Secrets of History | The Irresistible Rise of Madame de Maintenon

A 2014 France TV History Documentary hosted by Stéphane Bern. Audio in French with English subtitles.

A historic journey in the footsteps of Françoise d'Aubigné, Marquise de Maintenon. Victim of a black legend, she is often considered a manipulative bigot, accused of having placed the end of the reign of the Sun King under the leaden screed of excessive devotion.

Born poor and Protestant, she was entrusted by Madame de Montespan with the education of the children she had by her lover, who was none other than Louis XIV. He falls in love with Maintenon and marries her secretly. Passionate about education, she founded the first school reserved for girls, which made her an unknown figure in the women's cause.

With the participation of Françoise Chandernagor, Jean-Paul Desprat, Simone Bertière, Jean-Christian Petitfils, Joël Cornette, Alexandre Maral, Olivier Chaline, and even Evelyne Lever.