.My apologies to the followers of this blog. I’ve been consumed with details: reconstruction of my website (hence the new look of this blog), getting out a newsletter (you can see it here, on-line), preparing for the release of the paperback edition of Mistress of the Sun, a blog tour, etc.
Not that there hasn’t been on-going research, I’ll have quite a bit to report in a bit. But for now, a report of Louis XIV in the news. As usual, it’s interesting.
—An article on the sun-burst mirror: here. We happen to have a rather old and extremely large sun-burst mirror in our home in Mexico. I find it interesting (if doubtful) that it may have originated with Louis XIV.
—An article claiming that Louis XIV only bathed himself twice in his life: here. Is this true? I doubt it very much.
—This article on the painful medical treatments of the past is quite interesting, but the claim that:
King Louis XIV had over 2,000 enemas during his reign, sometimes holding court while the ceremony progressed.
seems questionable.
And, while I’m in debunking mode, Louis XIV (as well as Napoleon) are credited with saying, “L’etat, c’est moi.” Neither has ever been documented.
Bah! Humbug! More anon.
Hi Sandra
I don’t know if you recall but you and I discussed Louis’ hygiene habits a few years ago :o)
I read the short article about him bathing only twice in his life with interest.
The linen issue and changing it three times a day MAY have come from Daniel Roche and his book – The Culture of Clothing: Dress and Fashion in the Ancien Regime.
De Roche describes linen and the cleanliness of it as a marker for the personal hygiene habits of the wearer. The bibliography of ‘Clean: An Unsanitised History of Washing’ will tell.
I agree with your doubts. Both of Louis’ parents were fastidious. His grandmother Marie de Medici is given the honour of bringing fragipani perfume to France.
Louis XIII hated to be near anyone who smelled (and his father Henri IV apparently smelled like a goat.)
Anne of Austria loved her Castille soap, fresh clean bed linen and she had a very elaborate bathing chamber built in the Palais Cardinal – the Palais Royale after Richelieu’s death. His aunt, Henrietta Maria’s favourite scent was white lavender. His brother’s second wife hated the strong scent Philippe wore.
Louis XIV’s court was supposedly known as the Perfume Court.
There is always a for and an against but…a man who built Versailles’ gardens surely appreciated the beauty and value of fragrance. Or am I being romantic???
I read about the Appartment des Bains in Antonia Fraser’s excellent Love and Louis XIV. Given that he had such a luxurious bathing room I’m sure he must have used it more than twice! :)
Susan, that’s a charming portrait. I’m going to post it now.
For your collection of "Louis XIV in the News": While looking for other 17th century portraits on the internet, I stumbled across this one of the very young future king, currently for sale through Philip Mould. Though likely not new to you, I hadn't seen it before — I particularly like his charmingly ribbon-tied lovelocks!
http://www.philipmould.com/catalogue.php?p=s7&sid=c221