History Tea Time

Royal Mistresses who ALMOST became QueensThrough most of history, monarchs selected wives for their royal blood and political significance. Women they actually liked and were attracted to were relegated to being mere mistresses. These women were usually local aristocrats or even commoners who would not be considered contenders to be consort. The majority of monarchs had mistresses and their wives usually looked the other way, safe in the knowledge that their place as Queen could never be usurped. But a number of royal courtesan did come to wield great power. In a past episode we met 8 royal mistresses who beat the odds and succeeded in become Queen. Today let’s meet another 8 lovely ladies who came so close, but because of ruined romances, royal family resentment, or early death, just barely missed out on the crown... Krystyna Rokiczana, Almost Queen of Poland (1365) Gabrielle d’Estrées Almost Queen of France (1573-1599) Catherine Henriette de Balzac d’Entragues, Almost Queen of France (1579-1633) Françoise d’Aubigné, Almost Queen of France (1634-1719) Marie Emilie de Joly de Choin Almost Queen of France (1670-1732) Rosa Vercellana, Almost Queen of Italy (1833-1885) Catherine Dolgorukov, Almost Tsarina of Russia (1847-1922) Wallis Simpson, Almost Queen of UK (1896-1986) Join me every Tuesday when I'm Spilling the Tea on History! Check out my Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/lindsayholiday Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091781568503 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyteatimelindsayholiday/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@historyteatime Please consider supporting me at https://www.patreon.com/LindsayHoliday and help me make more fascinating episodes! Intro Music: Baroque Coffee House by Doug Maxwell Music: Butterflies in Love by Sir Cubworth #HistoryTeaTime #LindsayHoliday Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on this podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Louis XIV's MistressesLouis XIV, King of France from 1638 to 1715, ruled over the court at Versailles with the sheer magnetism of his personality. All were desperate to be in the light of the sun king. His image was paramount to maintaining his place at the center of the Universe. The 5’4” monarch wore high heels and voluminous wigs. And he made sure the world knew he was a virile man with plenty of mistresses. While at least 20 women came and went from his majesty’s bed, he was emotionally devoted to 3 women in succession; Louise de La Vallière, Madame de Montespan and finally Madame de Maintenon whom he secretly married after the death of his Queen. Let’s meet the mistresses of King Louis XIV: Catherine Bellier, Baroness de Beauvais Marie Mancini, Duchess & Princess of Paliano Louise de La Vallière, Duchess of La Vallière & Vaujours Olympia Mancini, Countess of Soissons Bonne de Pons d’Heudicourt, Marquise d’Heudicourt Catherine Charlotte de Gramont, Princess of Monaco Gabrielle de Rochechouart de Mortemart, Marquise of Thianges Françoise-Athénaïs de Rochechouart, Marquise de Montespan Anne de Rohan-Chabot, Princess of Soubise Isabelle de Ludres, Marquess of Ludres Claude de Vin des Œillets Marie Angélique de Scorailles, Duchess of Fontanges Françoise d’Aubigné, Marquise de Maintenon Join me every Tuesday when I'm Spilling the Tea on History! Check out my Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/lindsayholiday Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091781568503 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyteatimelindsayholiday/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@historyteatime Please consider supporting me at https://www.patreon.com/LindsayHoliday and help me make more fascinating episodes! Intro Music: Baroque Coffee House by Doug Maxwell Music: Brandenburg Concerto No4-1 BWV1049 - Classical Whimsical by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100303 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ #HistoryTeaTime #LindsayHoliday Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on this podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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