Page 55 - All About History 48 - 2017 UK

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Notorious
Royal
Mistresses

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Dowager Cixi Madame de

Pompadour
Royal lover: Xianfeng Emperor Yearsasmistress:1852-61

n 1852, 16-year-old Cixi became three-year-old nephew, Guangxu,
one of many concubines of the succeeded,andinordertoretainher Royal lover: Louis XV of France
I Emperor Xianfeng. Among the position, Cixi adopted him. Though she
concubines Cixi ranked relatively low retired for a brief time when Guangxu Years as mistress: 1745-64
– fifth rank – but in 1856 her position reached his majority, she soon forced
changed when she gave birth to a her way back to the forefront, and ouis XV’s official mistress became one of the most
healthy son, Zaichun. Zaichun was theresheremaineduntilherdeathin powerful women in 18th-century France. When friends
Xianfeng’s only surviving heir, and 1908. Cixi was opposed to many of the L introduced her at the royal court, it was not long before
his birth significantly improved Cixi’s reforms implemented by her nephew, the king noticed her at a masked ball. Within a short space of time,
standing at court. When Xianfeng andeventuallyhadhimplacedunder Pompadour was in the king’s bed, and she became his favourite
died in 1861, Zaichun was only five virtualhousearrest.Cixihasacquired mistress. She was given a luxurious apartment at the Palace of
years old, and Xianfeng had therefore areputationforcruelty,andshedidnot Versailles, where Louis frequently visited her by means of a secret
provided for a regency council. hesitate when it came to the removal staircase. The infatuated monarch even built the Petit Trianon in
However, this did not prevent Cixi of her enemies – by fair means or foul. the grounds of Versailles to provide her with a peaceful retreat.
from launching her own bid for power, Shewassuspectedofhavingbeen More dangerously, Pompadour also became Louis’s adviser, and
and she successfully mounted a coup responsible for the poisoning of her though their sexual relationship ceased in the 1750s, she retained
against the regents. Her intention nephew, who died only a day before influence over the king for the rest of her life. She even provided
was to exert power through her son, her,andthisiscertainlyapossibility. Louis with replacement mistresses, ensuring they would pose no
crowned Emperor Tongzhi. However, Whatiscertainisthatbyherdeath, threat to herself. Pompadour had varied cultural interests, and under
when Tongzhi died in 1875, Cixi was Cixi had become one of the most her auspices the Sevres porcelain factory was established. When
not ready to hand over the reins. Her powerful women in China. Pompadour died of tuberculosis on 15 April 1764, Louis mourned the
loss of his former lover and friend greatly.

She wasn’t the best of the crop She met his majesty at the ball
(And the Emperor had rather a lot) And answered to his every call

But she gave him a son She supported art
So she basically won And broke his heart © Alamy, Getty Images, Mary Evans, Thinkstock
And schemed her way to the top When her coffi n dropped into a hole

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