The Affair of the Poisons: Murder, Infanticide and Satanism at the Court of Louis XIV (2 page)

Leféron, Mme Marguerite
Wealthy client of la Voisin, arrested April 1679 on suspicion of having poisoned her husband, Jerome Leféron, in 1669. Tried April 1680, fined and banished

Lepère, Catherine
Midwife who carried out numerous abortions for clients of la Voisin. Alleged by la Voisin to have supplied her with poisons. Hanged August 1679

Leroux, Jeanne
Associate of la Voisin, executed April 1680 for complicity in death of M. Leféron

Leroy, Catherine
Mistress of La Chaboissière. Confessed to having poisoned two women on his orders

Lesage
Name adopted by Adam du Coeuret, formerly known as Dubuisson. Magician, sent to galleys 1668 for having committed impieties. Freed and returned to Paris, and resumed activities. Arrested again March 1679. Source of many accusations against people at Court

Lescalopier, Mme
Suspected of having murdered her husband over ten years before the Affair of the Poisons. Fled country to avoid trial

Le Tellier, Michel
Father of Louvois and Chancellor of France

Lorraine, Philippe, Chevalier de
Favourite of Duc d’Orléans exiled from France 1670. Suspected of being responsible for poisoning Duchesse d’Orléans. Permitted to return to Court 1672

Louvois, François-Michel Le Tellier, Marquis de
Minister of War who played an active part in the Affair of the Poisons

Ludres, Marie-Isabelle, Mme de
Maid of honour and lay canoness of Poussaye Abbey who became King’s mistress in 1677

Luxembourg, François-Henri, Maréchal-Duc de
Distinguished general who had at least one encounter with Lesage. Lesage alleged that he sought death of various individuals, including his wife, and that he tried to poison a businessman who was seeking to renege on a property transaction

Maillard, Jean
Conseiller
in Paris
Parlement.
Client of Moreau. Suspected of involvement in plot to poison King. Suspected of poisoning Violet, the husband of his lover. Tortured and executed February 1682

Maine, Louis-Auguste, Duc du
Eldest illegitimate son of King and Mme de Montespan

Maintenon, Françoise Marquise de (formerly Mme Scarron)
Governess to King’s children by Mme de Montespan. In 1680 became lady-in-waiting to Dauphine. After death of Queen in 1683 became King’s morganatic wife

Marie-Thérèse, Queen
Spanish princess who married Louis XIV in 1661. Died 1683

Mariette, François
Priest who acted as Lesage’s partner in Paris 1667–8. Arrested March 1668. Sent to monastery of Saint-Lazare but absconded. Arrested in Toulouse February 1680. November 1680 questioned about earlier dealings with Mme de Montespan. Died in Vincennes

Montemayor, Vicomte de
Name adopted by François Boucher, personal astrologer of Maréchal de Luxembourg. Imprisoned for life without trial

Monteran, Antoine
Servant of the Marquis de Termes suspected of trying to poison King. Died under torture without being tried, March 1682

Montespan, Athénaïs de Pardaillan de Gondrin, Marquise de
Married mistress to King and mother of seven of his illegitimate children. Implicated in Affair of the Poisons

Montespan, Louis-Henri de Pardaillan de Gondrin, Marquis de
Husband of Mme de Montespan

Montpensier, Anne-Marie d’Orléans, Duchesse de
First cousin of Louis XIV and author of memoirs

Montvoisin, Antoine
Husband of la Voisin

Montvoisin, Marie
Daughter of la Voisin who made a series of devastating allegations

Moreau, Christophe
Shepherd and magician convicted of having supplied poison to men who wished to kill King. Executed September 1681

Mortemart, Gabriel de Rochechouart, Duc de
Father of Mme de Montespan appointed Governor of Paris 1669

Nail, Abbé
Accomplice of Magdelaine de La Grange, hanged February 1679

Oeillets, Mlle Claude de Vin des
Chambermaid of Mme de Montespan who had daughter by King c. 1675. Alleged to have been client of la Voisin’s and to have plotted to murder and bewitch King

Orléans, Elizabeth Charlotte, Duchesse de
German princess who in 1671 became the second wife of Louis XIV’s brother the Duc d’Orléans

