Pauline de Tourzel

Pauline de Tourzel (1771-1839), was a French noble, courtier and memoir writer.

She was the Daughter of the Marquise de Tourzel, Louise-Félicité-Joséphine de Croŷ d'Havré, the last governess of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette's children, who later, as Comtesse de Bearn, became a lady-in-waiting to the only survivor of the immediate royal family, Madame Royal, Marie Thérèse. Pauline was present during the final traumatic months of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, observer to the French Revolution and survived to see their daughter return twice during the Bourbon Restorations.

Experiences during the Revolution

Following her mother's appointment as governess to the children of France, Pauline lived intimately with the royal family at the Tuileries Palace. She is said to have giggled at the humour of the Comtesse de Provence, dined with the royal family, and was taught billiards by King Louis XVI himself despite not being formally presented at court, much to the horror of Mesdames Tantes Madame Victoire and Madame Sophie. The royal family, Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, their two children, the king's sister, Madame Elizabeth, the Queen's close friend the Princesse de Lamballe, and Pauline’s mother, the children's governess, fled to safety, seeking refugee with the deputies of the National Assembly moments before the storming of the Tuileries by a Parisian mob. The Princess de Tarante offered to look after Pauline, who was to stay behind with the other women that still served, whilst her mother went with the royal family to Hôtel de Ville, seeking refuge with the National Assembly. Pauline herself suggested that the ladies remaining in the Tuileries illuminated their rooms to prevent the Sans cullotes mistaking them for soldiers and being attacked, rather than attempting to hide in the dark. Pauline rejoined her mother and the royal family at the convent where the assembly had detained them on the following day, escaping the massacre at the Tuileries with only the clothes on her back. Pauline accompanied the Royal family when they were transferred into the Temple Prison where she slept in the kitchen with Madame Elizabeth. On the 19th of August Pauline along with her mother, The Marquise de Tourzel and the Princesse de Lamballe were removed to the La Force Prison for interrogation, following interrogation Pauline was spirited away by a mysterious English gentleman, soon joined by her mother following her acquittal, the Princesse de Lamballe, was not as lucky, and after being found guilty of crimes against the republic, was given to mob, raped, mutilated and massacred.

Relationship with the Dauphin, Louis-Charles

Pauline de Tourzel was adored by the dauphin Louis-Charles, who found in her a more playful alternative to his Governess, her mother, the Marquise de Tourzel, whom he was to nicknamed Madame Severe, the two were said to play endless games during the families house arrest in the Tuileries. Pauline was crucial in persuading the young daupin to be dressed in girls clothes for the Royal Families flight to Varennes, convincing the shy young boy that it was all part of a wonderful game of soldiers. During the royal families refuge with the deputies of the National Assembly he cried constantly worrying about the fate of his beloved Pauline following the massacre at the Tuileries, only ceasing when they were reunited at the convent.

Relationship with Madame Royale, Marie Thérèse

During her time in the Tuileries and later the Temple Prison, Pauline developed an intimate friendship with Marie Antoinette’s eldest daughter who was only a few years her junior. She continue to visit Marie Thérèse throughout her confinement in the Temple Prison and continued to write to her during her exile, sending her a flower from the grave of her parents. Pauline and Marie Thérèse were reunited on 29 April 1814 at the Palace of Compiegne following the Bourbon restoration. Pauline became a lady-in-waiting to Marie Thérèse and went with her to the graves of her parents Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. She accompanied Marie Thérèse on her trip around France, to provinces like Bordeaux but was eventually parted from her on 3 August 1830 following the abdication of Charles X.

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