The Affair of the Poisons: Murder, Infanticide, and Satanism at the Court of Louis XIV

by Anne Somerset

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  CONTENTS

  Title Page

  Copyright Notice

  Dedication

  Principal Characters

  Glossary

  Foreword

  1. Mme de Brinvilliers

  2. Louis XIV and his Court

  3. Sex and the Sun King

  4. The First Arrests

  5. La Voisin

  6. The Magician Lesage

  7. A Court in Chaos

  8. Accusations Against Mme de Montespan

  9. The Chamber is Suspended

  10. The End of the Affair

  11. Conclusion

  Notes

  Bibliography

  Index

  Also by Anne Somerset

  Copyright

  For Ella, with much love

  PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS

  Alluye, Bénigne, Marquise de Friend of Comtesse de Soissons who accompanied her on her visit to la Voisin. Fled France with Comtesse de Soissons January 1680

  Amy, Monsieur D’ Officer in Provençal Parlement, posthumously alleged to have wanted to poison Colbert

  Aubray, Antoine Dreux d’ Civil Lieutenant of the city of Paris. Father and first victim of Mme de Brinvilliers. Died 10 September 1666

  Aubray, Antoine d’ Eldest brother and second victim of Mme deBrinvilliers. Succeeded father as Civil Lieutenant of the city of Paris. Died 17 June 1670

  Aubray, François d’ Conseiller in Paris Parlement. Younger brother and third victim of Mme de Brinvilliers. Poisoned September 1670

  Bachimont, Roger, Seigneur de Alchemist and associate of Vanens arrested May 1678. Suspected of poisoning Duke of Savoy. Imprisoned for life

  Bachimont, Mme Marie de Wife to the above

  Barenton, Mathurin Accused of having traded in poisons and being involved in plot to poison King. Executed September 1681

  Belleguise Clerk of Pennautier and associate of Sainte-Croix. Went missing after the arrest of Mme de Brinvilliers, but arrested August 1676. Though he was widely suspected of having acted as an intermediary between Pennautier and Sainte-Croix he was convicted only of handling counterfeit money and banished for a short period

  Bellière, la Divineress. Allegedly Mme Chapelain had wanted to send her to the Caribbean to commune with the devil. La Bellière alleged that la Filastre had offered her large sum of money to deliver something to Mme de Montespan, but she had refused, fearing hanging

  Belot, François Member of the royal guard, convicted of having tried to poison M. de Poulaillon’s silver cup. Executed June 1679

  Bergerot, Martine Illiterate divineress alleged to have arranged for pact drawn up by la Filastre for Duchesse de Vivonne to be signed by spirit

  Bertrand Friend of Romani, alleged to have been his accomplice in plot to poison Mlle de Fontanges

  Bezons, Louis Bazin, Seigneur de Commissioner of Chambre Ardente who served alongside La Reynie as investigating magistrate in the Affair of the Poisons, and rapporteur to the Chamber

  Blessis, Denis Poculot, Sieur de Alchemist lover of la Voisin. In late 1678 the Marquis de Termes had detained Blessis in his chateau in hopes that Blessis would furnish him with the secret of the Philosopher’s Stone. The petition which la Voisin sought to present to the King in March 1679 requested that Termes be ordered to release Blessis. Condemned to galleys by Chamber

  Bonnard, Pierre Man of business to Maréchal de Luxembourg. In bid to recover documents for his master, employed Lesage to cast spells. Sent to galleys by Chamber, May 1680

  Bosse, Marie Divineress arrested January 1679 after boasting at a dinner party that she had grown rich from supplying poison. Burnt May 1679

  Bossuet, Jacques Bénigne Bishop of Condom, preceptor of Dauphin and celebrated preacher

  Bouillon, Marie-Anne, Duchesse de Sister of the Comtesse de Soissons and wife of King’s Great Chamberlain. Visited la Voisin and Lesage, and alleged to have expressed wish that her husband would die

  Briancourt, Jean-Baptiste Tutor to Mme de Brinvilliers’s children who became her lover. Subsequently testified against her at her trial

