De koning en de dame. Over ontwikkeling van de functie van koninklijke maîtresse in Frankrijk (1444-1774)

Samenvatting

The King and the Lady. On the Evolution of the Role of the Royal Mistress in France 1444-1774. The changing role of the royal mistress in France 1444-1774 is described. In the fifteenth century, she served primarily as the king's sexual partner; but by the eighteenth century, when the royal court changed from a military organization to the center of government, she became a prominent figure responsible for various aspects of court life. The relationship between king and courtiers precluded any concealment of a mistress's identity, so her position was formally ratified. It is argued that her role in maintaining the balance between court factions, thus securing the king's position, is an instance of what Norbert Elias (1983) has called a "royal mechanism.". 32 References. Adapted from the source document.