Soft power of women in 18 th century France

[rever]

In 18th-century France, especially Paris, these drawing rooms presided over by noblewomen were far more than simple social venues. They were even a "second government" parallel to the Palace of Versailles, incubators of ideas, generators of public opinion, and fermenters of political conspiracy.

  It was in Madame Geoffrin's legendary salon on Rue Saint-Honoré that Diderot secured the final and most crucial funding for his groundbreaking Encyclopedia—a monumental work that dared to elevate human reason over the divine right of kings.

  The slogan that would resound throughout France and even overturn Europe—"Liberty, Equality, Fraternity"—was forged in these seemingly romantic drawing rooms, where thinkers like Voltaire and Rousseau repeatedly debated and clashed with aristocrats and clergy at afternoon teas among their ladies. Here, the power of a single word was forged into a weapon powerful enough to overthrow an entire dynasty.

Beaumarchais's play, The Marriage of Figaro, a searing satire on aristocratic privilege banned by King Louis XVI himself, gained unparalleled momentum through repeated readings in these intimate salons, ultimately forcing the king to rescind his order. Its performance triggered a political upheaval throughout Paris.

  Even the financial sector was affected.

  The renowned former Director of Finance, Jacques Necker, rose to power largely not through the king's favor but through the astute support of his wife, who, within their own salons, forged an unbreakable network of support among bankers, intellectuals, and enlightened aristocrats.

  Here, the success or failure of a new play, the reputation of a philosopher, even the appointment or dismissal of a minister could be decided in a few seemingly casual conversations and a few ambiguous letters.

  This is a unique form of "soft power," unique to this era.

  Power is no longer manifested solely in royal decrees or court rulings; it becomes invisible, permeating every nod, every smile, every wave of a fan. And the women of the salons are the core nodes of this soft power. They use their wisdom, charm, and family prestige to weave a vast network spanning France, enmeshing politicians, bankers, artists, and thinkers.

[Orzmund]

Good post. You could write an essay on the salons of France.

And the women of the salons are the core nodes of this soft power.

What would you have us do then? Cut out their tongues to silence every lie and deception? Evidently in this context, soft power has overruled and subverted observable mechanisms of power, or even engineered them, through democracy and suffrage. It is inevitable that half something influence its other half, and it could be inevitable too that this thing turn its other half against itself.

[JCel2001]

Very High IQ post

[rever]

Thanks

[rever]

"In Paris, it's the wind with the ladies' fans that makes the oak trees bloom."

  Under the Ancien Régime, French aristocratic women, especially those at the top, were not simply dependents.

  They had their own independent property rights

Through dowries and inheritances, many noblewomen amassed vast personal assets beyond the direct control of their husbands. They could independently invest, lend, and even sponsor artists and politicians. This gave them significant financial influence within their families.

  Furthermore, most of these women were married through alliances between two powerful aristocratic families.

  A wife was more than just a wife; she was also an "ambassador" for another powerful family name. Every decision a husband made had to consider the interests and attitudes of the family behind her. Therefore, the wife's opinion carries immense weight in many family affairs and foreign policy decisions

It was said that a duke, renowned for his stubbornness within the Parlement (everyone present knew who it was, given the limitation), had ignored his wife's advice on purchasing a painting and, after receiving a gentle tap on the back of his hand with a fan, could only manage an awkward smile.

  someone overheard a discussion among several men about the appointment of a colonial governor, the final decision ultimately depending on which candidate's mistress was most favored by the queen's close associates. This was

  true not only among the nobility but also at court.

  The king's mistresses were the ultimate example.

  Madame de Pompadour and Madame du Barry were de facto "prime ministers," possessing such immense power that they could influence war and peace, dismiss and appoint marshals and ministers. Their very existence demonstrated the supremacy of "unofficial power" in France.

  The same was true of the queen's circle. Marie Antoinette also surrounded herself with a small circle of female friends (such as Madame Polignac). Their preferences could directly influence the allocation of court positions and the disbursement of lavish pensions, sparking numerous political scandals.

  In an era without modern media, information was power. Through letters, servants, and clergy, these ladies wove a network of intelligence spanning France. They often knew about shifting court trends before their husbands did.

  Therefore, the operation of Versailles was never a purely rational bureaucratic system, but rather a complex system of interpersonal relationships.