The Liberated Lives Of Marie Mancini Princess Colonna And Her Sister Hortense

Marie Mancini Princess Colonna and her sister Hortense were two remarkable women ahead of their time. Born into a noble family in the 17th century, they defied societal norms and carved out extraordinary lives for themselves.

Marie and Hortense shared a deep bond since childhood. While their brothers were groomed for careers in politics and military, as was customary for noble males, the sisters were guided towards domestic skills and marriage prospects. However, their fiery spirits and thirst for knowledge propelled them to seek a different path.

Marie Mancini, known for her beauty and wit, captured the attention of King Louis XIV of France during her teenage years. The king, enthralled by her charm, pursued her relentlessly. Marie, however, resisted the idea of becoming a royal mistress like many other women of her time. She believed in the power of choice and refused to be merely an object of desire.

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

by Elizabeth C Goldsmith (Kindle Edition)

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1395 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	290 pages

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Instead, Marie chose to elope with Lorenzo Onofrio Colonna, an Italian aristocrat. Together, they embarked on a grand adventure across Europe, defying conventions and experiencing the world beyond their gilded cages. They immersed themselves in art, literature, and philosophy, becoming patrons of the arts and hosting influential intellectual gatherings.

Marie Mancini Princess Colonna's commitment to freedom extended beyond her own life. She fought passionately for the rights of women and advocated for their education and empowerment. She believed that every woman should have the opportunity to cultivate her mind and pursue her passions, regardless of societal expectations.

Meanwhile, Hortense Mancini, Marie's sister, followed her own unconventional path. She had a whirlwind romance with the Duke of Savoy, a man who was already married. Their affair caused scandal and led to their exile from the French court. Undeterred, Hortense relocated to England, where she became the mistress of King Charles II.

Hortense's relationship with the king was not solely based on physical attraction. She was known for her intellect and cunning, captivating the king with her wit and charm. She wielded her influence to champion causes close to her heart, supporting artists and writers, and advocating for religious tolerance.

The lives of Marie Mancini Princess Colonna and her sister Hortense were far from ordinary. They defied societal expectations, challenging the patriarchal norms of their time. Their courage and resilience serve as an inspiration for women throughout history, encouraging them to break free from societal constraints and pursue their own liberation.

As we reflect on their lives, we recognize the importance of empowering women to embrace their uniqueness, talents, and aspirations. Marie and Hortense's liberation serves as a reminder that each woman has the power to shape her own destiny and contribute to society in meaningful ways.

So let us celebrate the liberated lives of Marie Mancini Princess Colonna and her sister Hortense, and honor their memory by continuing to fight for equality, education, and freedom for all.

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

by Elizabeth C Goldsmith (Kindle Edition)

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1395 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	290 pages

FREE

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 in their marriages and determined to live independently, they abandoned their husbands in secret and began lives of extraordinary daring on the run and in the public eye. The beguiling sisters quickly won the affections of noblemen and kings alike. Their flight became popular fodder for salon conversation and tabloids, and was closely followed by seventeenth-century European society. The Countess of Grignan remarked that they were traveling "like two heroines out of a novel." Others gossiped that they "were roaming the countryside in pursuit of wandering lovers. "Their scandalous behavior -- disguising themselves as men, gambling, and publicly disputing with their husbands -- served as more than just entertainment. It sparked discussions across Europe concerning the legal rights of husbands over their wives. Elizabeth Goldsmith's vibrant biography of the Mancini sisters -- drawn from personal papers of the players involved and the tabloids of the time -- illuminates the lives of two pioneering free spirits who were feminists long before the word existed.