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Madame de Pompadour, famous courtesan and mistress to Louis XV of France.
Madame de Pompadour, famous courtesan and mistress to Louis XV of France. Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson marquise de Pompadour, also known as Madame de Pompadour ( December 29, 1721 &ndash April 15, 1764 Louis XV (15 February 1710 &ndash 10 May 1774 ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1 September 1715 until his death in 1774

A courtesan in mid-16th century usage referred to a mistress and/or as a trained artisan of dance and singing, especially one associated with wealthy, powerful, or upper-class men who provided luxuries and status in exchange for her companionship. A mistress is a man's long term female Sexual partner and companion who is not married to him especially used when the man is married to another woman In Renaissance Europe, courtesans played an important role in upper-class society, sometimes taking the place of wives at social functions. The Renaissance (from French Renaissance, meaning "rebirth" Italian: Rinascimento, from re- "again" and nascere As it was customary during this time for royal couples to lead separate lives—commonly marrying simply to preserve bloodlines and to secure political alliances—men would often seek sexual gratification and companionship from a courtesan.

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Essentially, there were two types of courtesans. In one category was a type of courtesan known (in Italy) as the cortigiana onesta, or the honest courtesan, who was cast as an intellectual. In the other was the cortigiana di lume, a lower class of courtesan. Although the latter was still considered better than an average working-girl, the former was the sort most often romanticized and treated more-or-less equal to women of royalty. It is with this type of courtesan that the art of "courtisanerie" is best associated.

The cortigiane oneste were usually well-educated and worldly (sometimes even more so than the average upper-class woman), and often held simultaneous careers as performers or artists. They were typically chosen on the basis of their "breeding"—social and conversational skills, intelligence, common-sense, and companionship—as well as their physical attributes. It was usually their wit and personality that set them apart from regular women. They were not prostitutes in the sense that sex was not one of their obligations, but unlike the average prostitute, sex constituted only a facet of the courtesan's array of services. For example, they were expected to be well-dressed and ready to engage in a variety of topics ranging from art to music to politics.

In some cases, courtesans were from well-to-do backgrounds, and were even married – but to husbands lower on the social ladder than their clients. In these cases, their relationships with those of high social status had the potential to improve their spouses' status – and so, more often than not, the husband was aware of his wife's profession and dealings. [1]

Differences in status

As primary employment

Courtesans from non-wealthy backgrounds were expected to provide charming companionship for extended periods, no matter what their own feelings or commitments might have been at the time, and had to be prepared to do so on short notice. They were also subject to lower social status, and often religious disapproval, because of the immoral aspects of their profession and their reliance upon courtisanerie as a primary source of income. In cases like this, a courtesan was solely dependent on her benefactor or benefactors financially, making her vulnerable.

Often, courtesans serving in this capacity began their career as a prostitute, or were passed from one benefactor to another, thereby resulting in them being viewed in society circles as lower than both their benefactor and those of wealth and power with whom they would socialize. Often, in instances of this sort, if the courtesan had satisfactorily served a benefactor, that benefactor would, when ending the affair, pass them on to another benefactor of wealth as a favor to the courtesan, or set them up in an arranged marriage to a semi-wealthy benefactor. In the event that the courtesan had angered or dissatisfied a benefactor, they would often find themselves cast out of wealthy circles, returning more often than not to street prostitution.

For social or political benefits

Those from wealthy backgrounds, either by birth or marriage, and who were only acting as courtesans for the social or political advancement of themselves and/or their spouses, were generally treated as equals. They were more respected by their extramarital companions, both placing one another's family obligations ahead of the relationship and planning their own liaisons or social engagements around the lovers' marital obligations.

Affairs of this sort would often be short-lived, ending when either the courtesan or the courtesan's spouse received the status or political position desired, or when the benefactor chose the company of another courtesan, and compensated the former companion financially. In instances like this, it was often viewed simply as a business agreement by both parties involved. The benefactor was aware of the political or social favors expected by the courtesan, the courtesan was aware of the price expected from them for those favors being carried out, and the two met one another's demands.

This was generally a safe affair, as both the benefactor's spouse and the courtesan's spouse usually were fully aware of the arrangement, and the courtesan was not solely dependent on the benefactor. It, rather, was simply an affair of benefits gained for both those involved. Publicly and socially, affairs of this sort were common during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, as well as the early 20th century, and were generally accepted in wealthy circles. [1]

Intrigues

Prior to the Victorian era, courtesans were sometimes limited in their apparel by various sumptuary laws and were restricted in where they could appear at social functions. Culture The Victorian fascination with novelty resulted in a deep interest in the relationship between modernity and cultural continuities Sumptuary laws (from Latin sumptuariae leges) are Laws which attempt to regulate habits of consumption Periods of overt religious piety in a city would often lead to persecution of the courtesans, up to and including accusations of witchcraft. Witchcraft, in various historical anthropological religious and mythological contexts is the use of certain kinds of Supernatural or magical powers In many cases prior to the 18th century, women leading the life of a courtesan in a royal court, with romantic relationships with kings, achieved wealth and status, but eventually it would lead to many of them being executed following very public trials that often left them appearing to have been evil, or power-hungry, when in fact they more often than not were nothing more than a lover and mistress to the king. The 18th century lasted from 1701 to 1800 in the Gregorian calendar, in accordance with the Anno Domini / Common Era numbering system Capital punishment, the death penalty or execution, is the Killing of a person by judicial process as Punishment.

