As “beautiful as an angel” the penniless Chevalier de Lorraine became the lover of the duc d’Orleans, the brother of the king, in 1658

Their relationship was suffused with the domination by Lorraine over Orleans. Manipulation, bullying, greed and humiliation were the ways Lorraine used Orleans to his advantage.   He was a nasty piece of work.

Note: Lorraine was involved in a homosexual scandal at Versailles in which several young nobles formed a “club”. Louis XIV’s legitimized son by his first mistress, Louis de Bourbon, Count de Vermandois was inducted into this club at the age of 13. Lorraine is said to have demanded the young man’s semen to sign a pledge to the club. The king was outraged by this activity and sent Lorraine into exile in Rome.

Note: When her husband was compelled to have sex with Madame he draped holy medallions and relics around his private parts to insure that he could perform. Apparently they worked!