From 25 November 2025 to 3 May 2026 1725. Native American allies at the court of Louis XV

The Palace of Versailles and the Musée du Quai Branly - Jacques Chirac are presenting a new exhibition devoted to the visit by Native American allies to the court of Versailles. In 1725, four Native American chiefs and a Native American woman from the Mississippi valley were received in France on a diplomatic mission and met Louis XV. The exhibition retraces this memorable encounter and explores the links between France and the Indigenous nations of North America in the 18th century.

The origins of an alliance

At the turn of the 18th century, the Mississippi valley was a space structured around powerful Native American societies. These nations were organised along hierarchical, war and spiritual lines, and chiefs’ prestige was demonstrated by objects of power such as feather headdresses, which are probably among the oldest in the world.

A contemporary map and old 18th-century maps show that these nations had already been associated with the French since the Great Peace of Montreal of 1701, a historic treaty which sealed the first diplomatic alliance. Indigenous peoples’ lifestyles followed the seasons, alternating between farming and hunting. Their connection with the living world was also spiritual and was mediated by their genuine social relationships with “other-than-human” beings such as thunderbirds, powerful spirits that were notably depicted on the hides presented to the French as diplomatic gifts.

a diplomatic trip

In 1724, the Company of the Indies, which oversaw trade between mainland European France and its colonies, made the unusual suggestion of inviting Indigenous chiefs to the court of Louis XV. Étienne Véniard de Bourgmont approached several nations: the Oto, Osage, Missouri, and Illinois. Precious diplomatic missives, some of which were translated by Jesuit missionaries such as Nicolas-Ignace de Beaubois, document their reply. Despite a shipwreck, which prevented some delegations from setting off, four chiefs and the daughter of a Missouri chief set sail in the spring of 1725, and were treated as genuine ambassadors from the moment they left.

Their arrival in France marked the beginning of a diplomatic trip taking in Paris, Versailles and Fontainebleau. The Mercure de France followed their progress every step of the way: formal audiences, meetings with princes of the blood, and tours of royal residences. The most solemn moment occurred on 25 November 1725, when Louis XV granted the chiefs an audience: harangues and gestures dictated by protocol demonstrated their mutual respect.

This meeting left a lasting mark on French culture. Inspired by the dance performed by two chiefs on the stage at the Comédie italienne, Jean-Philippe Rameau composed the famous “Danse des Sauvages” for his opera Les Indes galantes. This reflects the cultural impact made by the delegation, which is not often highlighted today.

the exhibition 

The establishment of the colony of Louisiana cemented the relationship between the French and their Indigenous allies. A cultural dialogue developed, giving rise to hybrid objects with both European and Native American elements: tomahawks decorated with fleurs de lys, necklaces made from imported beads, European knives in Indigenous sheaths. Richly-decorated peace pipes became symbols of this joint diplomacy.

During the trip, the delegation was invited to join a royal hunt. The guests took part in their own style, on foot and armed with bows. Exchanges of gifts – peace pipes, headdresses, bows, and gold medals – set the seal on this meeting. The exhibition presents these objects, accompanied by portraits of the principle figures, including a Native American from the Miami people which has never been displayed in France before. An alternative picture of these societies emerges from a series of works on special loan from the Musée du Quai Branly, which is at odds with colonial narratives.

At the end of the tour, there is an audio mediation with Native American members of the Scientific committee for the exhibition. They talk about the enduring memory of this alliance and the way in which it is reflected in current relationships between the French and their nations.

the curatorial team

Curators:

• Paz Núñez-Regueiro, national heritage curator, Musée du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac
• Bertrand Rondot, national heritage curator, Palace of Versailles
• Jonas Musco, historian, associate researcher on the CRoyAN project

The exhibition has been developed within the framework of the CRoyAN research project – Royal Collections of North America – coordinated by the Musée du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac, in dialogue with four Native American nations: the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, the Quapaw Nation, the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma.

The exhibition is co-organised with the Musée du quai Branly-Jacques Chirac.

patrons

This exhibition has been developed with patronage from The CORA Foundation.

Partners

https://www.arte.tv/fr/

https://www.franceculture.fr/

http://www.leparisien.fr/

https://www.telerama.fr/

pratical informations 

Dates: 25 November 2025 to 3 May 2026.
Opening hours: please consult the general opening hours, closed on Mondays and on 25 December and 1 January.
Venue: Dauphine’s apartment

Exhibition tie-in events

Schools workshop: philosophy workshop "Native American allies at the court of Louis XIV"

Upper primary school to high school 

In the very heart of the exhibition “Native American allies at the court of Louis XIV", take part in interactive workshops designed to explore the basic principles which govern human relationships. How do you establish a relationship with someone? Why should we overcome prejudices, and how? With guidance from a philosopher, you will take part in discussions on contemporary ideas that reflect questions asked in the 18th century. This workshop will give you an opportunity to hone your critical thinking, stimulate your curiosity and develop your tolerance.

More informations

International symposium

"The CroyAN project: new collaborative approaches in Indigenous North American contexts”

This symposium is a forum for exchanging ideas about new scientific and museum practices with the aim of strengthening and promoting collaborative approaches between researchers, museums and Indigenous nations. All French and Indigenous partners involved in the CRoyAN project will present the results of six years of research and reflect on this collaborative experience. Other colleagues who have recently been involved in large-scale collaborative projects at museums in the United States and Canada have also been invited.

Dates: 19 - 20 november 2025
Venue: Musée du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac, Theater Claude Lévi-Strauss
Language: in English with simulaneous translation into French

This symposium is supported by the Terra Foundation for American Art, the French Ministry of Culture, The Rock Foundation, and the French Consulate General in Vancouver.

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Public meeting with the exhibition’s scientific advisors

This event based around the latest issue of the journal Gradhiva, The Nations of the Great River in the Era of French Louisiana (1673-1763), revisits the colonial past of Louisiana through Indigenous voices, rare sources and a unique collaboration between French and Native American researchers.

Date: Friday 21 November 2025, from 5 pm to 7 pm.
Venue: Musée du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac, at Salon Jacques Kerchache
Language: in French

More informations

tickets

Passport

Admission to the whole Estate on an individual visit

24 € Book

Passport

Admission to the whole Estate on an individual visit

24 €

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Passport

Admission to the whole Estate on an individual visit:

• The main visits in the Palace of Versailles: the State Apartments, the Hall of Mirrors, Louis XV's daughters Apartments and exhibitions
• The Trianon Estate: the Grand Trianon, Petit Trianon and the Queen's Hamlet (Marie-Antoinette's Estate)
• The Gallery of Coaches and the gardens

 

24 € Book

24 € except on Musical Fountains

Show and Musical Gardens days

32 € on Musical Fountains Show

and Musical Gardens days

Palace ticket

Admission for your customers on an individual visit

21 € Book

Palace ticket

Admission for your customers on an individual visit

21 €

Read more

Palace ticket

Admission for your customers on an individual visit :

• To the main visits in the Palace of Versailles: the State Apartments, the Hall of Mirrors, Louis XV's daughters Apartments and exhibitions
• To the Gallery of Coaches and the gardens except on Musical Fountains Show and Musical Gardens days

21 € Book

 € 21 per person

official palace app & audioguide

A tour guide and audioguide are available on the official palace app. We advise you to download the free mobile phone app before you arrive and open it to launch the exhibition tour in advance.