Anne Somerset - The Affair of the Poisons: Murder, Infanticide and Satanism at the Court of Louis XIV

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CONTENTS

For Ella, with much love

PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS

Alluye, Bnigne, Marquise de Friend of Comtesse de Soissons who accompanied her on her visit to la Voisin. Fled France with Comtesse de Soissons January 1680

Amy, Monsieur D Officer in Provenal Parlement, posthumously alleged to have wanted to poison Colbert

Aubray, Antoine Dreux d Civil Lieutenant of the city of Paris. Father and first victim of Mme de Brinvilliers. Died 10 September 1666

Aubray, Antoine d Eldest brother and second victim of Mme deBrinvilliers. Succeeded father as Civil Lieutenant of the city of Paris. Died 17 June 1670

Aubray, Franois d Conseiller in Paris Parlement. Younger brother and third victim of Mme de Brinvilliers. Poisoned September 1670

Bachimont, Roger, Seigneur de Alchemist and associate of Vanens arrested May 1678. Suspected of poisoning Duke of Savoy. Imprisoned for life

Bachimont, Mme Marie de Wife to the above

Barenton, Mathurin Accused of having traded in poisons and being involved in plot to poison King. Executed September 1681

Belleguise Clerk of Pennautier and associate of Sainte-Croix. Went missing after the arrest of Mme de Brinvilliers, but arrested August 1676. Though he was widely suspected of having acted as an intermediary between Pennautier and Sainte-Croix he was convicted only of handling counterfeit money and banished for a short period

Bellire, la Divineress. Allegedly Mme Chapelain had wanted to send her to the Caribbean to commune with the devil. La Bellire alleged that la Filastre had offered her large sum of money to deliver something to Mme de Montespan, but she had refused, fearing hanging

Belot, Franois Member of the royal guard, convicted of having tried to poison M. de Poulaillons silver cup. Executed June 1679

Bergerot, Martine Illiterate divineress alleged to have arranged for pact drawn up by la Filastre for Duchesse de Vivonne to be signed by spirit

Bertrand Friend of Romani, alleged to have been his accomplice in plot to poison Mlle de Fontanges

Bezons, Louis Bazin, Seigneur de Commissioner of Chambre Ardente who served alongside La Reynie as investigating magistrate in the Affair of the Poisons, and rapporteur to the Chamber

Blessis, Denis Poculot, Sieur de Alchemist lover of la Voisin. In late 1678 the Marquis de Termes had detained Blessis in his chateau in hopes that Blessis would furnish him with the secret of the Philosophers Stone. The petition which la Voisin sought to present to the King in March 1679 requested that Termes be ordered to release Blessis. Condemned to galleys by Chamber

Bonnard, Pierre Man of business to Marchal de Luxembourg. In bid to recover documents for his master, employed Lesage to cast spells. Sent to galleys by Chamber, May 1680

Bosse, Marie Divineress arrested January 1679 after boasting at a dinner party that she had grown rich from supplying poison. Burnt May 1679

Bossuet, Jacques Bnigne Bishop of Condom, preceptor of Dauphin and celebrated preacher

Bouillon, Marie-Anne, Duchesse de Sister of the Comtesse de Soissons and wife of Kings Great Chamberlain. Visited la Voisin and Lesage, and alleged to have expressed wish that her husband would die

Briancourt, Jean-Baptiste Tutor to Mme de Brinvillierss children who became her lover. Subsequently testified against her at her trial

Brinvilliers, Marie Madeleine, Marquise de Murderess executed July 1676 for poisoning her father and two brothers

Brissart, Mme Marie Widow of Conseiller in Parlement. Alleged by la Voisin to have wanted to poison her sister. Lesage performed magic spells on her behalf to enable her to capture the heart of Captain Rubantel

Broglio, Mme de, formerly Marquise de Canilhac Alleged to have poisoned first husband with aid of la Voisin. Never arrested as had left France

Bussy, Roger de Rabutin, Comte de Cousin of Mme de Svign exiled from Paris 1666 for having written scurrilous novel. Kept in touch with friends at court by letter

Cadelan, Pierre Banker associate of Vanens. Suspected of involvement in international poisoning conspiracy. Died in prison September 1684

Carada, Anne Executed June 1681 for having poisoned her lovers wife

Cessac, Louis de Guilhem de Castelnau, Marquis de Courtier who had to leave France after caught cheating at cards 1671. Returned to France 1674. Implicated in Affair of the Poisons after Lesage alleged he had sought to kill his brother so that he could marry his sister-in-law. Fled the country to escape trial. Permitted to return to France 1691

Chanfrain, Jeanne Mistress of Guibourg

Chapelain, Mme Magdelaine Divineress and former employer of la Filastre. Suspected of being responsible for several poisonings. Sent la Filastre to see Galet. Imprisoned for life

Chasteuil, Franois-Galaup de Major in White Cross Regiment at Turin. Referred to as the author by Vanens, who said he knew secret formula for an oil which converted base metal into gold. Died before arrest of Vanens

Cheron, Anne Fruit seller alleged to have supplied toad to be used to poison cup belonging to M. de Poulaillon. Executed June 1679

Choisy, Abb de Author of memoirs

Colbert, Jean-Baptiste Controller-General of Finance

Cotton, Jacques Priest who conducted black mass attended by la Filastre. Burnt October 1680

Dalmas, P. Blind associate of La Chaboissire, arrested February 1678

Davot, Gilles Priest alleged by Lesage to have performed black masses for la Voisin. Executed July 1681

Debray, tienne Associate of Deschault who revealed details of plot to assassinate King. Executed September 1681

Delaporte, Marguerite Divineress, alleged to have purchased poisons from Matre Pierre. Supposedly present at black masses celebrated in presence of Mme de Montespan. Imprisoned for life without trial

Deschault, Jacques Shepherd alleged to have performed spells and supplied poison to Mme Carada. Executed June 1681

Desmaretz, Mme Widowed client of Lesage who asked him to devise spells to persuade her lover Gontier to marry her

Dreux, Mme Franoise de Client of la Voisin, arrested April 1679. Alleged to have sought to kill her husband and to have asked la Voisin to supply her with poisoned bouquet. Admonished by Chamber 1680 and freed. New warrant issued for arrest July 1681 after named as client of la Joly. Alleged she had sought to kill Duchesse de Richelieu. Fled country to avoid trial

Duplessis, Claude Lawyer and legal adviser to Colbert who drew up memoranda defending Mmes de Montespan and de Vivonne

Dusoulcye, Louise Mistress of Dalmas alleged to have poisoned a woman with plums

Exili, Egidio Italian in service of Queen Christina of Sweden, arrested in Paris February 1663. In Bastille at same time as Sainte-Croix. Alleged to have been great expert on poisons

Ferry, Mme Client of la Bosse and la Voisin. Executed May 1679 for having poisoned her husband

Feuquires, Antoine de Pas, Marquis de Courtier alleged to have been client of la Vigoreux. Present at encounter between Luxembourg and Lesage. Alleged by Lesage to have sought death of a relative of a woman he wished to marry

Filastre, Franoise Sorceress, aged thirty-five in 1680. She claimed to have drawn up satanic pact for Duchesse de Vivonne. At time of arrest planning to obtain position in household of Mlle de Fontanges. Under torture admitted having sacrificed her own child. Also confessed to having purchased aphrodisiacs and poisons on behalf of Mme de Montespan. Retracted claims before being burnt