Orléans, Henriette Anne, Duchesse de
English princess who married Louis XIV’s brother in 1661. Died suddenly June 1670. Poison suspected by many people

Orléans, Philippe Duc de
Brother of Louis XIV, known as ‘Monsieur’

Palluau, M.
Conseiller
in Great Chamber of Paris
Parlement,
appointed as investigating magistrate in cases of La Chausée and Mme de Brinvilliers

Pelletier, la
Divineress alleged by la Voisin to have been ready to supply Mme Brissart with poison. Alleged by Marie Montvoisin and Guibourg to have been present during black masses celebrated by Guibourg, and to have supplied babies for sacrifice

Pennautier, Pierre-Louis Reich de
Immensely wealthy Receiver-General of the French clergy. Suspected of poisoning his predecessor in the post, M. de Saint-Laurens. Documents belonging to him were found in Sainte-Croix’s casket after the latter’s death in 1672. Arrested June 1676 after Mme de Brinvilliers wrote to him while awaiting trial. Discharged 23 July 1677

Perceval, Jean
Executed September 1681 for involvement in plot to kill King

Philbert, Mme (formerly Mme Brunet)
Wife of court musician, client of la Voisin and la Bosse. Arrested March 1679 for having poisoned her first husband. Executed June 1679

Pierre, Maître
Herbalist alleged to have been expert at making poison

Pinon du Martroy, Jacques
Client of Moreau who died some years before the Affair of the Poisons. Supposedly wished to poison King

Pirot, Edmé
Jesuit professor of theology who was appointed confessor to Mme de Brinvilliers and accompanied her on her way to execution. Subsequently wrote account of her final hours

Polignac, Jacqueline du Roure, Vicomtesse de
Client of la Voisin and Lesage, alleged to have sought to bewitch the King. Fled France to avoid arrest January 1680

Poligny, Anne
Executed July 1681 for having aided Mme Lescalopier to poison her husband

Poulaillon, Mme Marguerite de
Client of la Bosse and la Vigoreux arrested February 1679 on suspicion of having sought to poison her husband. 5 June 1679 judged by Chamber. Sentenced to banishment but confined in workhouse

Primi Visconti, Giovanni-Battista
Italian visitor to court who arrived in France 1673. Acquired reputation for psychic powers. Wrote memoirs of his time in France

Racine, Jean
Playwright, alleged by la Voisin to have poisoned his mistress Thérèse du Parc in 1668

Romani
Friend of Blessis and la Voisin. Alleged to have planned to poison Mlle de Fontanges by disguising himself as silk merchant and selling her poisoned gloves

Roure, Claude Marie, Comtesse du
Alleged to have been client of la Voisin and Lesage and to have sought death of Louise de La Vallière. Questioned by commissioners 1 February 1680. Discharged March 1680

Saint-Maurice, Thomas Chabod, Marquis de
Savoyard ambassador to France 1667–73

Saint-Simon, Louis de Rouvroy, Duc de
Author of memoirs and courtier

Sainte-Croix, Gaudin de
Former army officer and lover of Mme de Brinvilliers. Helped arrange murder of her relations and supplied her with poison. Died of natural causes 30 July 1672

Sandosme, Denise
Hanged July 1681 for having supplied Mme Lescalopier with poison

Savoy, Charles Emmanuel, Duke of
Ruler of Italian state who died suddenly 12 June 1675

Sévigné, Marie, Marquise de
Devoted mother and celebrated letter writer

Soissons, Olympe, Comtesse de
Known as ‘Mme la Comtesse’. Niece of Cardinal Mazarin, married in 1657 to Prince Eugene of Carignan-Savoy, a cousin of the Duke of Savoy who was subsequently created Comte de Soissons. Reputed to have been a lover of the King at one point. On the King’s marriage she was appointed
Surintendante
of the Queen’s household (equivalent to the English post Mistress of the Robes). In January 1680 she fled France after a warrant had been issued for her arrest. La Voisin had alleged that about fourteen years earlier the Comtesse had visited her and voiced threats against the King and Louise de La Valliere. Died 1708 in Brussels

Soubise, Anne de Rohan-Chabot, Princesse de
Alleged by Saint-Simon to have been mistress of King

