Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, Marquise de Sévigné

Timeline

1. 1626–1644Paris · ParisBorn into a Parisian noble family, she lost her father in childhood and was raised by her grandmother, receiving the education given to women of high society at the time and becoming familiar with court etiquette and classical literature.
2. 1644–1671Paris · ParisShe married Henri, Marquis de Sévigné, and had a son and a daughter. After her husband died in a duel she was widowed, managed the family estate independently, and was active in Parisian salons and court society.
3. 1671–1690Paris · ParisAfter her daughter Françoise married into Grignan in Provence, she exchanged more than a thousand letters with her, recording court anecdotes, religious disputes, literary tastes, and daily life in a natural and vivid style that had far-reaching influence.
4. 1690–1696Grignan · GrignanShe visited Grignan several times to see her daughter and died there of illness in 1696. Her letters were published after her death and became classics of French literature and important documents for historical research.