Great Characters HomeDiscoverThe historyGreat Characters Filter by Century16th17th18th19th20th-21st TypologyCourt membersRoyal familyArtistsMilitaryPoliticiansSovereigns 77 results Louis XIV King of France and Navarre 1638 – 1715 Sébastien Le Prestre, marquis de Vauban Marshal of France 1633 – 1707 Madame de Maintenon Secret wife of Louis XIV 1635-1719 Princess Palatine Duchess of Orléans 1652-1722 Count of La Pérouse French navigator and explorer 1741-1788 John D. Rockefeller Jr. Patron of the Palace of Versailles 1874-1960 Turgot Minister to Louis XVI 1727-1781 François Girardon First Sculptor to the King 1628-1715 Jacques Louis David First Painter to the Emperor 1748 - 1825 Louis XIII King of France and Navarre 1601-1643 Alexandre Dufour Architect to the King 1756-1835 Jacques Necker Leading Financier to Louis XVI 1732-1804 Antoine Coysevox Sculptor to the King 1640-1720 Louis XVIII King of France and Navarre 1755 – 1824 Louise de La Vallière First official mistress of Louis XIV 1644 - 1710 Jules Hardouin-Mansart First Architect and Superintendant of Buildings to the King 1646-1708 Frédéric Nepveu Architect for the palaces of Versailles and Compiègne 1777- 1862 The Francine family Intendants of Water and Fountains to the King 1623-1784 Louis Philippe I King of the French 1773 – 1850 Rose Bertin Dressmaker 1747-1813 Richard Mique Intendant of Buildings 1728-1794 Hyacinthe Rigaud Painter to the King 1659-1743 Maria Theresa of Austria Queen of France and Navarre 1638-1683 Joséphine de Beauharnais Empress of the French 1763-1814 Charles X King of France and Navarre 1757-1836 Adélaïde d’Orléans Princess of Orléans 1777-1847 Robert de Cotte First Architect to the King 1656-1735 La Grande Mademoiselle Louis XIV’s rebellious cousin 1627-1693 Saint-Simon A memoir writer at Versailles 1675-1755 Louis XVII Dauphin of France 1785-1795 Madame du Barry Countess du Barry 1743-1793 Marie Antoinette Queen of France 1755-1793 Louis XVI King of France and Navarre 1754 - 1793 Cardinal de Fleury Prime Minister 1653-1743 André Le Nôtre Controller General of Buildings, Arts and Manufactures of France 1613-1700 The Grand Dauphin Eldest son of Louis XIV 1661-1711 Madame de Montespan An influential mistress 1640-1707 Jean de La Fontaine Poet and fabulist 1621-1695 La Fayette Marquis de La Fayette 1757–1834 Charles Questel Architect 1807-1888 Napoleon I Emperor of the French 1769-1821 Eugénie de Montijo Empress of the French 1826–1920 Madame Campan Lady in Waiting to Marie Antoinette 1752-1822 Philippe I, Duke of Orléans Monsieur, brother of Louis XIV 1640-1701 Jacob-Desmalter Cabinet maker 1770-1841 Pierre Puget Sculptor for the King’s Arsenal 1620-1694 Charles Perrault Writer, Secretary of the Petite Académie 1628-1703 Marie Leszczynska Queen of France 1703-1768 Louvois Superintendent of the King's Buildings 1641-1691 Turenne Marshal under Louis XIV 1611-1675 Antoine Augustin Parmentier Member of the Agricultural Society 1737-1813 Madame Royale Daughter of France 1778-1851 Franz Xaver Winterhalter Portraitist 1805–1873 Madame Élisabeth Princess of the blood 1764-1794 Louis Le Vau First architect to the king 1612-1670 Charles Le Brun First Painter to the King 1619-1690 Madame de Polignac Duchess of Polignac 1749-1793 Madame de Pompadour Marquise de Pompadour 1721-1764 Axel von Fersen Count 1755-1810 Louis XV King of France and Navarre 1710-1774 Charles de La Fosse Painter and director of the Royal Academy 1636-1716 Jean Henri Riesener Ordinary Cabinetmaker of Furniture for the Crown 1734-1806 Pierre de Nolhac Curator at the Palace of Versailles 1859-1936 Jean-Baptiste Colbert Comptroller-General of Finances 1619-1683 Jean II Cotelle Painter of the Grand Trianon 1646-1708 Molière Actor and playwright 1622-1673 Marie Louise Empress of the French 1791-1847 Antoine Jean Gros Painter 1770-1835 The Gabriel Family First Architects to the King 1667-1782 Mesdames Daughters of France 1727-1800 Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun Portraitist of the Queen 1755 -1842 Alexandre Lenoir Conservator 1762 – 1839 André Charles Boulle Cabinetmaker to the King 1642-1732 Napoleon III Emperor of the French 1808-1873 François Gérard Painter 1770-1837 Guillaume Trepsat Architect for the buildings of the Crown 1743-1813 Lully The Sun King’s musician 1632-1687
