MARGUERITE OF ORLEANS
From petty vengeances to illicit affairs, Marguerite Louise d’Orléans, was one of history’s most unruly royals of the 1600s.
She was a woman whose sordid behavior was like no other.
Born under great privilege, Marguerite Louise d’Orléans was not one to follow the expectations of her royal family.
Instead, her risque rebellion challenged the notorious Medici family as well as her powerful cousin, King Louis XIV of France…..
Marguerite was born in July 1645 into a life of great privilege.
Her father, Gaston the Duke of Orléans, was the brother of the King of France.
The family’s wealth and power afforded Marguerite everything her little heart desired.
As Marguerite entered her teen years, she was seen as a most prestigious bride, and received numerous offers of marriage.
One such offer was from Cosimo de Medici, the scion of the ever-so-famous House of Medici, a powerful Renaissance family who ruled over Tuscany.
Aside from his great wealth and stature, Cosimo also had a reputation for being a fashionable man, who excelled in sports.
Although she had never laid eyes on him, Marguerite was thrilled with the prospect of this potential match.
Marguerite’s sister Anne Marie, was sent to meet Marguerite’s potential groom, hoping he would live up to his reputation as a strapping young man who exuded charm.
Instead, she was met with a melancholic mess.
Though he had been an athlete in his younger years, Cosimo had become depressed and, well, as an adult, he was as dull as dishwater!
His constant mood swings combined with his spoiled nature, were displayed by his conscious decision to never smile in public.
When Anne Marie explained her meeting to Marguerite, the would-be bride grew concerned.
If Anne Marie didn’t like Cosimo, how could she marry him?
Unfortunately, Marguerite didn’t have any choice.
Due to negotiations done behind her back, this wedding was going ahead.
Angered and frustrated, Marguerite quickly put her displeasure on display.
She would show the Medici family, she was not worthy of their son – then they might cancel the pending nuptials.
Marguerite began going out unchaperoned at all hours of the night.
Then, rumors began to spread when she was seen in the company of another man – even though she was betrothed..shocking!!
Marguerite’s cousin Prince Charles of Lorraine, was also suffering from a forced engagement.
He was more than happy to accompany Marguerite on her rebellious mission.
The mission backfired however, when the two cousins began a very public affair.
The faster her wedding date approached, the more brazen Marguerite would get.
It was undoubtedly Marguerite’s intention to cause a scandal so egregious that the Medici family would call off the wedding.
Unfortunately, her efforts were all for nothing.
Though she was having a blatant affair with her cousin Charles, both royal families remained in agreement that Cosimo and Marguerite would marry.
On 19th April 1661, Marguerite’s worst fears came true.
The couple was wed “by proxy,” meaning by royal decree though they had still never met.
Despite her efforts, she was now officially married.
A few months after the proxy marriage, Marguerite made the journey to Marseille.
The rebellious Marguerite brought her lover, Prince Charles of Lorraine, to the dock to publicly say goodbye.
Marguerite arrived in Tuscany on 20th June, greeted by an impressive welcome.
Now the Grand Princess of Tuscany, she was the star of a 300 carriage procession that led to the wedding celebration.
She met her new father-in-law first.
Grand Duke Ferdinando greeted his new daughter-in-law with a unique and precious gift, an enormous pearl, the size of a pigeon’s egg!
Things were looking up……
Marguerite was impressed with things so far, until she met her groom.
Cosimo was an awkwardly odd man, who lacked social graces.
The disappointment didn’t only exist on Marguerite’s side either.
Cosimo was equally unimpressed by her!
There were no butterflies, no spark of passion or interest.
Aside from the political benefits of their union, this marriage was already a disaster.
Marguerite was focused on Cosimo’s only redeeming quality – his bank account.
Marguerite made a request within the first two days of their marriage.
In a brazen move, Marguerite asked her new husband to gift her with the crown jewels of Tuscany, as a token of his devotion.
A bit surprised by her bold ask, the new groom informed his bride that the crown jewels were not at his disposal.
That they rightfully belonged to his father, until he could no longer rule.
Marguerite remained calm, and used this opportunity to get some less precious jewels instead.
After all, she was the Grand Princess of Tuscany.
Marguerite constantly schemed on how to return to France.
She was in a loveless marriage in a foreign country with no support whatsoever.
So, she tried to smuggle these jewels as her own personal insurance when she made her escape.
The problem was, her father-in-law caught her in the act, and foiled her plan.
Still missing her lover, Prince Charles of Lorraine, her hatred towards her husband grew.
And so, Marguerite hatched another plan, one that would hit them where it hurt.
Soon she decided to profit from her circumstances, by spending the Medici’s money.
Marguerite treated herself to the most delicate dresses, accessories for her hair, gourmet food, and delicious wine, all at the Medici’s expense….
Unknown to many, especially Marguerite, the Tuscan coffers were quickly depleting, meaning the realm was going broke.
