ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Nutty Productions “Filthy” Secrets of Brothels in Versailles, France
In the late 19th century, Paris earned the nickname “the brothel of Europe,” and for good reason. During this time, the city was home to around 200 legalized brothels. The tradition of keeping courtesans and mistresses was long-standing among French royalty and aristocrats, but it truly flourished with the construction of the Palace of Versailles by the Sun King, Louis XIV. This grand palace served as a center of pleasure until the French Revolution.
What was it like to be a courtesan in Paris? How challenging was it for a madam to manage a brothel? And what role did brothels play in the creation of the vice police department? Let’s delve into the fascinating history of brothels during the era of Versailles.
In the Middle Ages, nuns and courtesans coexisted in convent-like dwellings in Paris. However, when King Philip II’s wife realized that a well-dressed woman she greeted in church was a courtesan, Philip imposed regulations. He required courtesans to wear golden belts as a symbol of their profession and mandated that brothels be located at least 300 meters from churches, allowing clients to repent more easily after their visits.
Philip II was the first to regulate brothels in Paris, but Louis IX took it further by removing them from the city and placing them outside its walls. This led to the term “bordels,” referring to brothels at the city’s borders, and eventually gave rise to the word “brothel.” These establishments were marked by red lanterns, creating the concept of the red-light district.
When Louis XIV, the Sun King, renovated his father’s hunting lodge, brothels and the monarchy found common ground once more. Louis XIV, known for his numerous mistresses, transformed Versailles into a garden of desires. His relationships with women of various social standings were not scandalous but rather a testament to his ability to father children, a crucial aspect for France.
Despite his indulgences, Louis XIV believed rules applied to others, not himself. During his reign, he attempted to reform morality by imprisoning vagabonds and reforming brothel workers. He also cracked down on common brothels in Paris while establishing an exclusive one for himself in Versailles. This was partly due to the rise of venereal diseases in France.
In 1658, Louis XIV ordered the imprisonment of women guilty of solicitation or adultery until they repented. By 1667, he tasked the lieutenant general of police with overseeing public women, leading to the creation of the vice department. This department not only monitored morality but also assessed the economic impact of brothels on France.
The police collected extensive data on brothels and their patrons, yet the purpose of this surveillance remains unclear. Despite the effort, there seemed to be little interest in curtailing the underground economy. However, these records provide a vivid glimpse into the world of Parisian brothels.
While common police dealt with street solicitation, a special unit called “demimonde” was established to monitor elite courtesans in Paris and Versailles. These courtesans were seen as potential vulnerabilities for the French government. The demimonde ensured that madams adhered to strict rules and provided information about their patrons.
Madams acted as both domestic spies and informants. The vice unit focused on elite courtesans known as “kept women,” who offered companionship to elite men in exchange for financial support. These arrangements were not illegal, and kept women had oral contracts with their patrons detailing their compensation and living conditions.
The vice department, active from 1747 to 1771, collected biographical and financial data on the men who hired kept women, inspiring modern counterintelligence techniques. Some theories suggest this surveillance was for the entertainment of King Louis XV and his mistress, Madame de Pompadour, but this remains debatable.
Justine Party and Marguerite Gordon, successful madams, met in a hospital and decided to create a renowned brothel in 18th-century Paris. Marguerite, having previously opened a brothel after her noble patron’s death, established a network of procurers and offered services to clients of all genders. Together, they created a brothel that became the talk of the town.
After Justine’s death, Marguerite continued to run the establishment, attracting clients from various backgrounds, including royalty and academics. Following the French Revolution, the new regime chose to regulate rather than outlaw brothels, marking a new era for the industry. Unfortunately, Marguerite did not live to see these changes.
If you’re interested in learning more about this intriguing topic, feel free to reach out. Thank you for exploring this fascinating chapter of history!
Engage in a role-playing debate where you assume the roles of historical figures such as Louis XIV, courtesans, madams, and members of the vice department. Discuss the ethical and societal implications of brothels in Versailles. Consider the perspectives of different stakeholders and how they might defend or criticize the existence of brothels during this era.
