Yolande Martine Gabrielle de Polastron married Jules de Polignac, who was a count. She had a quiet life in Braye, somewhere in the country. Her sister in law, Diane de Polignac, asked her to come to the court. She did. Marie-Antoinette immediately felt attracted to her, because of her sweetness and modesty. She asked her why she came so rarily to Versailles.
So, Yolande (or Gabrielle, or even Martine, impossible to know ! But I prefer Gabrielle) became a friend of the Queen. It was difficult for her, because, even if countess of very old nobility, she had no money. Furthermore, many people, spying Marie-Antoinette's actions, were jealous of Gabrielle's sudden favour. And they were intriging... more and more...
They became closer. But Gabrielle was still poor, and inviting such an important character as the Queen in her salon was dispendious. So, Antoinette gave her husband a charge, and then another, and also other members of the family. Considering Gabrielle's children hers by adoption, she gave a huge amount of money while Guichette married... Guichette who as 13, I think...
Almost all the historians say Gabrielle de Polignac was a disgusting intrigant who profited from poor Queen's friendship. I don't think so. I think Madame de Polignac was as damaged by the revolution propaganda as Marie-Antoinette herself.
I believe Gabrielle didn't ask for favours, and never for herself. Maybe Diane was the intrigant greedy behind the curtain... Or Vaudreuil, Gabrielle's lover or friend.
And Antoinette was so generous ! When she loved someone, she took the whole family ! She would love Fersen's father and sister too ! She helped Madame de Lamballe's brother.
In order to give her a "tabouret", and to have her closer to her royal person, Marie-Antoinette made Madame de Polignac duchess. Having lost her governess, Guéméné, for bankrupt and scandal reasons, she chose Gabrielle for raising her children. So many witnesses said she did so because she knew that, Gabrielle being lazy, she would raise her children alone, so many that Gabrielle intrigued to have that job too, and so much more money... I don't believe that ! I believe that Marie-Antoinette chose her most tender friend, a person she relyed on, a sweet heart who had children too, for this charge. And that they just went on raising their children together in the little trianon paradise.
After the necklace affair, Gabrielle left the court for a while. People say it was because of political arguments between her august friend and her. And witnesses, with a smile, said that her favour was fading away...
Well... actually, it's not impossible that Gabrielle, who went to England, was sent to negociate with Lamotte for having those horrible memoirs destroyed.
She came back to France, so close to her Queen again... and to the King, too, for we to often forget to say that Gabrielle was also a friend of Louis, who often wrote to her and relieved his heart.
Then, the mob burned an image of Gabrielle, and Antoinette, fearing for her beloved friend, asked her to leave Versailles. Madame Campan said that Gabrielle refused, for long, that she praised... kneeling on the floor, burst in tears. The King appeared, and commanded the whole family to leave. So, the Polignac ran away in the middle of the night, desguised.
They stayed in Swiss, in Turin... finally, in Vienna. Antoinette followed her friend in her mind and wrote wonderful letters, full of tenderness and regrets. We only have a few of this correspondence, and all of Madame de Polignac's letters disappeared. Marie-Antoinette used to burned her papers up.
But, even if surrounded by her loving family, Gabrielle got ill, and sicker and sicker. She heard that the King of France, her friend, had been executed, and she fell into a despair that would never leave her. On the day after Marie-Antoinette's death, October 17th 1793, all the churches of Vienna tolled the knell (there were, somewhere, people in mourning for this poor martyr, while France was shouting from joy...). Friends told Madame de Polignac that her friend was dead from an illness, not daring to speak the awful truth. Gabrielle said that now, she could die.
She died on December 9th, 1793, from pain and sorrow.
You see, dear Polignac, I'm interested in this fascinating character too, and I'd like, I'd really love, to redeem her damaged reputation. But, if it is difficult in the case of Antoinette, it is even more for her friend. There is so few documentation... If you know anything more, or have a book to recommend, please, tell me !
I hope we can exchange more on this person I admire so much...
cordialement,
coquelicot
