On the 14th September of 1745, Madame de Pompadour was formally presented at the court of King Louis XV. This momentous event marked her official acceptance into the world of Versailles and the legitimization of her role as the king’s maîtresse-en-titre. The occasion, steeped in the rigid ceremonial traditions of the French court, was a culmination of months of careful planning and political maneuvering.
Madame de Pompadour, born Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson in 1721, was a woman of bourgeois origins, an unusual background for someone destined to become the royal mistress of a king. Groomed from an early age by her ambitious mother and benefactors, Jeanne-Antoinette received an exceptional education that equipped her with the wit, charm, and cultural sophistication needed to thrive in high society.
In February 1745,
she first caught the attention of Louis XV at a masked ball during the Carnival of Versailles,
held to celebrate the marriage of the Dauphin to Maria Teresa of Spain.
To solidify her place within the rigid hierarchy of Versailles, an official court introduction was necessary. This ceremony was no mere formality; it was a highly symbolic act that would confirm her role not only as the king’s mistress but also as a member of the court with a recognized position.
Court life at Versailles was governed by strict protocols that dictated the behavior and status of every individual. To be officially introduced at court, one had to meet certain requirements, including holding a noble title and receiving the approval of key court figures. For Jeanne-Antoinette, who came from a bourgeois background, this posed a significant obstacle.
The king’s solution was
to grant her the marquisate of Pompadour, a title accompanied by an estate.
This title provided her with the noble status required for a court presentation. Additionally, Louis XV worked behind the scenes to secure her acceptance among the courtiers, many of whom were initially hostile to her due to her low birth and unprecedented rise to power.
The presentation ceremony on September 14, 1745, was a grand affair. Jeanne-Antoinette was formally introduced to the king’s court and, most notably, to Queen Marie Leszczyńska, Louis XV’s wife. The queen’s acceptance of the king’s mistress was an essential step in legitimizing Pompadour’s position. By welcoming Jeanne-Antoinette into the royal household, the queen avoided open conflict with the king and preserved her dignity in a court that often thrived on scandal.