October
22
/ 2023
In French history, it was a common expectation that monarchs, like King Louis XIV, maintained intriguing love lives. Louis, known for his insatiable desires, fathered over a dozen illegitimate children, in addition to the legitimate offspring from his marriage to Maria Teresa of Austria. Faithfulness to his wife was never a priority for him, and he indulged in affairs with approximately 20 mistresses. Louis believed in kings deriving pleasure, and he lived by that creed. His nighttime arrivals to his wife's bed were sporadic, often blaming paperwork for his tardiness. Meanwhile, his other lovers, like Madame de Montespan, were frequented by the king, reportedly engaging in passionate encounters multiple times daily. Court life was not devoid of intrigue, with mistresses