  Brinvilliers, Marie Madeleine, Marquise de Murderess executed July 1676 for poisoning her father and two brothers

  Brissart, Mme Marie Widow of Conseiller in Parlement. Alleged by la Voisin to have wanted to poison her sister. Lesage performed magic spells on her behalf to enable her to capture the heart of Captain Rubantel

  Broglio, Mme de, formerly Marquise de Canilhac Alleged to have poisoned first husband with aid of la Voisin. Never arrested as had left France

  Bussy, Roger de Rabutin, Comte de Cousin of Mme de Sévigné exiled from Paris 1666 for having written scurrilous novel. Kept in touch with friends at court by letter

  Cadelan, Pierre Banker associate of Vanens. Suspected of involvement in international poisoning conspiracy. Died in prison September 1684

  Carada, Anne Executed June 1681 for having poisoned her lover’s wife

  Cessac, Louis de Guilhem de Castelnau, Marquis de Courtier who had to leave France after caught cheating at cards 1671. Returned to France 1674. Implicated in Affair of the Poisons after Lesage alleged he had sought to kill his brother so that he could marry his sister-in-law. Fled the country to escape trial. Permitted to return to France 1691

  Chanfrain, Jeanne Mistress of Guibourg

  Chapelain, Mme Magdelaine Divineress and former employer of la Filastre. Suspected of being responsible for several poisonings. Sent la Filastre to see Galet. Imprisoned for life

  Chasteuil, François-Galaup de Major in White Cross Regiment at Turin. Referred to as ‘the author’ by Vanens, who said he knew secret formula for an oil which converted base metal into gold. Died before arrest of Vanens

  Cheron, Anne Fruit seller alleged to have supplied toad to be used to poison cup belonging to M. de Poulaillon. Executed June 1679

  Choisy, Abbé de Author of memoirs

  Colbert, Jean-Baptiste Controller-General of Finance

  Cotton, Jacques Priest who conducted black mass attended by la Filastre. Burnt October 1680

  Dalmas, P. Blind associate of La Chaboissière, arrested February 1678

  Davot, Gilles Priest alleged by Lesage to have performed black masses for la Voisin. Executed July 1681

  Debray, Étienne Associate of Deschault who revealed details of plot to assassinate King. Executed September 1681

  Delaporte, Marguerite Divineress, alleged to have purchased poisons from Maître Pierre. Supposedly present at black masses celebrated in presence of Mme de Montespan. Imprisoned for life without trial

  Deschault, Jacques Shepherd alleged to have performed spells and supplied poison to Mme Carada. Executed June 1681

  Desmaretz, Mme Widowed client of Lesage who asked him to devise spells to persuade her lover Gontier to marry her

  Dreux, Mme Françoise de Client of la Voisin, arrested April 1679. Alleged to have sought to kill her husband and to have asked la Voisin to supply her with poisoned bouquet. Admonished by Chamber 1680 and freed. New warrant issued for arrest July 1681 after named as client of la Joly. Alleged she had sought to kill Duchesse de Richelieu. Fled country to avoid trial

  Duplessis, Claude Lawyer and legal adviser to Colbert who drew up
memoranda defending Mmes de Montespan and de Vivonne

  Dusoulcye, Louise Mistress of Dalmas alleged to have poisoned a woman with plums

  Exili, Egidio Italian in service of Queen Christina of Sweden, arrested in Paris February 1663. In Bastille at same time as Sainte-Croix. Alleged to have been great expert on poisons

  Ferry, Mme Client of la Bosse and la Voisin. Executed May 1679 for having poisoned her husband

  Feuquières, Antoine de Pas, Marquis de Courtier alleged to have been client of la Vigoreux. Present at encounter between Luxembourg and Lesage. Alleged by Lesage to have sought death of a relative of a woman he wished to marry

