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Lola (Elisa) Montes (Jilbert)Famous adventurer
Country:
 Great Britain |
Content:
- Biography of Lola (Eliza) Montez (Gilbert)
- An Early Life of Love and Wanderings
- An Unnoticed Foreigner
- A Success Unrivaled by Others
- A Scandalous Relationship
- A Controversial Figure
- A New Ambition
- The Fall of a Favorite
- Public Backlash
- Accusations and Scandals
- A Forced Departure
- Later Years
Biography of Lola (Eliza) Montez (Gilbert)
A Well-Known AdventuressIf Lola did not gain the favor of the public, then that evening she had the kind of success that overshadowed all others: she earned the enthusiastic applause of one man - the king himself. Lola Montez, or as she called herself, Maria Dolores Porris y Montez, led a restless and adventurous life before her arrival in Munich. No one knew anything definite about her origins. In her memoirs, she claimed to be Irish on her father's side, Spanish on her mother's side, English by upbringing, French by character, and a cosmopolitan depending on the circumstances. It is worth noting her remark that she belonged to all nations and none in particular. Lola was born in Montrose, Scotland, to a family of an English colonial officer named Gilbert. Her mother came from an ancient Spanish lineage. At a young age, the girl went with her parents to Andalusia. However, they did not stay long in Spain, as her father was sent to India, where he soon passed away. The fiery and unrestrained girl was sent to a boarding school in Bath, between Bristol and London.
An Early Life of Love and Wanderings
Already in her early youth, her love life and wandering began. Lola danced on stages in London, Paris, Warsaw, St. Petersburg, and Moscow, and then through St. Petersburg she went to Berlin, where she performed at the palace theater in San Souci. She then traveled to Leipzig, Vienna, Paris, Venice, Ferrara, Rome, Capua, and Naples. For the third time in her 23 years, she visited Paris, and then Marseille, Barcelona, and Madrid. However, she did not stay in her homeland; she visited Seville and some Spanish cities, and then went to France, danced in Bordeaux, and after brief stops in Paris, Baden-Baden, and Hamburg, she arrived in Munich in September 1846.
An Unnoticed Foreigner
In the Bavarian capital, no one initially paid attention to the foreigner. Who could have imagined that she would stir up the whole city! Wherever she went, she mesmerized with the charm of her exotic beauty. Lola Montez asked King Ludwig to receive her. He considered it audacious. But when Ludwig I, the King of Bavaria, a romantic and appreciator of the arts, saw the beauty Lola, dressed as a Spaniard, his anger instantly evaporated. Her charm immediately captivated his sensitive nature, and he decided to listen to the girl. Apparently, his particular inclination towards everything Spanish influenced this decision. The audience lasted much longer than usual and had far-reaching consequences.
A Success Unrivaled by Others
If Lola did not gain the favor of the public, then that evening she had the kind of success that overshadowed all others: she earned the enthusiastic applause of one man - the king himself. His connoisseur's gaze delighted in the gracefulness of her body, her lovely face with bright blue eyes, her heavy black tresses, and her seductive mouth with pearly teeth. Seeing this Andalusian beauty, the aging king forgot about the burden of his years and the dignity of a monarch. Jealousy and passion blended in his feelings. She highly valued her charms and had already tested them many times: her explosive temperament, seductive movements, and original behavior allowed her to easily win over men's hearts.
A Scandalous Relationship
In the court circles, this relationship between the king and the Spanish dancer was somewhat indulgently condemned. Lola was not the first beauty to ignite the king's heart. But when she completely subdued him with the magical power of her influence and caused a rift between him and the courtiers, the official opinion sharply changed. Even the king's advisors saw that this situation seriously affected them. Soon rumors of the foreigner's debauchery spread throughout the city. Lola was already seen as the German Pompadour, who wanted to destroy the understanding and friendship between the ruler and the people.
