Feminine Power in the Court of Louis XIV

The royal courts of early modern Europe (circa 1500 – 1800, depending on region) were a key structure in building a government and state. The royal court of Louis XIV is one of the key examples of a seventeenth-century highly structured court. The project itself is a view into the structure of Louis’ court as it existed within Versailles and how his courtiers operated within the court, specifically female courtiers, his mistresses, and wives. Understanding the male structured court allows further comprehension of how female courtiers adapted to that court. The undergraduate research-based dissertation aims to focus on how power was maintained by female courtiers at a time when femininity was not an asset. By exploring the private letters, publications and art of the time, Louis’ female courtier experience with the royal court becomes more visible and accessible. Using a female orientated look into Louis’ court allows for further understanding of court structure and the dynamics between the genders within an elite and pampered society. My research will fill in gaps in the literature by using this feminist viewpoint to understand and conclude how important female power was within royal courts and how it is gained and successfully kept for long periods