Madame DuBarry

 

Birth: August 19, 1746 in Vaucouleurs, France

 

Death: December 7, 1793 in Paris, France

 

Nationality: French

 

Occupation: Mistress

 

Nom

(image)

 

 

Pays/Ville

I lived in the Palace of Versailles near Paris, France

 

 

Details Personnels:

I was born in Vaucouleurs, Lorraine; the daughter of Anne Becu and Jean Baptise Gormand.  I was born illegitamately because my parents were not married.  I would later follow in my mother's footsteps although I would be elevated to a much higher position.  At the age of fifteen, I moved to Paris where I was the assistant to a hairdresser of the name Lametez with whom I had a brief relationship with.  I soon caught the attention of Jean du Barry, who helped me become a successful courtesan at court where I would aspire to become the mistress of King Louis XV.

 

Date de Naissance:

August 19th, 1743

Date de Mort:

December 8th, 1793

Sexe:

Female

Croyances Politiques:

I greatly supported the King Louis XV as I was aspiring to become his mistress.

 

 

Croyances Religieuses:

I practiced Roman Catholitism although I was never officially baptised.  Roman Catholitism was the accepted religion of the French Court and so to be accepted, I adopted the religion as well as all of the customs and values.   

 

Situation de Famille:

Married to comte Guillame du Barry

Official Mistress of King Louis XV

 

Enfants:

None recorded, although the brief relationship I had with the hairdresser Lametez might have produced a daughter.  

 

En Cherchant:

To secure my position as the Official Mistress of King Louis XV.

 

Metier:

The Official Mistress of King Louis XV

 

Interets/Loisirs:

• Owning new extravagent gowns
• Expensive Jewelery
• Art

 

Accomplissements:

• Wrote an Autobiography about life at Versialles
• List books, works of art, plays, etc.
• Awards
• Grants

Education:

• Received education at the covent of Saint-Aure 

 

Personnage que je voudrais rencontrer et pourquoi:

 

 

Amis:

• King Louis XV
• Adelaide Labille-Guiard   
• Madame de la Garde
• Some of the aristocrats at court

 

Citation Memorable:

"Encore un moment, monsieur le bourreau, un petit moment," - Madame du Barry

I pleaded to the executioner to give me mercy right before my execution.

 

 

 

Mon Influence sur la Culture Francaise

 

     Even though I was not originally planning on becoming the King's Mistress, I took the role that I was given and embraced it.  I realized that with my newly found position I had lots of influence on the politial aspect of France.  I did not however, take advantage of that.  Instead, my style was what was the larger influence on the French country.  

     Since the begining of time, people have always been looking for what is the newest and greatest style and in the times of monarchies/kings & queens, the aritstocratal administration has been the driving force in style and fashion.  Usually those closest to the King, or highest in power had the most influence over what the new style for the season would be.  Like me, the late mistress of Louis XV Madame de Pompadour greatly influenced French fashion with her expensive and elaborate taste in clothing.  She liked to have her hair in embellished styles and took great care in her appearance. 

     I, however liked more simplistic styles, taking less care in my hair and dress.  This helped to sway the court towards greater informality at Versailles opposed to the many strict and elaborate customs and traditions.  Although I did not take part in much of politics, that is the very reason the King respected my opinion so much.  As you can see, I was very much opposite to the preceding mistress Madame de Pompadour who imposed her views on the King mercillesly.  I overall gave the great empire of France a new sense of simplicity, and freedom.  

 

 

Resources:

"Marie Jeanne Gormard de Vaubernier Du Barry, Comtesse." Almanac of Famous People, 9th ed. Thomson

     Gale, 2007. 

Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2009. http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC

 

Herman, Eloeanor. Sex with Kings:  Five Hundred Years of Adultery, Power, Rivalry, and Revenge.  New York: HarperCollins, 2004.

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