The Sun King's Rise
King Louis XIV of France, often referred to as Le Roi Soleil (The Sun King), reigned for an astonishing 72 years, from 1643 to 1715. He remains one of the most powerful and influential monarchs in European history. Born in 1638, Louis became king at the tender age of four upon the death of his father, Louis XIII. During his early reign, France was governed by Cardinal Mazarin, but after the cardinal's death in 1661, Louis took full control of the government, ushering in an era of absolute monarchy.
Louis XIV famously declared, "L'État, c'est moi" — "I am the state." His rule was characterized by the centralization of power, the glorification of royal authority, and the monumental construction of the Palace of Versailles, which became the ultimate symbol of royal opulence and control.
But behind the gilded walls of Versailles, amid the glittering salons and grand masquerades, lurked a shadowy world of alchemy, potions, black masses, and poison. The splendor of Louis XIV’s court masked a growing crisis that threatened the very heart of his kingdom — a scandal that would come to be known as the Affair of the Poisons.
The Affair of the Poisons (1677–1682)
The Affair of the Poisons (L'Affaire des Poisons) was one of the most sensational criminal cases in French history. Between 1677 and 1682, a series of investigations uncovered a vast underground network of fortune-tellers, alchemists, and self-proclaimed witches operating in Paris and even within the royal court. These individuals were accused of selling poison, performing black masses, and practicing witchcraft — often at the behest of members of the nobility.
The Context of Fear and Paranoia
In 17th-century France, poisons were an increasingly common weapon of the ambitious and the desperate. The sudden and mysterious deaths of nobles, courtiers, and even royal family members were often whispered to be the result of foul play. At the same time, the public's fascination with occult practices grew, and the demand for love potions, fertility charms, and magical remedies exploded.
It was within this atmosphere of fear, superstition, and obsession with personal advancement that the scandal took root. shutdown123