Sourches, Marquis de
Courtier who kept journal

Spanheim, Ezechiel
German diplomat who in 1690 wrote description of court for Elector of Brandenburg

Termes, Roger, Marquis de
Cousin of M. de Montespan who detained the alchemist Blessis in his chateau. Later arrested on suspicion of having tried to poison King

Thianges, Gabrielle, Marquise de
Eldest sister of Mme de Montespan

Tingry, Marie Louise Charlotte, Princesse de
Lady-in-waiting of Queen, alleged to have had an affair with her brother-in-law, the Maréchal de Luxembourg

Trianon, Catherine
Successful divineress and close associate of la Voisin. Alleged by Marie Montvoisin to have been involved in plot to murder King. Died early 1681 in Vincennes

Trichâteau, Marquis de
Friend and correspondent of Comte de Bussy

Vanens, Louis
Alchemist arrested December 1677. Suspected of having poisoned the Duke of Savoy in 1675

Vassé, Marquise de
Court lady alleged by la Bosse and la Filastre to have wanted to kill her husband. Never brought before Arsenal Chamber

Vautier, and wife
Associates of la Voisin alleged by Marie Montvoisin to have been involved in her mother’s plot to kill the King

Vertemart, Mme Marie
Client of la Voisin who had come to her in hope that she could procure death of her husband. Subsequently emerged that she had asked la Voisin to obtain her a place in the household of Mme de Montespan

Vigoreux, Marie
Divineress arrested January 1679 on suspicion of supplying poisons. Died under torture May 1679

Vivonne, Antoinette, Duchesse de
Sister-in-law of Mme de Montespan who was alleged to have been a client of la Filastre and several other divineresses. Lesage claimed that la Filastre had aborted her child and offered up the foetus to the devil

Voisin, Catherine
Wife of Antoine Montvoisin. Leading divineress, arrested March 1679. Confessed to several murders and incriminated numerous associates. Burnt alive February 1680

GLOSSARY

Brodequins

Instrument of torture which crushed the legs of the victim between planks that were tightened by having wedges hammered in

Chambre Ardente, also known as Chambre de l’Arsenal

Special commission established by the King in 1679 to investigate and judge cases of poisoning. Its sessions were held at the Arsenal in Paris

Chambre des Comptes

Legal Chamber charged with overseeing the handling of the royal domain; also the chamber where documents relating to grants of nobility or pensions were registered

Châtelet, the

Court of first instance for the Paris area. Its active head was the Civil Lieutenant of Paris

Conseiller

See
Parlement

Cour des Enquêtes

See
Parlement

Intendant

Royal agent who performed many administrative tasks in the provinces

Lettre de Cachet

Sealed letter enshrining direct expression of royal will. Most usually used to order the arrest of a named individual

Maîtres de Requêtes

Judges whose jurisdiction related to execution of council decrees and appeals relating to council procedures. Often entrusted with extraordinary commissions by the King

Parlement

Regional High Court. The
Parlement
of Paris had jurisdiction over one third of all France; the remaining areas of the country were covered by provincial
Parlements
such as the
Parlement
of Rouen. The Paris
Parlement
had its seat at the Palais de Justice and was staffed by approximately 200 officers. It was divided into several chambers, the most ancient and prestigious of which was the
Grand Chambre,
presided over by the
Premier Président
of the Paris
Parlement.
In addition the Chamber had nine
Présidents à mortier,
twelve
Conseiller Clercs
and twenty-five
Conseillers.
Besides this, there were in the
Parlement
of Paris three
Chambres des Enquêtes
and two
Chambres des Requêtes,
each with its own complement of
Présidents
and
Conseillers.
There were also additional chambers, such as the
Tournelle
and the
Chambre des Vacations,
which were staffed by rotation with officers from other chambers.

Only the
Premier Président
of the
Parlement
was appointed by the King and could be removed from office. The other officers of
Parlement
purchased their places, which then became their property. In return for the payment of an annual fee to the Crown, the officers had the right to transmit the places to their heirs. Partly in consequence of their independence from royal control, the magistrates of
Parlement
formed a wealthy and socially cohesive caste, who considered themselves no less grand than the ancient nobility.