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

484 Pages·2014·2.16 MB·English

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