Did the French watch the King poop?

At the grand couvert, the king dined with his family - and nobles literally sat on stools to watch them. Visitors to Versailles often viewed the ceremony, as well.

Did people poop in halls of Versailles?

Louis XV's toilette at the Palace of Versailles. But without a doubt, the most pressing health concern was caused by the dearth of waste disposal options in an era before reliable plumbing. “Feces and urine were everywhere,” Eleanor Herman, author of The Royal Art of Poison, says of royal palaces.

How smelly was Versailles?

Built on swampland, Versailles was described by a visitor in 1764 as an odiferous cesspool of dead cats, urine, excrement, slaughtered pigs, standing water, and mosquitoes. Inside the palace, things smelled different. Many royals in Louis XIV's day eschewed hot water baths, believing them bad for the health.

Did Versailles have no toilets?

The legendary Palace of Versailles began as a hunting lodge in 1624. After more than a century and a half of building, which included some of the most impressive construction campaigns in the world's history, toilets were added in the 18th Century.

Why did the French execute their king?

Louis XVI's Execution

Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were executed for treason. Louis had failed to address France's financial problems, instigating the French Revolution that eventually descended upon him.

My Name Is A BAD WORD (Animated Story Time)

Is the French royal family still alive?

France is a Republic, and there's no current royal family recognized by the French state. Still, there are thousands of French citizens who have titles and can trace their lineage back to the French Royal Family and nobility.

Who invented the guillotine?

It was originally developed as a more humane method of execution. The origins of the French guillotine date back to late-1789, when Dr. Joseph-Ignace Guillotin proposed that the French government adopt a gentler method of execution.

Why was Versailles so dirty?

Even the gardens weren't safe from the filth. One of the reasons for this was that Versailles was built on former marshland, and some areas still retained a foul odour. When summer came, this was even worse as the smell would mingle with the sweat, feces, and grime creating a truly pungent mix.

Where did Marie Antoinette use the bathroom?

Marie Antoinette was one of the few at the French court who insisted on frequent baths which is exactly what these rooms were used for. These rooms are located on the ground floor in the Queen's small apartments.

Did people urinate in Versailles?

No, people weren't just defecating & urinating in the halls of Versailles. Some of the ways people at Versailles could take care of business: closestools, bourdaloues (designed for women who needed to pee!); chamber pots; and a design for an 18th century latrine. There were also a few flushing toilets.

Which French king did not bathe?

King Louis XIV (1638-1715) was terrified of bathing; he's said to have taken only three baths in his life. That fear was shared by the noblility in the 17^th Century – it ws thought that was thought that water spread disease (so the less you bathed, the less vulnerable you were). Yet Versailles was seriously fragrant.

Did King Louis only bathe twice?

King Louis XIV is said to have only bathed twice in lifetime. He found bathing a disturbing act, as did Queen Isabel I of Spain who also confessed to having only two baths; on the day of her birth and the day of her marriage.

What drugs were used at Versailles?

Tobacco, herbs and possibly opium in lauanum - snuff and coffee, though coffee was very expensive. Coca leaves didn't travel well and were not used. The sniffing of that white stuff was fantasy.

What kind of bug crawled into the Queen's ear in Versailles?

Thoughts on Versailles: The Queen's mysterious ear bug…

It is called Triatoma infestans and very ugly.

Did Marie Antoinette bathe with clothes on?

The Queen's bathing routine was different than what most people today would recognise. The bathtub was usually rolled into her bathroom by her servants and filled with water. Rather than being completely naked the Queen always wore a full-length linen gown.

Why didn't Versailles have bathrooms?

There were no bathrooms as we would know them. Courtiers and royalty used decorative commodes in each room, while commoners simply relieved themselves in the hallways or stairwells. No one bothered to house-train the royal dogs, and servants did not consider cleaning up after them to be part of their job description.

What was Marie Antoinette's last words?

Found guilty, she was condemned to death and was guillotined on 16 October 1793. Her last words, after accidentally stepping on the foot of her executioner, were "Pardon, monsieur. I did not do it on purpose" (Fraser, 440). The legacy of Marie Antoinette is of a tragic figure, a victim of her time and circumstance.

What French Revolution hygiene was like?

Popular belief held that opening the pores with hot water invited all manner of diseases into the skin. Bodily filth served as a de facto protective layer against illness. Most people simply took sponge or dry baths, rinsing their hands, faces, and nether regions, using as little water as possible.

Did servants live in cupboards in Versailles?

But where did they stay? Most apartments consisted of a bedchamber, a cabinet and perhaps a wardrobe. The lucky ones could add a few antechambers or had rather large rooms. In this context, the servants' quarters were in the wardrobe.

Did Nobles pay rent to live Versailles?

Many of the wealthiest nobles had an hotel somewhere close ( like in the city of Versailles ) where they retreated after the day at court. There the hotel was theirs (bought or rented ) and when they organized festivities or hold their " own little court " it was up to them to pay of course.

Who was the last person executed by guillotine?

1977: France stages its last execution using the guillotine. A Tunisian immigrant living in Marseilles, Hamida Djandoubi, was executed for the torture-slaying of his girlfriend.

How long does it take for a guillotine blade to drop?

Guillotine Facts

The average guillotine post is about 14 feet high. The falling blade has a rate of speed of about 21 feet/second. The time for the guillotine blade to fall down to where it stops is a 70th of a second.

Were any Kings faithful to their wives?

But we also have monarchs like Edward I, Edward III, Charles V, Henry VII, etc. whose marriages have been well documented as loving and faithful. Then we have Edward IV, also known for his many affairs, who married Elizabeth Woodville for love or lust.