Paul de Noailles (1802-1885)
This descendant of the niece of Madame de Maintenon and Peer of France was the 5th Duke de Noailles. He stood for election to the Académie française to succeed his friend Chateaubriand, and was elected on 11 January 1849 against Balzac. He was a Knight of the Golden Fleece, a noteworthy parliamentary orator and historian and author of a “History of Madame de Maintenon and the main events during the reign of Louis XIV”. On 5 February 1823 he married Alicia de Rochechouart de Mortemart (1800-1887), a descendant of Madame de Montespan.
Around 1850-1860
The couple renovated the Château de Maintenon, increasing the level of comfort by adding running water and heating, and making a number of improvements and transformations. They undertook the reconstruction of Madame de Maintenon’s apartments.