Name: Anne Martine Boucher
Nom de plume: Ninon de l'Enclos
Born: 1605
Traits: Intelligent, Ambitious, Charismatic, Charming, Confident, Creative, Cultured, Daring, Graceful
Romantic History: Unknown
Husband: Nicolas Merlot
Parents: Binet Boucher and Gervaise Boucher
Aspiration: Pleasure
Character Alignment: Neutral
Class: Courtesan
"Feminine virtue is nothing but a convenient masculine invention."
Born Anne Martine Boucher in Charonne, she was nicknamed Ninon by her father at an early age. She grew up in a tug of war between the religiosity of her mother, and the free-wheeling attitudes of her father. It was easy to see which parent would win out, although Martine loved both her parents.
From an early age, Martine was determined to remain independent and unmarried, even if her decision ruined her parents' plans for her future.
When she was 12, Martine declared to her father that she was no longer a girl, but a boy. Amused, her father had his tailor make her an outfit consisting of breeches, doublet, and boots, taking her out riding in the park dressed in her new garb. He also educated her like a boy, teaching her history, philosophy and lute playing.
Despite her mother's best efforts to turn her into a god-fearing pious woman, she was determined to live a life of pleasure, both physically and mentally.
A few years after her mother's death, she had to come at a decision about what she wanted to do with her life: either to marry or enter a convent. To her horror, her father decided for her and she found herself married to an ignorant bourgeois man whom she came to hate after only two years of marriage. Not even the birth of their two children could save Martine's marriage, so, one summer morning, one hour before sunrise, Martine left her family and made her way to Paris, where she arrived one day later.
Fortunately, she went to her older brother's house, where she met with his wife, Alanete. The young woman understood Martine's choice and decided to help her, by introducing her sister-in-law to an old friend whom she knew back from the years spent in Convent.
Only one year later, Anne Martine Boucher, known as Ninon de l'Enclos, became one of Paris' most famous courtesans and patron of the arts.
Children
Gaubert Merlot (1629)
Victor Merlot (1630)
This character's profile is based on the informations about Ninon de l'Enclos.
5 comentarii:
A courtesan, in today's terms, would be a prostitute or hooker; however, unlike today, a courtesan would be prized because she or he would win the courtship of the landowner or head of household, thereby earning a posh lifestyle. A society moocher, really. Then again, back in the olden days, women and girls were either "virtuous virgins" or "barbaric promiscuous whores" or "conscientious wife and mother" or "religious sister".
I see that her social class is "Courtesan". In other words, she would be a woman of the court. I think a modern term would be "paid special friend with benefits". She seems to come from a Bourgeois background, so she is moderately educated. I am surprised that her father would invest in her an education. It's not really the norm, but some wealthier parents did back in the day.
You know, I would really appreciate seeing more peasant/serf characters instead of so many characters wearing luxurious puffy clothes in bright colors. ;)
Well, just as you said in the end of your first paragraph, a courtesan isn't "just" a prostitute. And the real Ninon de l'Enclos was an important woman back in the 17th century. Even the Sun King was known to ignore the views of his advisors and peers during his long reign, but whenever he wanted a second opinion, he was known to ask "What would Ninon do?"
And I know that having a girl educated wasn't something common during that period, but Martine/Ninon was an exception ^^
I know, I know, I kept promising that I will post some updates about my peasant families and I keep forgetting, but ... they are simply not so interesting as the noble families are ^^" In fact, they are kind of boring XD And because of that, I don't really know what to write about them -_-' (I do play with they families, but everything happens like this: find a girl, marry her, have some children, mourn the wife, find another one). I need to read more about common people during 17th century.
Right now I'm working on the King's brother's profile, Leonce de Croy ^^
In the meantime, you may try studying Roman Catholic theology. France in the Ancien Regime was mostly a Catholic country. I think you would enjoy it and find it very useful in understanding the mindset that people had in those days. Back in those days, people were very religious and motivated by religion, for better or for worse. The thing with religion is that it can be used as a coping mechanism to deal with the struggles of life, so I highly suggest that you know something about Roman Catholicism to write about it and include it in your work. The serfs and peasants were always struggling - sometimes of famine, or pestilence, or of war. In any case, they always had God by their side and believed that God would grant them a happier place, if they followed him, which was to love him and out of love obey him.
I am starting up a new neighborhood. I know, I know. I have deleted my old medieval neighborhoods a bazillion times. XD But this time, I just want to create a CC-free modern neighborhood featuring a couple of starter families that will guide the neighborhood story as time passes in Riverside. I have a lot of buildings to build, and only one family to play. Can't wait!
I know some things about religion back in that time, but I don't really have time to spend studying it right now ^^" School keeps me very busy and I barely have enough time to rest a little and prepare for University ^^" Maybe I will have some more time during the Christmas Break (three weeks of studying biology and chemistry and playing Sims 2 ^^ ).
The reality is that I don't really know how to include religion in my game XD But I'm sure I will find a way. I already have a convent in the neighborhood ^^
I also have some good news! ^^ This morning, while I was heading for school with a friend, we came with a great idea for a new story that includes the peasants! ^^ (yes, my friend helped me a great deal too ^^ I gave her the context and together we came with a great scenario)
It will involve a bourgeois family (the Bucher family) and a peasant one (the Benoit family) ^^ I don't know if I will post it during this rotation (it happens many years from now on), but maybe I will prepare a first chapter and update it as the things develop ^^
A new neighborhood? Well, good luck this time too ^^ I'm curious how everything will turn out without CC ^^
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