Les Mignons

Mignon ( about German sweetheart ) is the name that the people of Paris in the 16th century - quite pejorative - was the favorite of the kings of France. In the 19th and 20th century, restricted the name to the favorites of King Henry III. one.

The favorites of Henry III.

Henry III. pushed out the nobility of France from the affairs of state, as this did not stop after the beginning of the Wars of Religion to the power to fight. He replaced them with members of the lower nobility, to whom he gave high duties, and on which he relied in his government. His court was thus a narrowly defined circle of favorites that could thanks to their Lord amass an immense fortune. They went on to call this ironic " les mignons " to.

Among them are the best known:

• François d'O
• Henri de Saint- Sulpice
• Jacques de Lévis, comte de Caylus
• Louis de Maugiron
• François d' Espinay

The two most important so-called Archi Mignon, however, were:

• Anne de Joyeuse Batarnay de, Baron of Arques, later Duke of Joyeuse
• Jean Louis de Nogaret de La Valette, called le roi demi ( half the king), later Duke of Épernon

Profile of Mignon

The favorites of Henry III. wore make up and a light dusting, wore earrings, lace and spangles, but at the same time were notorious womanizer and successful soldiers - is the death of the Duke of Joyeuse an example. The Mignon appeared full of courage and boldness, were proud, often violent and provocative.