The Kings' Mistresses: The Liberated Lives of Marie Mancini, Princess Colonna, and Her Sister Hortense, Duchess Mazarin

by Elizabeth C. Goldsmith

Book Overview

The Mancini Sisters, Marie and Hortense, were born in Rome, brought to the court of Louis XIV of France, and strategically married off by their uncle, Cardinal Mazarin, to secure his political power base. Such was the life of many young women of the age: they had no independent status under the law and were entirely a part of their husband's property once married.

Marie and Hortense, however, had other ambitions in mind altogether. Miserable...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1586488899
• ISBN13: 9781586488895
• Release Date: April 2012
• Publisher: PublicAffairs
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.13 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.5" x 9.3"