October 9, 1694. The day Louis XIV’s sister-in-law admits to hating “shit” in Fontainebleau

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PODCAST. In a letter to her aunt, Elisabeth-Charlotte of Bavaria, nicknamed “La Palatine”, complains about the sanitary conditions of French palaces.

By Frederic Lewino and Gwendoline Dos Santos

In a letter dated October 9, 1694, the Princess Palatine evokes the difficulty of defecating in Fontainebleau. And we can not say that she goes there with the back of the spoon. Daughter of an Elector Palatine, Elisabeth-Charlotte of Bavaria is the second wife of the king’s brother, the Duke of Orléans. This 42-year-old woman does not use the chastised language of the courtiers of the court of the Sun King. Moreover, it is not to displease Louis XIV, who has a small weakness for her. In fact, beard court etiquette seriously. She eats like four, which earned her to be mocked as the “belly of Europe”. Hence, probably, his marked interest in the problems of evacuation.

“Damn it! »

Full of wit, she maintains an extensive correspondence with her family, who…

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