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One of the most faithful and trusted ladies of Marie Antoinette served by her side until the bitter end. Madame de Lamballe was born in Turin and raised under the iron thumb of her father Prince Louis Victor of Savoy. The duke of Penthievre was keen to marry his son Louis-Alexandre, Prince of Lamballe and descendant of Louis XIV and Madame de Montespan.

Their short & rough marriage lasted from January 1767 to May 1768 when he died as a result of his free loving ways. After her husband's death and close with her father in law who would take her to Versailles when a chance meeting drew the young Austrian to her. The two become quick friends in the intimidating world of Versailles. As soon as Marie became queen she named Lamballe as the superintendent of the house, the highest position in the queens domain and even more she was the trusted friend and advisor. 

Lambale took her job very seriously and as the stress and formality of court pushed in Marie wanted more of the relaxed life of the Petit Trianon. Lamballe was pushed aside for a bit but on October 5, 1789 when the angry group of women called for the queen's head Lamballe was by her side. Three years later she was still there as the Swiss guards were killed at the Palais des Tuileries and the screams filled the halls calling for their death. 

A few days later on August 19 she was pulled from the arms of the queen and taken to La Petit Force prison where on September 3. 1792 after a “trial” where she refused to denounce the king and queen she was quickly taken to the courtyard where a crowd of angry people awaited her. What happened next was horrific. The rage of the people were taken out on her for hours and her body and head were dragged to the window of the Temple prison where they screamed for Marie Antoinette to look out and see her trusted friend one last time, 

Her loyal friend until her final breath never wavered her love and support at a time when very few still stood by the disgraced queen. Listen to the full story of the life of Madame de Lamballe now on Paris History Avec a Hemingway on La Vie Creative Podcast, out today, 

More info and photos: https://www.claudinehemingway.com/paris-history-avec-a-hemingway-podcast-1

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