Examples from history: successful kept women
In our time, there are no “inventions” at all, thanks to which women and girls would live with the full support of wealthy men. They have always existed and sometimes even appeared in one form or another.
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turning to antiquity and Alexander the Great, we cannot help but recall the most famous domesticated woman of that time – Campaspe. According to Pliny the Great, in addition to official wives, slaves and other mistresses, Campaspe was definitely in the pay of Alexander the Great. Without infringing on his wife’s status, it was her free decision, but it had a good reward. The young Macedonian admired her beauty and ability to communicate. A very romantic story is connected with her subsequent life.
The Macedonians ordered their beloved kept woman to be painted naked. The artist Apeles fulfilled this order and fell madly in love with her. He depicted her face and body in many paintings, for example, in the form of Aphrodite Anadyomene. Alexander was so touched by this that he gave Campaspe to his beloved master. It is unknown how Beauty’s life ended, but it is believed that she lived a fairly prosperous life.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, “mistresses” were women of low birth who did not spend money or show the world what they had to offer. If it was a question of any respected woman, she was taken into maintenance.
Here lies such a paradox! It turns out that those who gave love were valued less than those who demanded to feed themselves. Therefore, in France, Madame de Pompadour was called “officially a kept woman” under Louis.
Madame de Pompadour.
The first woman held in France is still believed to be Agnes Sorel, but it was the passion of Charles VII, who spent an unprecedented amount of money that year. It was she who introduced the fashion of wearing diamonds for uncrowned persons and a long train. She is still loved by little girls.
At the same time, Agnes (surprisingly for that time) did not hesitate to position herself as a free woman in the monarch’s salary. After all, many favorites still preferred to have an official spouse or other status that “justified” their presence at court.
Read also: How sex, passion and love changed history
love is an amazing feeling that poets, writers and directors sing about. But the power of passion cannot be underestimated. After all, it’s often sexual.
Many coroners and other generous donors saw some women primarily as “their mate.” Thus, they had no right to claim them even after the relationship ended. Therefore, King George V of England supported Henrietta Howard for the rest of her life. Even after the Countess’s beauty faded somewhat and their relationship ended.
Success stories of strong women // Amazons of the 19th century / New Year’s issue
The years 1800-1900 were full of examples of successful “demimonde women”. Just remember Jeanne de Tulbe. She was born into a poor large family and worked as a bottle washer. She had no choice but to move to Paris and try to offer herself as a protected woman.
She made a considerable fortune for herself when she began directing the Capital Theater. Later, thanks to administrator Baros, she earned another 800, 000 francs. An amazing income for those times. But there was a reason for such rewards. Jeanne received in her salon and patronized almost all the outstanding literary figures of our time. She was very well read and smart. This allowed her to subsequently accept the courtship of Count Victor Edgar de Rouen not only as a kept woman, but also as a wife, countess and politician.
Don’t forget Marie Dulcery, the prototype of the famous “Lady of the Camellias”. Another story about a girl born into a poor family. Her father was a bitter drunkard. Rosa (hence her real name Dulpes) moved to Paris and became Modesto’s assistant. However, it was almost impossible for her to live on the money she earned. However, her external details remained undisclosed.
So at the age of 16, she decided to accept the restaurant owner’s offer. He noticed her and took her into custody. Then, during one of his trips, he introduced her to the Duke de Guiche. In addition to the fact that he becomes Marie’s new sponsor, it is Hiche who becomes her “ticket” to the world of the rich. Thus, during the period of her active social life, her income was about 100, 000 francs per year, while the salary of the model for whom she began working did not reach 1, 000 francs per year.
Unfortunately, at a young age she fell ill with tuberculosis. At the age of 23 she died. Among those who were pleased was the composer Franz Liszt. He called her his “good muse.” In addition, a year before her death, she married Count Perego.
However, for all those who can admire a woman of superior caliber who skillfully seized the opportunity to make her way to a decent standard of living, she remains a camellia woman. Dumas-Saint not only immortalized her image forever in the above-mentioned work, but also dedicated his best poem “I left you.” to her. was dedicated to her.
