Mistresses
Mistresses.
Now, you might be asking yourself, "I thought this was about courtesans!". I can understand the confusion, as I first didn't understand what a mistress had to do with historical sex work- but the connection is there, and if you can stick around for this very long post, you too will see it.
Kings and noblemen have had countless mistresses through the ages, some famous and others not.
The career mistress, however, did not pop up until Charles II's reign.
What is a career mistress?
The career mistress is a woman who, instead of intending on a short dalliance, seeks to make a name and comfortable living for herself and her friends by seducing someone in power.
She doesn't just want pretty jewels, clothes, and a good romp- no, she wants houses and political power, and she intends to keep it.
These women were normally women of the court and of money, though as you will read below that is not always the case.
They were fairly learned, skilled in courtly manners, and usually had at least a knowledgeable appreciation for the arts.
This is what makes them similar to the courtesans you now know- they were women of skill and talent that were put before wealthy men in hopes of favor and wealth.
The Mistresses of King Charles II - England - The Restoration
How can one talk of mistresses without talking about King Charles II, the notorious merry monarch? This man had over seventeen illegitimate children with his mistresses, and there could be more that he did not acknowledge.
They were some of the very first “career mistressesâ€.
His mistresses paved the way for ambitious women in the courts in England and beyond, earning independent wealth, fame, political power, and of course the love of the King.
They ruled when it came to the court. If someone talked against one of the king’s favorites, as one court lady mistakenly did, they could find themselves out of their ass and banished. The lady mentioned had spoken ill of Barbara, the king’s first and most formidable mistress, and came to a royal ball. When she presented herself to the king for a dance, she was horrified to find that her venomous words earned her a very strict and very public banishment from court.
His first, and most prominent mistress was the woman who fetched him from exile:
Barbara Villiers, first duchess of Cleveland.
Married to a man with a moderate income and living in an aging Tudor house, Barbara earned her chance to truly shine when she was called to find the king.
After Charles I’s execution, and the following 'rule' of puritan leader lead Council of State, Charles II had fled to Europe for safety and found a temporary home in France.In the french court, Charles learned a lot about love, love making, and how to have a good time in general.
So Barbara was sent out, chosen because she was now immune to smallpox (she had contracted the disease, survived, and was luckily left unscarred.) which was rampantly hitting the continent.
According to eyewitnesses, it was love at near first sight, and Charles II returned to England with Barbara on his arm.
Barbara was foul tempered, extravagant, and so well favored with political power that some called her the “Uncrowned queenâ€. Others called her the “Curse of the Nationâ€. She had friends who wanted to go places, and she was good at asking the king to help them.
Of course, Charles II had wandering eyes and apparently a very large heart, as the french Louise Renne soon stepped into the spotlight- pushing Barbara to the sidelines.
She was given apartments in the royal palace that ran terribly close to the King’s.
Another notable was Nell Gwyn, who had a truly rags-to-riches story. From cinder-girl to orange seller, and from that to actress, and finally to mistress to the king. Her allowances were small compared to Barbara and Louis, but still far more than she could ever have dreamed.
The king’s poor wife- Catherine of Braganza -probably felt as if she were being surrounded by women who, to her, were the enemy.
Many women went in and out of his life, and his palace apartments, but it is said that when he lay dying, his last words were:
“Let not poor Nelly starveâ€.
Barbara and Nell survived fairly well after the king’s death, receiving a pension until their deaths- Louis, on the other hand, was stripped of her titles and possessions and returned to France in shame
Mistresses of King Louis XV - France - Mid 1700’s
I cannot talk of courtesans and luxury without the two most prominent mistresses of French history.
French kings were expected to have mistresses. If one did not, the royal courts would gossip and wonder if he was alright- a king with mistresses was a virile king.
King Louis XV was notorious with his affairs, to the point it got a bit out of hand, but there were two mistress that stuck out into history a bit on their own.
The first: Madame de Pompadour.
