Of the many illegitimate children fathered by the King, there was just one who was actually officially recognized: Louis Aimé de Bourbon. But not even he was to go on and have a brilliant court career - instead he became an Abbot.
Rather than living at court or being married into families of the nobility, a different kind of life awaited the children born on the wrong side of the sheet. The method adopted by Louis XV was to have the paternity listed as a non-existent person; occasionally both parents were made up. However, the King did make sure to at least give these imaginary parents somewhat decent ranks but never one that would arouse suspicions.
Another thing that is odd about Louis XV and his bastards is that he seemed to have had very few of them by his actual mistresses. Neither one of his most famous mistresses, Madame de Pompadour and Madame du Barry, had children by the King. From what we can tell most of his bastards came from women he never recognized as mistresses or perhaps even only had brief liaisons with.
Because Louis XV never had his children registered - officially or unofficially - it is unknown exactly how many he had. An estimated guess is around 15.
So, who are the 15?
ReplyDeleteone of his illegitimate children were by his "official" mistresses, meaning long-term. That's why he didn't recognise any of them, except for one. At most, he gave them some money.
DeleteHis only recognised illegitimate child was by Anne de Meilly-Coulogne. Louis Aimé was an Abbot. The King gave Anne 500.000 livres to leave her son with him and leave court, as he was done with her.
He had one son by the second de Nesle sister, Pauline, named "Demi-Louis" because he looked so much like his father. Demi-Louis was raised by his aunt and never paid attention by his biological father.
With a duchess Françoise Chalun he had 2 sons: Philippe and Louis, who had the privilege of being educated with their legitimate half-sisters, the princesses of France.
By the Irish adventuress Marie-Louise O'Murphy he had 2 daughters: Agatha and Marguerite. They were granted noble titles and funds upon their marriages by the King, but never met him otherwise.
With Marguerite d'Haynault he had 2 daughters: Agnes and Anne. They were raised with Lucy's children and were sent to a convent and got money from the king upon their marriages.
With Lucy d'Estaing he had 2 daughters: Agatha and Aphrodite. They were raised with Marguerite's children and were sent to a convent and got money from the king upon their marriages.
With Jeanne Perray he had 1 daughter: Amélie Florimond. She got 2000 livres upon her birth and another 3000 upon her marriage.
Louise de la Colleterie gave birth to a son Benoit by the king. She plotted to have him legitimized but was captured and put in the Bastille. The king paid 30.000 livres for her release and then 100.000 livres annually for her debts.
By Madame Boisselet he had a son Charles. He calmed her upset husband with a position as member of the Academy of Sciences.
My Marie Madeline Lionvaux he had a son named November Lionvaux.
By Irene de Buisson (lady-in-waiting to his daughter Adelaide) he had a daughter named Julie. Irene's husband was made the King's secretary to keep the secret.
By Catherine Benard he had a daughter named Adelaide. No money, rights or recognition were ever given to Catherine, Adelaide or Catherine's husband.
All in all, I was able to find 16 illegitimate children (+10 legitimate ones makes 26 children for Louis XV) by 12 mistresses. Nine illegitimate daughters, 7 illegitimate sons. 1 son was recognised, the others all had different fathers on their birth certificate. In most cases, the girls were gifted money upon their marriage and the boys got special education or a position at court.
This is amazing research. What sources have you used?
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