The Daughters of the Fronde: French Aristocratic Women and the Subversion of Bourbon Absolutist Culture, 1661-1727
Jordan Hallmark
The turbulent events of the Fronde des Princes (Fronde Princes), which saw French nobility stage a failed rebellion against monarchical administration France's chief minister, Cardinal Mazarin, between 1650 and 1652, have been portrayed in existing historiography as swan song pre-absolutist seeking to preserve its feudal identity king's partner governance military affairs. Indeed, many historians early modern France observed, policies pursued by Mazarin following monarchy's victory over rebel princes Fronde, subsequently expanded upon Louis XIV after commencement his personal reign 1661, would consolidate political authority hands crown build centralized that replaced high-ranking nobles with professional bureaucrats. Rather than inciting further acts armed aristocratic resistance, however, absolutist system developed under XIV, according most historiography, assured loyalty compliance rewarding obedience special privileges distinctions. Enduring until Revolution 1789, this royal patronage has cited scholars one few avenues through women could attain influence, albeit an unofficial capacity, cultivating close, typically intimate, relationships sovereign. During Princes, number women, including Anne-Marie-Louise d'Orléans, duchesse de Montpensier, had emerged important leaders, fighting on behalf centralizing reforms patriarchal state. Yet, argued strategies opposition during came abrupt end monarch's thereafter confining women's participation spaces salon court where influence come depend entirely close powerful men.