While her grand introduction to her new home suggested that the Medicis were made of money, Marguerite quickly learned she was married to a pauper with a paper crown.
With no love and no money, what was the point of this union?
What was worse, that despite her disdain for her husband, Marguerite was still expected to conceive an heir.
Both husband and wife had to put their mutual disgust aside, and perform their “royal duties” once per week.
On one occasion, Marguerite was so dead-set against having relations with her husband, that she threatened to break a bottle over his head if he came anywhere near her.
Despite the drama, Marguerite and Cosimo got the deed done.
In the summer of 1663, the couple welcomed a male heir, a baby boy named Ferdinando, after his grandfather, the Grand Duke.
While everyone rejoiced, Marguerite longed for her lost lover, Prince Charles of Lorraine.
Not long after the birth of baby Ferdinando, Marguerite received word that her old lover was closer than she thought.
At the invitation of the Grand Duke himself, Prince Charles of Lorraine was staying in Florence.
With her old lover so near, Marguerite knew this was her only chance to reunite, so she forged a plan to win him back.
She sent a series of sizzling letters to Charles, hoping they would entice him to rescue her while in Italy.
This saucy controversial correspondence didn’t go unnoticed, however.
Cosimo and his father launched an operation to spy on Marguerite, to ensure she didn’t escape into Charles’ arms.
Marguerite quickly realized she was being monitored, and was furious.
Marguerite let her fury be known, and soon both she and her husband were writing letters, pleading with King Louis XIV for him to take their side.
Cosimo didn’t mince words, demanding that the King “put his rabid cousin on a leash.”
Marguerite played on her cousin’s compassion, claiming her husband mistreated her.
Because King Louis XIV could not discern the truth, he sent his emissary, the Count de Saint Mesme, to Tuscany to get the real story.
While Marguerite was rebellious, she could also be charismatic and charming – if the occasion called for it.
After sweet talking the Count, she won him over.
The Count sympathised with her longing to return to France, so he suggested that she be brought home, when he gave his report to the King.
This infuriated the Medici’s, and soon the King was forced to end the nightmare, by denying his own blood safe haven from her marriage.
Marguerite was furious, enough was enough.
The Medici family would soon see just how vengeful she could be.
Marguerite was quick to make demands on her Medici in-laws, including her demand to employ only French chefs.
When asked why, she claimed the Medicis were trying to poison her without her knowledge.
By September 1664, Marguerite’s outlandish claims and petty revenge tactics, had worn Cosimo down.
Knowing his weakened state, she then announced that she was leaving for a much-needed vacation at the Villa di Lappeggi.
Marguerite packed her bags and abandoned her toddler son, husband, and in-laws, all with Cosimo’s consent.
However, while away from the royal palace, 40 officers and six courtiers would be stationed at the villa to keep her from escaping.
Though she was basically on house arrest in Italy, Marguerite was thankful to be free of her boorish husband.
After being estranged from the Medicis for over a year, in a moment of weakness, Marguerite agreed to reconcile with Cosimo.
This reconciliation resulted in a pregnancy.
Their blissful reunion didn’t last long, though – their dysfunctional relationship soon reared its ugly head once again.
The more she thought about her situation, the more desperate she became.
She became so desperate, in fact, that she attempted to induce a miscarriage on more than one occasion by galloping on her horse for hours at a time.
Eventually, she gave up and reluctantly returned to the royal palace.
Marguerite gave birth to a baby girl in 1667 and lovingly named her Anna Maria.
Though Cosimo was by her side the whole time, she couldn’t help but resent him for getting her pregnant in the first place.
Because of Cosimo, she hadn’t seen her family in years, wasn’t allowed to return to France, and was stuck in a loveless marriage surrounded by hateful people.
Shortly after their daughter’s birth, their dysfunctional marriage took another hit when Marguerite contracted smallpox.
Though the virus was sweeping through Europe, Marguerite blamed her husband.
In 1670, a great political shift occurred, with the death of Marguerite’s father-in-law Ferdinando.
She was now the Grand Duchess of Tuscany, and her husband Cosimo was the Grand Duke.
Cosimo didn’t trust his wife, so Marguerite was banned from all political discussions.
Family arguments ensued.
One palace visitor commented that their voices got so loud it seemed he was walking through “the devil’s own abode.”
In 1670, Marguerite turned on the charm and reconciled with Cosimo, just long enough to get pregnant.
The couple had another son, this time named after her father.
Despite her attempt to wrangle her husband on her side, the couple were again fighting within weeks of the birth.
By 1672, Marguerite was so desperate to flee her life in Tuscany, so she resorted to pulling on her cousin’s heartstrings once more.
In a letter to King Louis XIV, Marguerite claimed she was suffering from breast cancer, the same horrible disease that took his mother’s life.
She pleaded her case, writing that her only hope to survive, would be to return to her home in France.
