The High Watermark for Interesting Mistresses

The 17th century was a time of high tumult for France and England. Both had been torn apart by sectarian civil wars that weakened the power of the French monarchy, and saw England's briefly replaced with the Republic. This was an era of absolute monarchy in France, where divine right to rule was asserted and ruthlessly enforced. The mistresses were so prominent that they were given a special title, Maitres Antietre, or official mistress. To catch the King's Eye, you had to be at the right events, be able to mingle in polite society, and have the kinds of charm and graces that are honed from birth by the upper crust. Second, they had