Angelique Fontanges
France- Angelique de Scorailles, Duchess of Fontanges
- Arrival at Versailles
- Captivating the Sun King
- Tragic Loss and Official Favorship
- Exile and Demise
- Legacy in Cinema
Angelique de Scorailles, Duchess of Fontanges
Angelique de Scorailles, the daughter of the royal lieutenant of Auvergne, was one of the many mistresses of King Louis XIV of France. She became famous for popularizing the "Fontanges" hairstyle and the custom of adorning décolletés with beauty marks.
Arrival at Versailles
Angelique's beauty captivated her cousin, who persuaded her father to send her with him to the court of Versailles. There, she became a maid of honor to Charlotte Elizabeth of the Palatinate, the king's sister-in-law.
Captivating the Sun King
Angelique soon attracted King Louis XIV's attention, and in 1678, she became his official mistress. Her extraordinary beauty earned her the moniker "lovely creature" from the king. Their affair remained a secret until 1679, when it was officially announced.
Tragic Loss and Official Favorship
In 1679, Angelique gave birth to a stillborn child, after which her health deteriorated. In 1680, Louis XIV bestowed upon her the title Duchess of Fontanges, traditionally marking the end of their official relationship.
Exile and Demise
Abandoned and ill, Angelique retired to the convent of Port-Royal, where she died. Rumors of poisoning have persisted, but modern medical examinations suggest that pleurisy was the cause of her death.
Legacy in Cinema
Angelique de Scorailles has been portrayed in film, notably by Barbara Kelsch in the 1996 French movie "The King's Way."