Conduct research on the evolution of brothels in Paris from the Middle Ages to the French Revolution. Present your findings to the class, focusing on how societal attitudes and regulations changed over time. Highlight key figures and events that influenced these changes, and discuss the impact on French society.
Write a short story or diary entry from the perspective of a courtesan or madam living in Versailles during the reign of Louis XIV. Use historical details to create an authentic narrative that explores the daily life, challenges, and societal roles of these women. Share your story with your peers for feedback and discussion.
Compose an essay analyzing the role of the vice department in regulating brothels and its impact on French society. Discuss the motivations behind the surveillance and regulation of brothels, and evaluate whether these efforts were successful or not. Consider the broader implications for privacy and state control during this period.
Create an interactive timeline that traces the history of brothels in Paris, highlighting key events, regulations, and figures. Use digital tools to make the timeline engaging and informative. Include images, primary sources, and brief descriptions to provide context. Share your timeline with the class and discuss its significance.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided transcript:
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Cortisons, coquettes, and coveted desires—Harris was dubbed the “brothel of Europe” in the late 19th century for a reason. Brothels were at their peak in the latter half of the 19th century, with around 200 legalized establishments in the city. For centuries, French kings and aristocrats had kept courtesans and mistresses, but the business really boomed when the Palace of Versailles was constructed by the Sun King, serving as a house of pleasure until the French Revolution.
What was it like to be a kept woman in Paris? How tough was it for a madam to run a brothel? How did brothels play a part in the formation of the vice police department? Today, we learn about the intriguing history of brothels during the age of Versailles.
There was a time when nuns and coquettes lived together harmoniously in convent-like dwellings in Paris during the Middle Ages. However, when the wife of King Philip II discovered that a well-dressed young woman she embraced during the sign of peace in church was a courtesan, Philip forbade women in brothel work from wearing coats and ordered them to wear golden belts as a symbol of their profession. He also decreed that a brothel should be located at least 300 meters from a church, making it easier for clients to repent after visiting.
Philip II was the first king to regulate brothels in Paris, but Louis IX removed them altogether from the city and forced them outside the city walls. This is how brothels came to be known as “bordels,” located at the borders of the city, and thus the word “brothel” originated. These establishments were required to put up a red lantern outside the door as a sign of their work, giving rise to the concept of the red-light district.
When the Sun King took over the renovation of the hunting lodge built by his father, it became clear that brothels and monarchy would reconcile again. Henry IV was already infamous for having many mistresses, but his grandson, Louis XIV, developed the estate that became the future seat of power in France and turned it into his garden of desires. The great Sun King had numerous mistresses, including well-known figures like the Marquis de Montespan and Louise de la Vallière, but the list is extensive.
Before Louis XIV moved on to young noblewomen, he practiced his arts with various palace serving maids and even fathered a child with a gardener’s daughter. This was not seen as scandalous; rather, it proved that Louis was capable of fathering children, which was of utmost importance for France.
However, the Sun King was also a major believer in the idea that rules applied to others, not to him. The shadowy organization of the French Counter-Reformation, the Company of the Holy Sacrament, attempted moral reform by imprisoning vagabonds and reforming brothel workers. During his reign, Louis XIV tried to crack down on common brothels in Paris while building an exclusive establishment for himself in Versailles. One reason for this repression was the emergence of venereal disease, which became a problem in France.
In 1658, he ordered all women guilty of solicitation or adultery to be imprisoned until they had repented. In 1667, he assigned the task of surveying public women to the lieutenant general of police, leading to the establishment of the vice department. The surveillance and crackdown on public women were not only for morality but also to understand how much brothels contributed to the French economy.
The police gathered extensive information on the city’s brothels and patrons, but it remains a mystery why so much effort was spent observing this underground economy without any apparent interest in curtailing it. However, these dossiers provide a vivid picture of what was happening behind the scenes in Parisian brothels.
