Academic paper from 2013 in the field of History Europe - other countries - modern times, absolutism, industrialization, grade: 2.0, University of Duisburg-Essen (Historical Institute), course: Seminar, language: German, abstract: When Maria Leszczynska received the news in 1725 that she had been called to be the Queen of France, she surely did not expect to have to share her husband with various successive women, who would become more influential than she herself. Although mistresses were not a novelty at the absolutist court, the reign of King Louis XV. is particularly marked by his mistresses, of whom the Madames de Pompadour and du Barry are still seen today as the epitome of mistresses. However, what is often equated only with young favorites and secret lovers was, in reality, much more.