Miniseries

1996

This 2-part TV movie traces the life of Françoise d'Aubigné, who became Madame de Maintenon. After a brief introduction to her early life, the story takes shape with her marriage to the satirical poet Paul Scarron, and continues through to her prodigious rise to the court of Louis XIV, whose morganatic wife she became in 1683 at the age of 48. The film focuses in particular on her period as governess to the illegitimate children Madame de Montespan had with the king, and her stormy relationship with the Marquise, who could not bear to see the king become increasingly unreasonably attached to her. The film ends with her death at Saint-Cyr on April 15, 1719.

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E1. Episode 1

Jan 1, 1996 · 117m

This section presents the youth of the future Madame De Maintenon, born Françoise d'Aubigné. We follow her through her marriage to Paul Scarron, as well as her sentimental adventures after the death of the satirical poet. Having become governess to the illegitimate children of Louis XIV and Mme de Montespan, the episode ends with the beginning of an inclination between the king and the widow Scarron.

E2. Episode 2

Jan 2, 1996 · 126m

While Françoise devotedly brought up the children of the King and Madame de Montespan, the King gradually developed the habit of coming to see them, which damaged relations between the two women. Françoise receives a proposal of marriage from the King. A life of difficult habits began, and the king reproached his wife for her old beliefs. In time, the Saint Cyr school becomes her refuge, where the king has acceded to her desire to create a school for poor young girls from the nobility. The end of the reign was terrible: war and famine raged, the king lost his son, the young Duchess of Burgundy, the new Dauphin, and he was left with only a small child to ensure succession to the throne. It was the end for Louis XIV. Alone with Françoise, he confides that his only regret is leaving her. She leaves for Saint Cyr, ill and curious about death, but feels a regret at leaving this world: in the Allée du roi, Louis XIV is waiting for her, and she runs to join him.