Of course, the King was concerned, but he was also suspicious, given her past stunts.
To determine if her letter was factual, Louis enlisted the help of the same doctor that treated his late mother.
Once in Tuscany, the doctor matter-of-factly stated that her condition was “in no wise malignant.”
Once he made the same report to the King, Marguerite’s pleas to return to France were once again denied.
By the end of 1672, Marguerite was at her wit’s end.
She had tried everything to free herself of this miserable marriage, and was still stuck within the walls of the royal palace in Tuscany.
Though she assumed her newest idea would also fail, Marguerite asked her husband’s permission to visit a shrine near the Medici property Villa Poggio a Caiano.
To her surprise, Cosimo agreed, a decision he would soon regret.
Once outside of the palace walls, she decided never to return.
Despite the pleas from her husband and cousin, King Louis XIV, to return, Marguerite dug her heels in.
She stayed in the villa for two whole years.
Cosimo had to admit to himself that his wife would never give up.
From that day forward, Marguerite’s life would change.
In December 1674, Cosimo drew up a contract that would allow his wife to return to her home country with a hefty allowance.
This was not a divorce, mind you.
Marguerite would remain his wife and, being such, reside in a convent to maintain her fidelity.
The Grand Duchess would live like a nun at the Abbey of St. Peter in Montmartre, Paris!!
As Marguerite packed her bags to leave the villa, she got one last urge to seek revenge.
So, Marguerite stripped the home of its furnishings and fixtures, leaving behind just an empty shell.
This would be her insurance instead of the crown jewels.
In the summer of 1675, she said goodbye and never looked back.
Once Marguerite arrived in Montmartre, she felt alive once again.
Though the contract Cosimo drew up required her to live the life of a devoutly religious woman, the Grand Duchess was still in her 30s and ready to embrace life again.
Marguerite gave herself a makeover, complete with blonde wigs and rouge, insinuating to men that she was a woman of lesser morals.
In no time, Marguerite was gambling and consorting with courtiers, earning herself a somewhat sordid reputation.
She didn’t discriminate when it came to her lovers, either, initiating an affair with a groom, two military men in the Luxembourg regiment, as well as the Count of Lovigny.
Aside from striking up illicit affairs and wishing a pox on her husband, Marguerite had also established a pretty serious gambling addiction by 1688.
After numerous nights at the card table waging incredibly high stakes against courtiers, she found herself deeply in debt with no way out.
Though Marguerite had no desire to communicate with her “detested husband,” she desperately needed him to raise her allowance.
So, she reached out.
Cosimo’s health was in decline when Marguerite approached him for help.
Between her attempts to charm him and his exhaustion, he finally gave in and bailed her out.
It would seem her luck was back.
Or was it?
While Marguerite was a charmer who usually got her own way, there was a new foe waiting around the corner who would give her a run for her money.
You may be wondering how Marguerite had the freedom to gamble and cavort while under the care of the convent.
Up until this point, the Abbey was run by a “don’t ask, don’t tell” Abbess, a kind woman who overlooked Marguerite’s imperfections.
When she retired from her post, a new Abbess named Madame d’Harcourt replaced her.
Immediately, Marguerite knew she was in deep trouble with d’Harcourt – this woman was tough and overlooked nothing.
Instead of keeping her head down and behaving, Marguerite rose to the challenge of forcing the new Abbess out.
How did she do this?
With manipulation and the threat of physical harm.
By now, Marguerite had formed friendships with the nuns.
After recruiting them onto her side, she threatened to kill d’Harcourt with a pistol and an axe!
d’Harcourt sent Marguerite away – to another convent in a more happening area of Paris, the Saint Mande in Ile de France.
What shenanigans would she get into there?
Though it may be hard to believe, Marguerite became a more mellow version of herself at Saint Mande.
As the Grand Duchess reached the golden years of her life, she dedicated her time to the betterment of the convent, while forging friendships with the nuns who worshiped there.
Out of nowhere in 1712, she began suffering from a condition called apoplexy, which caused paralysis in one of her arms as well as foaming of the mouth.
Despite the affliction’s harrowing symptoms, Marguerite actually began to recover – until another tragedy struck.
Just as Marguerite’s health was stabilising, she received the tragic news that her first-born son Ferdinando, had died.
He was the only one of her children she still spoke to.
The devastating news caused her to relapse into another fit of apoplexy, this time paralyzing her eyes and affecting her speech.
Now heartbroken and unable to see or speak, Marguerite was only a shell of her former self.
Marguerite hung on for another decade, though much of her time was spent living the same dull existence she had hated in her youth.
While she did make a full recovery that restored her paralysis and her speech, her final ten years were spent dedicated to charities, rather than the card table and illicit affairs.
Marguerite passed away in September 1721, at the age of 76, leaving behind two of her children and Cosimo.
Ironically, he outlived his errant wife by two years.
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