In the autumn of 1683, a secret marriage took place in a chapel at the Palace of Versailles in France. The groom was King Louis XIV, whose reign of more than 72 years was the longest of any monarch in history. The wedding ceremony took place less than three months after the death of Louis’ previous wife,
Maria Theresa of Spain.
The king’s new bride was Françoise d’Aubigné, a woman of obscure beginnings who quietly began altering the course of French history. Although she was never declared queen (since the marriage was performed in secret), Madame d’Aubigné still wielded considerable political influence.
So, who was the woman that the king married? And how did she manage to have a secret hold over French society? Click on to find out.