Ninon de Lenclos was as sinful a woman as 17th century France could imagine. After quitting her life as a nun, she proclaimed her atheism and swore to remain forever unmarried and independent. Her charm and beauty were well-known amongst the nobility of France, and she took on a series of lovers amongst the most powerful men of her era, including a Duke and the King’s cousin. However, she always refused to take money from these men, preferring to support herself through her own incomes. Throughout this all, she insisted on acting honorably with her lovers – never taking more than one at a time and always telling them clearly when the affair had ended. Amazingly, she managed to keep in good relations with all of her former lovers, and became one of the best connected people of her era. The daughters of the nobility were sent to her to learn the art of love. She was a fashion icon of her era. Once when a former lover was dying of the fever, she shaved off some of her hair to send to him to console him. The distinctive bobbed haircut that remained became a fashion sensation and was called – a la Ninon. Her freewheeling ways caught the attention of the Church, and she was eventually imprisoned. She was later released, though, thanks to the personal intervention of Christina, Queen of Sweden. Over time, she accumulated a great fortune through her schools that educated young nobles in the ways of courtly life. She used her fortune to support many promising young artists, including Moliere and Voltaire. She also continued to charm men and take on new lovers, even into her eighties. In the end she died as she lived independent, atheist, and mourned by the many people who had loved her over her life.
– A few thoughts from your friend Saxo