Archive for August, 2008
Marie Antoinette’s Life Story
August 14th, 2008
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Question: Life for French nobility?
I'm writting a story and need some help.
Can anyone tell me what life was like for french nobility around Marie-Antoinette's time?
& any names that were popular at the time?
Any Help would be much appreciated!
(By the way it's not a story about Marie Antoinette but it's supposed to be around that time)
xo
Answer: Most French noblemen would own an estate in the country, perhaps more than one depending on how wealthy they were, and they would also have a house in Paris, so that they could be part of the social life of the court. Some noblemen would live at the palace of Versailles, if they had a position in the royal household, they were like very grand servants. They might be gentlemen of the bedchamber, masters of the hunt, or pages. ladies could be ladies-in-waiting to the Queen or other royal ladies like the King's sister Elizabeth. There was a great deal of jealousy and intrigue among the court officials, people were always competing for favour with the King.
Balls and parties would of course be a major feature of life in Paris for the nobility, and they would also attend the theatre, ballet, opera, and concerts. Both men and women of the nobility at that time spent a great deal of time and money on clothes, and ladies would have their hair done in very elaborate styles. King Louis XVI was very keen on hunting, so he would often be going out on hunting expeditions with his noblemen.
Some French nobles had intellectual interests, and might attend one of the famous literary salons, like that held by Madame Geoffrin. Here aristocrats would mingle with wealthy bourgeoise, writers, artists and philosophers to discuss the latest books and ideas, and engage in intellectual debate. Merit rather than birth guaranteed admission to the salons, wit, urbanity and artistic ability guaranteed admission rather than nobility. At a salon a noble might meet philosophers like Voltaire, Montesquieu and Helvitius, and visiting royalty like Gustavus III of Sweden and Catherine the Great of Russia.
Marie Antoinette - This Woman's Work
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Marie Antoinette Children Life History
August 13th, 2008
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Marie's Last Letter
