Clinton News-Record, 1979-03-01, Page 37•
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French beauty of yore
won diamond's rights
for women!
You've good reason to he
Tgrateful to a ravishing young
rench heaut y named Agnes
Sorel if you now own or have
high hopes of acquiring a
diamond some day.
The reason'' Way hack in
1444, Agnes enterprisingly
snatched diamonds out of the
male domain and made them
fashionable and romantic for
women to wear.
It seems before Agnes, ac-
cording to the Jewelry Indus-
try Council, diamonds were
considered strictly for mas-
culine wear. Believing that
the diamonds' unmatched
hardnes-s gave men extra
strength and courage, kings
and noblemen wore them
into battle. Women, with the
exception of a few liberated
royal ladies, didn't wear
them at all.
Pallier)! plotter!
Then there was Agnes,
daughter of a poor hut noble
French family. Through fam-
ily connections. she was ap-
pointed a lady -in -wailing to
the royal court of Charles VII
w hile still in her teens. ihis
was the same Charles for
w hom Joan of Arc had fought
and died some years before.
Agnes, who idolized Joan
and Joan's quest to free
France from the English. was
attracted to the young
monarch.
While a promising beauty
even in her teens. Agnes, try
as she might. could not catch
the eye of the King, who was
constantly surrounded by
beautiful women. It took
several years—until she was
22, history reports, before
Agnes could plot a scheme to
impress Charles.
An important royal hall
was to take place, and Agnes
was determined the King
would notice her this time.
She horrowed all the dia-
monds she could from her
male relatives. and took them
to a Parisian jeweler request-
ing that he make them into a
dazzling necklace.
She chose a lustrous low-
cut gown that spotlighted her
graceful neck. creamy white
shoulders and comely
"curves.
When young Agnes swept
into the hallroom. every eye
in the room was riveted on
her. The royal page ani
nuanced her presence. and
when the King looked up. he
gave an appreciative smile
Ind beckoned her near.
Whether it was the flashing
diamonds. or the blooming
heauty of the young maiden.
Agnes caught the King's eye.
and walked int() his life to
stay.
Her lovely figure. chestnut
hair, deep blue eyes and flaw-
less complexion caused him
to nickname her the court's
"Dame de Beaute'' (Lady of
Beauty), and in fact. he built
an impressive palace for
her—the Chateau de Beaute
near Farts.
"Through the King's influ-
ence. Agnes was elevated to
an enviable social
position—she became a
style -setter and popularized
the custom Of women wear-
ing diamonds.
Not ,juwt 'pretty face'
Agnes Sorel was the first
officially recognized King's
mistress, and gained official
status because of this. Histo-
rians say, reports the Coun-
cil, that Agnes was more than
just another pretty face. Re-
membering the goal of her
idol. Joan of Arc --that of
pushing the British out of
Burgundy—Agnes is cred-
ited wish aiding and inspiring
Charles to do just that.
She not only provided en-
couragement. but cold h'u•d
cash as well. arranging loans
from important merchants to
help finance the King's ar-
mies.
While–the beauteous
Agnes lived a story hook
life—hearing four lovely
daughters to the King, and
remaining his favorite—she
did not as they say, "live
happily ever after."
Legend lives on
Some scholars believe she
died in 1450, giving birth,
while others hint darkly she
was poisoned by someone.
The guilty party, or panties,
were purported to he every-
one from the King's own son,
who resented his father's
mistress usurping his
mother's place, to one of the
merchants who had loaned
the King money. The King
was so indebted to the
moneyman that Charles dis-
credited and imprisoned the
merchant to cancel his debt.
Whatever the cause of her
death, Agnes Sorel to this
day is a national heroine in
France where she is honored
for her beauty. fidelity and
patriotism. But women the
world over will rememher
her as the girl who was the
diamond's hest friend. mak-
ing diamonds fashionable for
the fair sex!'
My lady carries love within
her eyes;
All that she looks on is
made pleasanter;
Upon her path men turn
to gaze at her;
He whom she greeteth feels
his heart to rise.
—D.G. Rossetti
Page 17
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. 4
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