62. Her Ending was Tragic
In 1764, Madame de Pompadour began to feel unwell. When the doctors examined her, they had terrible news: the king's great love had tuberculosis. Louis looked after Pompadour as best he could, but ultimately she succumbed to her illness and passed away at the place she loved more than anywhere else: Versailles. She was just 42 years old, but she had lived a hundred lives in her short time on Earth.
63. Her Loss was Felt
After Pompadour's death, tributes poured in from all over France. King Louis XV described their bond not just as a passionate romance, but a "twenty year friendship." Pompadour's dear friend, the famous writer Voltaire, mourned her in writing. He referenced her great contribution to his career by saying, "I am indebted to her and I mourn her out of gratitude." Even the weather seemed to mourn her loss. It rained heavily on the day that Pompadour's coffin left the palace.
However, shortly after Pompadour's death, the king betrayed his great love in two brutal ways.
64. Missing in Mourning
Although the king deeply grieved at Pompadour's death, court protocol forbade him from attending her funeral. After all, Pompadour was still born as a Jeanne Poisson, a middle class woman. Because of this inconvenient fact, she was too low-ranking to deserve a royal funeral attendance, even if the King himself was her life partner.
Louis XV, The black sun (2009), Les Films d
65. He Didn't Mourn for Long
In 1762, Madame de Pompadour convinced Louis to construct the Petit Trianon, a luxurious mini château within Versailles that would serve as their love nest. Unfortunately, Pompadour passed away before construction could be finished. But don’t worry, it didn’t go to waste. The Petit Trianon went on to serve as home base to Pompadour’s successor in the royal bed, Madame du Barry.
66. She Inspired Many
One of the most long-lasting aspects of Pompadour’s legacy is the hairstyle that bears her name. The elaborate coif involves one’s hair being worn straight up from the forehead and sides. This hairstyle has endured for centuries after Pompadour’s death and not just on her female fans! Men who have adopted the pompadour hairstyle in one form or another include Elvis Presley, Marlon Brando, David Beckham, and Justin Timberlake.
67. She Continues to Fascinate
In one of her more recent appearances in pop culture, Pompadour showed up as a character in the Doctor Who episode “The Girl in the Fireplace.” The episode follows the Doctor jumping in and out of Pompadour’s life in order to save her from a group of aliens. Pompadour is played by Sophia Myles, who bizarrely kept her British accent for the role.
Thanks to good writing—and an ending that we know made some of you cry—“The Girl in the Fireplace” won a Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation and is one of the highest-rated episodes of David Tennant’s era as the Doctor.
68. The Couple Hid a Dark Secret
While on the outside, their relationship was happy and healthy, modern historians now know that the couple hid a dark secret behind bedroom doors. From 1750 onwards, Pompadour ceased being a sexual partner to Louis XV. Just five years into their relationship, they stopped making love. But the reason for their abstinence was so shocking that it's impossible to forget.
69. Pompadour Suffered in Silence
In public, the reason for Pompadour's shifting role was chalked up to her poor health. She suffered multiple miscarriages, her childhood bout with whooping cough had weakened her, and she always seemed to have a cold or bronchitis. But behind closed doors, there was another reason: Pompadour just wasn't that interested in bedroom-based activities.
Louis XV, The black sun (2009), Les Films d
70. She Had a Strange Secret
It turns out that despite Madame de Pompadour's reputation as a beautiful mistress, she didn't actually have a voracious sexual appetite. She even went on a bizarre celery, truffle, and vanilla diet to try to feel more "in the mood." Unsurprisingly, this nauseating combination of flavors did not end up doing anything to help the royal mistress feel randy.
Louis XV, The black sun (2009), Les Films d
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71. Her Portrait Hid a Scandalous Secret
There are numerous portraits of Madame de Pompadour—but only one reveals her darkest secret. Towards the end of her life, Pompadour commissioned a painting of her embroidering fabric. It seemed like an innocent activity, but the truth wasn’t so simple: Pompadour would meet with world leaders and negotiate power while demurely embroidering.
Pompadour's portrait was nowhere near as meek and unassuming as it seemed.
72. She Betrayed her Love
Madame de Pompadour was King Louis XV’s great love, but few people know she betrayed him with an utterly brutal act. Pompadour was deeply engaged in arts and culture, and one of her project was editing the first French Encyclopedia by her frenemy Diderot and his co-writer d'Alembert. The book championed science and criticized both the law and the church. Historians now call it the “intellectual prologue” to the French Revolution. The violent uprising would see Louis’ grandson beheaded at the guillotine.
Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19
