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The Double Standard in the Courts of Henri II and Louis XIV

            The Double Standard in the Courts of Henri II and Louis XIV.
             During the reign of Henri II and Louis XIV women in their courts, were subjected to a double standard. There was even a double standard between women of different classes in the court. The Queen was in the minority of women who had substantial power that did not participate in an affair during this period. Men had many public extramarital affairs whilst if a woman had one she would often be exiled from the court. One of the very few women in the court who was not a hypocrite was the Mademoiselle de Chartres, the Princess de Cleves. .
             Virtually all members of the court participated in extra-marital affairs. This activity was not acceptable for women to participate and was publicly denounced but officially accepted for men to participate in extramarital affairs. Henri II and Louis XIV both had very public love affairs with the same person and through this, they wielded more power to her then to the Queen. Madame Valentois were both king's official mistress, she had a very important influence in the court. It was not inappropriate for a King to have a mistress at all because there wives were chosen for them and it was seen as almost mandatory. The Queen also had several guards that looked after her at all times to make sure that she was not having any affairs. The reason affairs with the Queen was not tolerated was because they wanted to ensure the line of succession and not have illegitimate claims to the throne. If one did have an affair with the Queen it would be considered high treason and the culprit would be executed. Women could have no short-comings in the court because if their reputation was lost it was impossible to regain. If a man's infidelity became a reason of ridicule and hurt his reputation then he could do something in the public or win a battle or another thing to gain more exaltation. .
             Neither women or men had much of a voice when it came to there marriages however women had a slight more say.


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