MONTESPAN, FitaxgoisE DE ROCIIECIIOUART DE MORTIMAST, Marquise de, 1641-1707; second daughter of the first duke of Rochechoua rt. She received a good education at a convent, and appeared in society first under the name of Mlle. de Tonnay- Charente, the name of the chateau where she was born. Beautiful, witty, and fascinating in. conversation, she Wa2s• soon &ascii one Of the ladies in waiting of the court of 'Versailles, where she became a companion of Mlle. de Valli re, who occupied the same pc:oh:on, and was mistress before her of Louis XIV. She married the Marquis de 31ontespan in 1663, by whom she hail a son. It was the queen who was first so fascinated by the charm of her manner that she called the Marquise to be her companion. In 1668, when her age was 27, the monarch openly recognized both her and Mlle. de VaMere as mistresses, and his queen seemed not tire less fond of them. INIontespan, who was by far the most powerful and ambitious of the two, maintained for ten years a strange control in state affairs, and retained the joint affections of king and queen; often appearing on state occasions in the carriage with the latter. She was admitted by all to be the most beautiful lady of the
court. An abundance of fair blonde hair, expressive blue eyes, dark eyebrows, a com plexion of exquisite delicacy, a form full and graceful, and "an air that lighted the spot where she appeared," was the inventory of her persona] attractions. Her humors as she acquired power became violent and changeable, and her influence declined. During the ninth year of her liaison, Mine. de Maintenon, who was in the service of Montespan as governess of her son, and whose more gentle temper pleased the king, began to supplant her, so that in 1679 the king no longer was under her influence. She retained her place at court till 1691. In 1700 she met the king for the last time at court, and soon after ward followed the fashion of the time and became a religious devotee; but not until she had written a tender letter to her husband, begging him to allow her to return to him, and had been refused. By the king she had two sons, the duc de Maine and the compte tie Vexin; three daughters, who lived to marry men of title; and two that died infants.