While common police handled street solicitation, a particular vice unit called “demimonde” was created to monitor elite courtesans in Paris and Versailles, as they were considered a vulnerability for the French government. Common coquettes could be apprehended easily, but elite courtesans were different. The demimonde not only conducted surveillance but also ensured that madams followed strict rules and provided inspectors with information about their patrons.
In a way, madams acted as both domestic spies and informants. Most of the unit’s resources were spent watching a particular group of elite courtesans known as “kept women.” These women provided intimacy and companionship for elite men in exchange for financial support to maintain their households.
The practice of keeping a mistress was not illegal, and kept women had oral contracts with their patrons outlining their remuneration and living arrangements. The vice department, which operated from 1747 to 1771, gathered biographical and financial data on the men who hired kept women, inspiring techniques used by counterintelligence organizations today.
One prominent theory suggests that this massive surveillance was meant for the bedtime reading of King Louis XV and his mistress, Madame de Pompadour, who was instrumental in establishing the unit. However, there is a strong argument against this theory, as many reports contained rumors that could have soured the king’s mood.
When Justine Party and Marguerite Gordon met in a hospital and decided to create a famous brothel in 18th-century Paris, they were already successful madams. Marguerite had previously taken a noble patron and opened her first brothel after his death. She crafted a network of procurers and offered services to clients of all genders.
When she met Justine, they established a brothel that became the hottest spot in town. After Justine’s passing, Marguerite ran the establishment alone, implementing rules for residents and attracting clients from various backgrounds, including royalty and academics.
However, after the French Revolution, the new regime sought to regulate brothels rather than outlaw them, ushering in a new era for the industry. Unfortunately, Marguerite did not live long enough to see these changes.
If you’d like to learn more about this topic, let us know in the comments. Thank you for watching!
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This version removes explicit references and maintains a focus on the historical context while ensuring the content is appropriate for a wider audience.
Brothels – Establishments where people engage in sexual activities in exchange for money, often regulated or tolerated in historical contexts. – During the late 19th century, brothels were often found in urban areas and were subject to varying degrees of legal oversight and social stigma.
Courtesans – Individuals, typically women, who provided companionship and often sexual services to wealthy and powerful men, frequently playing significant roles in political and cultural spheres. – In Renaissance Italy, courtesans were known not only for their beauty but also for their intelligence and influence in the courts of powerful patrons.
Versailles – The opulent palace and former royal residence in France, symbolizing the absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime. – The Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919, was a pivotal moment in history, marking the end of World War I and reshaping the geopolitical landscape of Europe.
Louis – A name associated with several French kings, most notably Louis XIV, known as the Sun King, who epitomized absolute monarchy. – King Louis XIV’s reign is often cited as the quintessential example of absolute monarchy, with his famous declaration, “L’État, c’est moi” (“I am the state”).
Revolution – A fundamental and often violent change in political power or organizational structures, typically occurring over a relatively short period. – The French Revolution of 1789 was a watershed event in world history, leading to the rise of modern democratic ideals and the decline of monarchies.
Police – An organized civil force responsible for maintaining public order, enforcing laws, and preventing crime, often evolving significantly over time. – The establishment of the modern police force in 19th-century London marked a significant development in urban governance and public safety.
Morality – Principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior, often influenced by cultural, religious, and historical contexts. – The Victorian era in Britain was characterized by a strict code of morality, which influenced social norms and legal practices.
France – A European country with a rich history, known for its cultural influence, revolutionary movements, and significant role in global affairs. – France’s involvement in the American Revolution was crucial in securing victory for the colonies, demonstrating the interconnectedness of global political struggles.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs, encompassing a wide range of disciplines and methodologies. – Understanding history is essential for comprehending the complexities of contemporary society and the roots of current global issues.
Economy – The system of production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services within a society, often influenced by historical events and policies. – The Industrial Revolution dramatically transformed the economy of Britain, leading to unprecedented levels of production and urbanization.
