Business of the poisons

L business of the poisons is an event to Paris between 1670 and 1680, and which shook Paris and the Court.

In 1672, with died of an officer of cavalry, Godin of Holy-Cross, one discovered in his papers of the parts showing his mistress, the Marquise of Brinvilliers to have poisoned his own father, his two brothers and his sister to adapt their share of heritage. The Marchioness of Brinvilliers was considered and carried out in 1676.

In 1677, the investigation revealed that certain a Marie Bosse had thus provided poisons to certain wives of members of the Parliament wanting to poison their husband. Marie Bosse denounced the woman Montvoisin, known as the Neighbor, others comparses and some Lesage. The revelations of the accused relating to people of quality, it was created a special subcommittee to judge without call the defendants: the “burning Room”. Large characters, especially of the women, were then quoted: Madam de Vivonne (sister-in-law of Madam de Montespan), Madam of Mothe, Misses of the Eyelets and Cato (following Madam de Montespan), the countess of Soissons, the countess of Roure, the viscountess de Polignac, the marshal's wife of Luxembourg, and others still.

The lieutenant of police force Reynie carried out a meticulous survey, from where it arose that with the charge of poisoning united other offenses: murder of children at the time of black masses called by discharged priests (whose sadly Etienne Guibourg celebrates), Profanation S of hosts and, even, some time manufacture of false Monnaie.

But this zeal on behalf of Reynie hid the fight that delivered Louvois, Minister for the War, and Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Louvois carrying out a parallel and secret survey on behalf of the King, while the most famous defendants were close relations of Colbert, the Minister for Finance of the time.

After the execution of her mother, the girl of the Neighbor blamed Madam de Montespan: this one had had relations with the Neighbor, to undoubtedly obtain clean powders, believed it, to bring back the love of the king for him, and had taken part in ceremonies of conspiracy. The burning Chambre pronounced against secondary comparses 36 death sentences, several with the galère S. the large characters were saved. The burning Room was dissolved in 1682 per order of Louis XIV, without the indicters of Madam de Montespan being judged, who were locked up in royal fortresses.

the Neighbor was considered with 36 accomplices, was condemned to died and was burned in Place of Strike the February 22nd 1680. Several condemned were locked up with the Vauban citadel of the Palais, with Belle-Île-en-Mer. As for Madam de Montespan, it was not worried, by protection of the king (it was the mother of his illegitimate children), and remained with the Cour. To banish its culpability would have shown, and the king did not want that this one (as that of Racine) becomes public. Madam de Montespan, relegated in a modest apartment of Versailles, fell in disgrace where it remained ten years during, until its death; the king not passing more in front of his room but to go to Madam de Maintenon.

Film

The historical screen was taken again, in a slightly fictionalized way, by the scenario writer Henri Decoin, in his film the Business of the poisons (1955), with Viviane Romance (the Neighbor) and Danielle Darrieux (Madam de Montespan).

See also: Sacha Guitry (If Versailles were told to me) With his way, the Master tells us this history with his usual talent.

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