Madame de Ventadour was a duchess who was a friend of Madame de Maintenon and had been given the prestigious role of governess** of the royal children when Louis XIV’s first great grandchild was born.
Eight years later an outbreak of measles claimed the lives of Louis XIV’s grandson and his wife. Their sons were also infected. The elder son, who was five, had become the heir to the French throne. The doctors were preoccupied with saving him. Madame de Ventadour observed their treatment, which included bleeding him, had severely weakened the child and he died. She was determined the surviving two year old would not suffer the same fate and removed him from their care. In so doing, she saved his life.
She became a mother figure to him and he called her “Maman Ventadour”. She took care of him until he turned seven, the age when boys were traditionally turned over to be educated by men.
She was seated in pride of place for his coronation and later “Maman” was well into her sixties when she was made governess of Louis XV’s own children.