at court and removed Louise Julie from hers.

After Louise Julie resigned, the court focused on Marie Anne. King Louis XV began to openly try to win her over. However, Marie Anne was not in love with Louis. She set conditions before she would agree to be his companion. She demanded that he prove his love. She wanted the title of duchess and enough money to live with that title. She also wanted a grand house where she could host the king. She demanded that any children they had would be cared for and recognized. She also wanted to be properly courted. Finally, she wanted her sister, Louise Julie, to be dismissed from court. Marie Anne wanted to be officially recognized in her place.

This was new for the king. His previous companions had never made demands. But Richelieu encouraged him. He praised Marie Anne and said she would be a companion to be proud of. The king's efforts to win over Marie Anne attracted attention. A song was even sung at court and in town. It showed the lovesick king trying to convince the cold Marie Anne. The king reportedly fell deeply in love with her. But she refused to answer his letters and acted coldly. During this time, he treated Louise Julie more and more coldly. He would sit in silence during meals, making her cry. He repeatedly asked Louise Julie to leave court. She would fall to his feet and beg to stay. He would then allow her a few more days.

Finally, Louis XV agreed to Marie Anne's demands. On November 2, 1742, he began by removing Louise Julie de Mailly from court. He had the furniture removed from her rooms next to his. He said the rooms were for her sister Flavacourt. Louise Julie convinced the king to grant her one more night. But the next day, she refused to leave. Richelieu visited her and advised her to leave for her own dignity. When she agreed, Richelieu told the king that Marie Anne would meet him that night in secret. He escorted the king in disguise to Richelieu's house for the meeting. However, Louise Julie still wouldn't leave. Marie Anne was unhappy with the king's patience. Louise Julie successfully asked for a last dinner with the king. When she cried upon leaving, he hugged her. He promised to meet her a few days after she left.

Marie Anne showed her unhappiness about the king's promise to see Louise Julie again. She demanded that Louis take back his promise. She also said Louise Julie should never be allowed at court again if he wanted her favor. Marie Anne wrote to Richelieu, saying it was hard to get Louise Julie to leave. But she added that it would still be difficult to achieve political goals as long as Cardinal Fleury was alive.

Cardinal Fleury, the king's chief minister, tried to step in. He preferred Louise Julie as a royal companion because she didn't interfere in politics. He didn't want Marie Anne meddling in his running of France. Louis, however, told him that he controlled the kingdom's politics, but not his personal life.

Marie Anne's Influence at Court

To prepare for her own elevation to duchess, Marie Anne arranged a marriage for her favorite sister, Diane Adelaide. She married the Duke of Lauraguais. Marie Anne secured a dowry for her and a job as a lady-in-waiting to the future crown princess. On October 22, 1743, Marie Anne was officially made Duchess of Châteauroux. This title came with a large annual income.

The king was very devoted to Marie Anne. He was sad when she refused to attend his dinners. He begged to join her suppers in her room. He cut short his meetings so he could be with her. He even attended her baths and sat by her bedside. People saw him writing letters to Richelieu under her direction.

As the king's main companion, Marie Anne hosted events in his private rooms. She was known for bringing fun and joy. She also started the custom of using nicknames. She was called "the princess." Her sister Flavacourt was "the hen." Her sister Lauraguais was "the Street of Evil Words." Lauraguais was said to be entertaining. She once amused the king by giving nicknames to his guests.

Cardinal Fleury's death on January 29, 1743, marked the start of Marie Anne's political influence. She became a key advisor to Louis XV. She gave the impression that she didn't care about politics. This made the king comfortable talking to her about state issues. She would support his own ideas, making him ask for her advice. She was very clever. She never questioned Louis about state affairs. The king believed his companion had no interest in politics. So, he spoke with her freely and even asked for her advice. This way, she became involved in the government at the king's request, without him even realizing it.

She only spoke in favor of people she knew the king already liked. This made him think she was just voicing his own views. The king felt comfortable saying his companion's opinions were his own.

However, her influence was opposed by Jean-Frédéric Phélypeaux, Count of Maurepas. His group started writing satirical rhymes. These rhymes led to people losing respect for the king and his court. When Richelieu was appointed a high court official, Parisians nicknamed him "the President of La Tournelle." This referred to Marie Anne's former title.

Marie Anne reportedly felt threatened by her sister Flavacourt. Flavacourt distanced herself from Marie Anne. Marie Anne suspected her sister wanted to replace her as the king's companion. She also suspected the queen was trying to cause problems between her and the king. The queen disliked Marie Anne personally. She found her proud and rude. The queen rarely spoke to her and pretended to sleep when Marie Anne was present. In reality, Flavacourt did not want to be a royal companion. She only wanted to enjoy her position at court for her own independence.

Encouraging the King in War

Once Marie Anne's influence over state affairs was strong, Richelieu's "War-Party" pushed for military action. Richelieu, influenced by Madame de Tencin, gave Marie Anne a task. She was to convince the king to lead his armies on the battlefield during the War of the Austrian Succession. This would bring him and France great honor. This task appealed to Marie Anne's pride and ambition. She worked to boost the king's pride and sense of duty. She told him he owed it to himself to be a great king. Louis XV, tired of her constant urging, reportedly cried, "You are killing me!" She replied, "Sire, a King must come to life again." He finally agreed when she said that a victory would win the people's love and defeat his enemies.

In April 1744, Louis XV appointed her to a future high position for the crown princess. He then took command of his army and left for the front in the Austrian Netherlands. It is said that Marie Anne convinced Louis XV to form an alliance with Frederick II of Prussia during the war. Frederick of Prussia personally thanked her.

She visited Louis XV when he was with his army in Dunkerque and again in Metz. When Marie Anne visited the king in Metz, her sister Diane Adélaïde joined her. The king suddenly became very ill on August 8. Fearing he was dying, Louis XV had a religious crisis. He wanted to give up his companions and ask his wife for forgiveness. The queen was called to Metz. Marie Anne and Diane Adélaïde were ordered to leave. During their journey back to Paris, angry crowds insulted them. Their coach was attacked with stones.

Her Final Days

Louis XV recovered from his illness. When he returned from the battlefield, he made a grand entry into Paris. He missed Marie Anne and visited her secretly on November 14. On the 25th, Minister Maurepas had to recall Marie Anne to Versailles. She was given back her position as royal companion. Her return to court was seen as a great victory. People feared she would seek revenge on her enemies. However, she had barely arrived at court when she fell ill. She had painful spasms and cramps. She died on December 8, 1744. On her deathbed, she believed she had been poisoned. She was quickly buried without a ceremony in the church of St Sulpice in Paris on December 13.

After her death, the king briefly found comfort with her sister, Diane Adélaïde de Lauraguais. A few months later in 1745, the king had a new companion, Madame de Pompadour.

Depiction in Fiction

Marie Anne is a main character in Sally Christie's The Sisters of Versailles (2015). This novel is about Louis XV and the famous Mailly-Nesle sisters.

Marie Anne is also shown as the king's companion in Season 2, Episode 2 of the TV show Outlander.