A Controversial Figure
Naturally, the king, to whom she later brought happiness, defended her against all attacks, even in cases where she was indeed at fault. Lola's appearances on the streets of Munich often challenged customs and traditions. She walked with a whip, a cigarette, or even a cigar in her mouth, breaking all decency just with that. In addition, Lola had a heavy hand! The infamous stories of her slaps became a constant subject of consideration by the police authorities and led to public scandals that the king managed to suppress only through personal intervention. It seemed that the relationship between the king and the lady had become a matter of state importance! The late passion of the king was ridiculed in all layers of society, and everyone felt entitled to criticize them.
A New Ambition
On the one hand, all this irritated Lola, but on the other hand, it made her think that her position with the king should become more secure. Gradually, she even began to consider that as a foreigner, she was destined to play a certain political role in Bavaria. Lola thought that if she held such a high position, she should engage in something serious. She wanted to help her friend, the king, in governing the state, and for that, she needed to familiarize herself with the mechanisms of governance. She also constantly asked the king to add the title of countess to her name and position, secretly hoping to become one of the king's advisors.
The Fall of a Favorite
Ludwig was ready to fulfill this wish as well. He had already given his favorite a small palace on Briennerstrasse and appointed her an annual pension of 70,000 guilders, as well as a lifelong pension as an artist at the court theater. He bought her expensive dresses, jewelry, a carriage, and a small court stable, commissioned her portrait for the palace gallery... So let the jealous ones be angry when they hear about her elevation, which will only crown all these treasures! Lola reveled in her triumph and demanded that the ministers be brought to her salon by the king. As always, Ludwig wholeheartedly supported her aspirations.
Public Backlash
Lola Montez used her beauty and charm to achieve her own goals. She knew what she wanted! And the king asked the ministers to visit Lola more often, even though he did not find understanding among them. Von Maurer openly declared that he would keep as far away as possible from the society of the so-called countess. Lola considered this an insult. The king soon dismissed the minister.
Accusations and Scandals
Lola was already openly accused of interfering in state affairs. She was blamed for her impudent and provocative behavior and complained about the disastrous influence of this courtesan on the ruler, who traded the love of his people for a foreign artist. Scandalous rumors became commonplace throughout the city and in all layers of society. Certainly, there were sycophants who besieged Lola with requests. She truly began to think that she wielded power. The people called her "The Governess."
A Forced Departure
The Munich students formed a society called "the Allemans," whose members, belonging to Bavarian nobility, pledged to defend the king and his beloved from any attacks. They accompanied Lola on walks. Once, a disgruntled crowd attacked Lola, and despite the protection of the Allemans, she barely made it to the royal castle. The attack was attributed to the students, opponents of the Allemans, and the university was closed. At an emergency meeting in City Hall, it was decided to demand the removal of the favorite from the king, and if refused, 30,000 citizens promised to take up arms. The next day, on February 11, 1848, the crowd stormed Lola's house. The iron bars on the windows were already cracking, and Lola prepared to defend herself, but her servants forcefully escorted her through a back door and placed her in a police carriage prepared for her, which swiftly took her away from Munich. After Ludwig's abdication on March 20, 1848, the new government invalidated Lola's diploma of nobility. Lola moved to London, where she married Lieutenant Gould.
Later Years
In the last years of her life, Lola Montez constantly spoke out in the press with ideas of women's emancipation. Although her life could hardly serve as an example for the propagation of these ideas. After being expelled from Munich, Lola Montez led a vagabond life. She was constantly surrounded by old and young dandies. She lived in London, then Paris, and finally, together with her impresario Willis, she traveled to America in 1852, where she performed in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and New Orleans. In San Francisco, she appeared on stage as a liberator of Bavarians from the yoke of ultramontanes!
Once celebrated and talented dancer died forgotten and in deep poverty. In the churchyard in Greenwood, near New York City, one can still see a gravestone with the inscription: "Miss Eliza Gilbert, died on January 17, 1861, at the age of 42."