Very often, courtesans would betray one another in acts of political intrigue in attempts to climb into higher positions of power within royal courts. There are many cases throughout history where one courtesan would attempt (sometimes successfully) to supplant the mistress to a king or emperor. This was typically preceded by her discrediting the ruler's companion, often by divulging secrets that could lead to her rival being cast aside and replaced by her. However, this was a delicate process, and if a courtesan of lower status attempted to replace a courtesan who wielded a substantial amount of power within the court, it would often result in the lower courtesan being exiled from the royal court, or married off to a lesser noble in an arranged marriage, or even murdered. There are also many examples of courtesans who took advantage of their involvement with powerful individuals, which usually ended in their downfall

Career length

In later centuries, from the mid-18th century on, courtesans would often find themselves cast aside by their benefactors, but the days of public execution or imprisonment based on their promiscuous lifestyle were over. Promiscuity refers to sexual behavior of a man or woman who casually has sex with many partners There are many examples of courtesans who, by remaining discreet and respectful to their benefactors, were able to extend their careers into or past middle age and retire financially secure. By the late 19th century, and for a brief period in the early 20th century, courtesans had reached a level of being socially accepted in many circles and settings, often even to the extent of becoming a friend and confidant to the wife of their benefactor. The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar The twentieth century of the Common Era began on [1]

More often than not, a woman serving as a courtesan would last in that field only as long as she could prove herself useful to her companion, or companions. This, of course, excludes those who served as courtesans but who were already married into high society. When referring to those who made their service as a courtesan as their main source of income, success was based solely on financial management and longevity. Many climbed through the ranks of royalty, serving as mistress to lesser nobles first, eventually reaching the role of mistress to a king, or prince. Others were able to obtain a position on that high level early on, but few lasted for any length of time, and there was nowhere to go but down after serving a prince or king.

Pietro Aretino, a Renaissance writer, wrote a series of dialogues (Capricciosi ragionamenti) in which a mother teaches her daughter what options were available to women and how to be an effective courtesan. Pietro Aretino ( April 20, 1492 – October 21, 1556) was an Italian Author, Playwright, Poet and Emile Zola wrote the book Nana about a courtesan in nineteenth century France. Émile François Zola ( (2 April 1840 &ndash 29 September 1902 was an influential French Writer, the most important exemplar of the literary school of Nana is a novel by the French naturalist author Émile Zola. Completed in 1880, Nana is the ninth installment in The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics.

In modern times

While the old model of the courtesan royal still exists, it is somewhat rare. With the fall of most monarchies and the rise of democratic societies, the role of the courtesan changed. In government, they have acted as spies such as was alleged with Mata Hari. Mata Hari was the Stage name of Margaretha Geertruida " Grietje " Zelle ( August 7, 1876, Leeuwarden Courtesans are not necessarily kept for the purpose of companionship or sexual pleasure.

Famous courtesans

The term "courtesan" has often been used in the political context to damage the reputation of a powerful woman, or disparage her importance. Particularly striking examples of this are when the title was applied to the Byzantine empress Theodora, who had started life as a burlesque actress but later became the wife of the Emperor Justinian and, after her death, an Orthodox saint; the term "courtesan" has also been disparagingly and inaccurately applied to influential women like Anne Boleyn, Madaline Bishop, Diane de Poitiers, Mathilde Kschessinska, Pamela Harriman and Eva Perón. Theodora ( Greek: Θεοδώρα (c 500 - June 28 548) was empress of the Byzantine Empire and the wife of Emperor Justinian Flavius Petrus Sabbatius Iustinianus ( Greek: Φλάβιος Πέτρος Σαββάτιος Ιουστινιανός; known in English as Justinian I or The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world A saint (from the Latin sanctus) is a human being to whom has been attributed (and who has generally demonstrated a high level of Holiness and Sanctity Anne Boleyn (1501 or 1507 – 19 May 1536 was the Queen of England as the second wife of Henry VIII of England. Diane de Poitiers ( September 3, 1499 - April 25, 1566) was a noblewoman and a fixture at the courts of Francis I and Henri II Mathilde Kschessinskaya (Матильда Феликсовна Кшесинская family origin Matylda Krzesińska ( 19 August 1872 (O Pamela Churchill Harriman ( 20 March 1920 &ndash 5 February 1997) was an English-born Socialite who was married and linked to important María Eva Duarte de Perón' ( May 7 1919 &ndash July 26 1952) was the second wife of President Juan Domingo Perón


17th century and before

18th and 19th centuries

In fiction

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c A brief history of the Courtesan (from icqurimage. Concubinage is the state of a woman or youth in an ongoing quasi-matrimonial relationship with a man of higher social status were high-class courtesans in Japan. The word "oiran" consists of two Kanji, 花 meaning "flower" and 魁 meaning "leader" were high-class courtesans in Japan. The word "oiran" consists of two Kanji, 花 meaning "flower" and 魁 meaning "leader" A call girl or escort is a Sex worker who (unlike a street walker) is not visible to the general public For the elite Ancient Macedonian cavalry ( hetairoi, "companions" see Companion cavalry. In ancient Greece and Anatolia a hierodule, from the Greek ( "temple" + δούλη "female slave" was a Temple Kisaeng (also spelled gisaeng) sometimes called ginyeo (기녀 were female Korean entertainers A mistress is a man's long term female Sexual partner and companion who is not married to him especially used when the man is married to another woman Prostitution is the act of performing Sexual activity in exchange for Money. Sing-song girls (also known as flower girls) is an English term for the Courtesans in China during the early 19th century Tawaif was a Concubine who catered to the Muslim nobility of South Asia, particularly during the Mughal era. Nagarvadhu or Nagar Vadhu ("bride of the city" was a tradition followed in some parts of Ancient India. A Yiji ( was a high-class Courtesan in ancient China Yiji were rarely involved in direct Sex trade but rather performed music and arts such as Poetry com, 2005)

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Dictionary

courtesan

-noun

  1. a prostitute, especially one with high-status or wealthy clients
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