  Filastre, Françoise Sorceress, aged thirty-five in 1680. She claimed to have drawn up satanic pact for Duchesse de Vivonne. At time of arrest planning to obtain position in household of Mlle de Fontanges. Under torture admitted having sacrificed her own child. Also confessed to having purchased aphrodisiacs and poisons on behalf of Mme de Montespan. Retracted claims before being burnt

  Fontanges, Marie-Angélique de Scorailles, Mlle de Maid of honour to Duchesse d’Orléans, who became King’s mistress probably late 1678. Had miscarriage January 1680 and never really recovered health. Created Duchesse de Fontanges, April 1680. Died June 1681. Some people suspected poison responsible

  Fontet, Marquise de Hostess at whose Paris house Luxembourg and Feuquières met Lesage.

  Fouquet, Nicolas Surintendant of Finance who was arrested by King 1661 and charged with financial corruption and treason. Imprisoned for life in fortress of Pignerol. Subsequently it was claimed that some years before had sent Christophe Glaser to Florence to research poison

  Galet, Philippe Norman peasant alleged to have supplied la Filastre and Mme Chapelain with poisons and aphrodisiacs. According to la Filastre, Galet boasted that Mme de Montespan was a client of his

  Gassilly, Comte de Client of la Bosse and la Vigoreux. Alleged to have requested Lesage to arrange death of his uncle. Never questioned by Chamber

  Glaser, Christophe Swiss chemist who held positions of apothecary-in-ordinary to Louis XIV and the Duc d’Orléans, and resident lecturer at the Royal Botanical Garden in Paris. Alleged to have supplied Sainte-Croix with poison made to his own special formula. Exact date of death unknown but certainly died before Sainte-Croix’s death in 1672

  Guesdon, Mme At one point employed by Mme de Brinvilliers and Sainte-Croix. Imprisoned for life on suspicion of having poisoned M. Violet on orders of Maillard

  Guibourg, Abbé Étienne Elderly priest who claimed to have performed black masses for Mme de Montespan. Confessed to having performed child sacrifice

  Joly, Marguerite Divineress and alleged poisoner. Executed December 1681

  La Chaboissière Name adopted by Jean Barthominat, valet to Louis Vanens. Arrested December 1677, he was the last person executed during the Affair of the Poisons, 16 July 1682

  La Chausée Name adopted by Jean Hamelin, a barber and servant employed by Sainte-Croix and Mme de Brinvilliers. Infiltrated into service of Mme de Brinvilliers’s younger brother, who lived with Antoine d’Aubray and his wife. On orders of Mme de Brinvilliers and Sainte-Croix poisoned both brothers. Confessed after torture. Broken on wheel March 1672

  La Fare, Marquis de Author of memoirs

  La Ferté, Madeleine, Maréchale de Famously promiscuous court lady who gave evidence before Arsenal Chamber after being named as having visited a divineress

  La Grange, Magdelaine de Divineress arrested February 1677 on suspicion of having poisoned her lover Jean Faurye and forged a marriage contract. While in prison warned La Reynie and Louvois that the King was at risk of poisoning. Hanged February 1679. Later alleged to have supplied la Voisin and la Bosse with poisons

  Lamoignon, Guillaume Premier Président of Paris Parlement during trial of Mme de Brinvilliers. Died suddenly December 1677. Subsequently reported to have been poisoned

  La Reynie, Nicolas-Gabriel de Lieutenant-General of the Paris Police, commissioner and rapporteur to Arsenal Chamber

  La Rivière, M. de Self-styled ‘Marquis’ who was lover of Mme de Poulaillon. Left Paris after her arrest and became friend and correspondent of Comte de Bussy

  Latour Stone mason and associate of la Voisin’s. Alleged by Lesage to have been involved in plot to supply Mlle des Oeillets with poison to kill King

  La Vallière, Louise de, later Duchesse de Vaujours Became mistress of King 1661. Entered convent 1674

  Le Boultz, M. Conseiller in Paris Parlement and member of powerful legal dynasty. As the brother-in-law of Pennautier, Le Boultz was suspected of using his influence to secure Pennautier’s release

  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, C
hristophe 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