Like a fairy tale, the King met Madame de Pompadour at a glamorous masked ball, held in honor of the Dauphine's (king’s son’s and crowned prince) marriage. He considered her the love of his life, and the two dotted on one another like lovesick children.
She was smart, a true intellectual, could sing and dance exceptionally, was cultured in ways many other women overlooked- but the problem was that she was bourgeoisie and common born, and as attached as the King was to her, the royal court would not stand to have her as such. Even Louis’s many children did not like her, as he spent much of his money and time on the woman who had stolen his heart.
Eventually, she was given the title of “Marquise de Pompadourâ€, and she moved into the royal apartments. A smart woman, Pompadour made sure never to alienate the Queen- who was actually quite relieved to be free from her husband’s sexual appetite; ten children in ten years being more than enough for her. They were not quite friends, but the Queen adored her none the less.
A patron of the arts, it is said that Madame de Pompadour’s influence was felt with the flourishing of architecture and interior design, and she was even patron to the famous Voltaire. The Marquise was often of poor health, described as frail, but this did not stop Pompadour. She was an active political schemer- her influence felt in court by friends, allies and a strong voice..
Eventually, their sexual relationship dulled and ended- though Louis XV was not willing to simply cast her aside. They stayed close friends, lovers in more an emotional sense than sexual. He trusted her with his life, and she acted as adviser when things began to go poorly in his reign.
Her political career, as much influence as she had procured, was a mistake. She was not savvy as a go-between for the king and the Austrian ambassador during treaty settlements, she was manipulated and became so unpopular in the courts and country that the King received death threats if he did not get rid of her.
In 1764, she contracted tuberculosis, and Louis lost his beloved confidant.
Our second mistress came by later in Louis XV’s life, and she was a tad different and forty years the king’s younger.
Madam du Barry.
As lovely as a rose, perfect in every physical way- but said to be a bit… lacking in intelligence.
Madame du Berry was absolutely hated her- she was common born, and little more than a street walker according to many of the court, but she perked up a king who had fallen into a deep depression.
She was uncouth, scandalized the court with her manners (or lack of), and the courts thought her just another mistress that was unfit for her position. The poor girl was hated even more than her predecessor, despite having done what no one else could- bringing life back into the king.
The king fell ill, so terribly that took days of doctors muttering to one another to find that Louis had smallpox. This, on the cusp of death, was the end of du Berry- she was not only blamed for it all, but King Louis XV banished Madame du Barry as he absolved his sins.
In 1793, Madame du Berry was executed during the revolution.
So, how can we apply the above into roleplay?
Well, first and foremost when thinking of playing as a mistress to a PC is consent.
I'm not just talking about consent of the one player, though that is obviously very important; if the character is in an established pairing/marriage with another players character, you MUST get BOTH of their consent and agreement.
It would be incredibly irresponsible on both your and your partner's parts if either choose to keep secrets ooc from someone else who is involved. That is just bad RP etiquette, and is a ticking time bomb for drama and hurt feelings.
With NPC's, of course, the above is not an issue.
When wanting to play a mistress that can stick their fingers into the affairs of the rich and powerful, you have to be mindful of both the lore and its restrictions, and player knowledge vs character knowledge.
For Example: F'arali Yuda is a Sunseeker Miqo'te. She was once a performer on Ul'dah's streets, dancing and performing little skits for coin- but one day, she caught the eye of a richly dressed woman.
She was offered gifts of gil first, then clothing and jewels, and soon found herself in the arms of the noble woman.
F'arali learned that her new lover was in a marriage of status instead of a love match, and that she only found happiness when in the company of the Miqo'te dancer.
Moved into a private apartment and given a more than generous allowance, F'arali has most certainly hit the jackpot.
Can she keep the woman's affections, or will she find herself out in the cold should the woman find someone else?
Will the husband find out? What would he do, and how could F'arali prevent his wrath from falling upon her?
Up next: Courtesan headcanons for the known city states.