Sexual orientations in 17th-18th century Europe were defined differently than today. Julie D’Aubigny would not have used the term “bisexual” to describe herself and her sexuality. Despite this, queer communities and identities existed in Europe at this time. Some referred to it as “the Italian Vice.”
Phillipe, brother of Louis XIV, was known to have relations with other men. Louis XIV would likely have known about these relations, as well as other men in his court who were likely gay/queer.
We see references to queer identities in the legal documents of the 17th and 18th century. Primarily these exist to list the potential punishment for those found guilty of committing crimes, but they do show that people were aware of non-Heterosexual identities existing at this time.
In 1681, French translator and classicist Anne Dacier published a translation of Sappho’s poetry in French. Anne would be the first woman to translate Sappho’s work into French. Dacier’s translations attempted to remove or minimize the lesbian tones of Sappho’s writing. Other translations such as John Donne’s "Sappho to Philaenis” (1633) more overtly show Sappho’s sexuality.
Venetian Ceruse was a whitening makeup used by women and men in the 1600-1700’s, popularized by Queen Elizabeth of England. This makeup was also poisonous! One of the key ingredients of Ceruse was lead, which could be absorbed through the skin and cause severe health problems. Despite this, Ceruse was still worn to lighten the skin and hide any blemishes or marks people may have had.
Pale/light colored skin was believed to be healthy and attractive at this time in European societies. It was associated with wealth and the freedom to not have to perform manual labor out under the sun. Writings at this time and later on in the 1700s would write negatively about darker skin tones, contrasting those with white and light colored skin. This form of discrimination is known as colorism today.
In 2025, the global skin whitening industry was estimated to be worth over 10 Billion dollars.
Beauty marks were fashionable in Europe from the 16th to the 18th century. They were worn for a variety of reasons: to draw attention to a favored feature, to cover up pock marks from smallpox, and in some cases to hide blemishes or scars caused by the lead and mercury in the makeup itself. Over time, the shape and placement of these marks developed meaning and were used to convey information about the wearer.
Click the down arrow to expand more details about each beauty mark!
Haughty or majestic
Passionate or provocative
Available, kissable
Engaged, involved
Married or devoted
Playful
Coquettish or flamboyant
Gallant
Indecisive
The Murderer (of innocence)
the Accomplice
Discreet
Impudent
1685
Julie first learns to duel
1688
France enters the Nine Years’ War (thru 1697)
d’Albert fights in the Siege of Philippsburg
1689
Julie is sentenced to be executed for her relationship with Cécilia Bortigali (although the judge believed that Julie was a male), and allegedly burning down a convent.
1690
d’Albert fights in the Battle of Fleurus
Julie and d’Albert meet and duel for the first time
Julie performs at the Paris Opera (through 1694)
1692
D’Albert fights in the Battle of Steenkerque
1694
Julie ends first run at the Paris Opera
1697
The Nine Years’ War ends
1698
Julie performs at the Paris Opera (through 1705)
1703
Julie and Marquise de Florensac meet
1705
On July 2, Florensac dies after a two day illness
Sometime after, Julie retires from the Paris Opera
1707
Julie passes away
Julie lived a fantastical life that this play dramatizes, but it would be impossible to cover it all—nor worthy of her legacy to focus only on her most dramatic escapades. That being said, we would be remiss as storytellers to not give you hints of the rest of her story.
Why did she need a King’s pardon?
While performing for the Marseille Opéra, a teenaged Julie met—and fell in love with—a young woman, Cécilia Bortigali. The Bortigali family, scandalized, packed off Cécilia to a convent in Avignon.
The details of how Julie broke into the convent and freed her lover are murky at best, but the ending is sure: they burned down the convent and fled. Julie—or rather, sieur de Maupin, since the courts disbelieved a woman could do such a crime—was sentenced to death in absentia by the parliament of Provence. Eventually, Cécilia tired of the fugitive life and returned to her family.
People remembered the great drama of these events, but biographer Kelly Gardiner frames it thus: “Two young women with no options take extreme action to escape, […] with no money and no home, and eventually are forced apart and punished.”
What’s the “radish incident”?
As with many Julie stories, details vary. What we do know is that after fleeing the breakup of her affair with the Elector of Bavaria, she worked as a maid for the Countess Marino. Julie’s disdain for her boss culminated the night before a grand ball where she decorated the countess’s hair with radishes, humiliating the noblewoman and sending Julie back to Paris.
b. 1673 — d. 1707 (aged 33-34)
Key Titles: La Maupin, Mademoiselle Maupin
b. Apr 1, 1672 — d. Nov 8, 1758 (age 86)
Key Titles: Prince de Grimberghen, Comte de Luynes
b. 1670 — d. Jul 2, 1705 (age 35)
also known as "The most beautiful woman in France"
b. Dec 7, 1641 — d. Jun 13, 1718 (aged 76)
Key Titles: Grand Squire of France (Master of Horse)
b. ~1658 — d. Oct 8, 1728 (age 70)
Key Titles: Marie Le Rochois, La Rochois
b. Aug 10, 1669 — d. Aug 24, 1741 (age 72)
b. 1668 — d. 1754(aged 85-86)
Key Titles: mistress of the Grand Dauphin, Françoise Moreau
Years Active: 1677-1702
also known as Louis Gaulard Dumesny, Duménil, Dumény, du Mény, Du Mesny
For nearly 50 years, BAGLY (The Boston Alliance of LGBTQ+ Youth) has been a youth-led, adult-supported social support organization, committed to social justice and creating, sustaining, and advocating for programs, policies, and services for the LGBTQ+ youth community in Massachusetts.
A portion of proceeds from this production will be donated to BAGLY!