Pauline de Tourzel - Experiences During The Revolution

Experiences During The Revolution

Following her mother's appointment as governess to the children of France, Pauline lived intimately with the royal family at the Tuileries Palace. She is said to have giggled at the humour of the Comtesse de Provence, dined with the royal family, and was taught billiards by King Louis XVI himself despite not being formally presented at court, much to the horror of Mesdames Tantes Madame Victoire and Madame Sophie. The royal family, Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, their two children, the king's sister, Madame Elizabeth, the Queen's close friend the Princesse de Lamballe, and Pauline’s mother, the children's governess, fled to safety, seeking refugee with the deputies of the National Assembly moments before the storming of the Tuileries by a Parisian mob. The Princess de Tarante offered to look after Pauline, who was to stay behind with the other women that still served, whilst her mother went with the royal family to Hôtel de Ville, seeking refuge with the National Assembly. Pauline herself suggested that the ladies remaining in the Tuileries illuminated their rooms to prevent the Sans cullotes mistaking them for soldiers and being attacked, rather than attempting to hide in the dark. Pauline rejoined her mother and the royal family at the convent where the assembly had detained them on the following day, escaping the massacre at the Tuileries with only the clothes on her back. Pauline accompanied the Royal family when they were transferred into the Temple Prison where she slept in the kitchen with Madame Elizabeth. On the 19th of August Pauline along with her mother, The Marquise de Tourzel and the Princesse de Lamballe were removed to the La Force Prison for interrogation, following interrogation Pauline was spirited away by a mysterious English gentleman, soon joined by her mother following her acquittal, the Princesse de Lamballe, was not as lucky, and after being found guilty of crimes against the republic, was given to mob, raped, mutilated and massacred.