# An Incident at the Opera Ball on Mardi Gras in 1778

An Incident at the Opera Ball on Mardi Gras in 1778 was an affair that almost led to a serious duel within the Royal Family of France. The two protagonists were Charles-Philippe de France, Comte d'Artois, who, in 1824, became Charles X, King of France, and Louis VI Henri Joseph de Bourbon-Condé, Duc de Bourbon. Both of them belonged to the immediate and extended royal family respectively. Because of the duel that was ultimately staged, it was described by those in the know as a comedy in several acts.
   "So, it's a little comedy that the Comte d'Artois is going to play?"
The details of this affair are known primarily from the personal notes of Pierre Victor, Baron de Besenval de Brunstatt, a Swiss military officer in French service, who is usually just referred to as Baron de Besenval (the suffix Brunstatt refers to the former barony). As a close confidant of King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette, he was, on the one hand, a mediator and advisor in this affair. On the other hand, his residence in Paris, the Hôtel de Besenval, also played a role in this royal family dispute. According to his own statements in his memoirs, the Baron de Besenval had written the report surrounding the events of the Incident at the Opera Ball on Mardi Gras in 1778 in that same year. The memoirs of the Baron de Besenval were published after his death by his illegitimate son and heir, Joseph-Alexandre Pierre, Vicomte de Ségur, between 1805 and 1806.
   "It was precisely this term "royal family" that was the stumbling block. Because the kings don't want to see the princes as part of it, and the princes always want to be part of it."

## The Opera Ball on Mardi Gras

On Mardi Gras 1778, 3 March, the courtly society of Versailles met for the traditional opera ball, a masked ball, at the Royal Opera of Versailles. Because of the masking, a masked ball always offers the opportunity to puzzle out who is hiding under which mask and who is showing up with whom at the ball. Last but not least, a masked ball offers an opportunity to show off with people who might otherwise not be invited to courtly events, which adds to the excitement of a masked ball but also arouses the curiosity of other guests. That's exactly what happened at this ball, where most people were masked.

### Caught in the act by the princess: The king's brother and his mistress

Louise-Marie-Thérèse-Bathilde d'Orléans, Duchesse de Bourbon, née Princesse du sang de France, and therefore a member of the extended royal family, recognised Charles-Philippe de France, Comte d'Artois, the king's brother, who was accompanied by his mistress Anne-Michelle-Dorothée de Roncherolles, Comtesse de Canillac (1753–1844), which also didn't go unnoticed by the Duchesse de Bourbon. At that time, the Comtesse de Canillac served as a lady-in-waiting to Élisabeth, Princesse de France, the king's unmarried sister.

### The situation escalates

The Comte d'Artois and the Comtesse de Canillac, who were both masked, noticed that they were being watched by the Duchesse de Bourbon, who was also masked, but who was easily recognisable because of her behaviour. So the Comte d'Artois and the Comtesse de Canillac separated in the crowd at the ball in order to confuse the curious Duchesse de Bourbon and to avoid an embarrassing situation that could have quickly escalated into a scandal. At that time both of them were already married. The Comte d'Artois to Marie-Thérèse de Savoie and the Comtesse de Canillac to Ignace de Montboissier-Beaufort-Canillac, Comte de Canillac (1750–1809). In addition, the Comtesse de Canillac was once the Dame de compagnie (Lady companion) of the Duchesse de Bourbon until her husband, the Duc de Bourbon, fell in love with the young, pretty comtesse. When the Duchesse de Bourbon found out about this, she dismissed the Comtesse de Canillac. But the story could no longer be kept secret. The duchesse was embarrassed and tout-Paris was amused. So the Duchesse de Bourbon was anything but amused to see the Comtesse de Canillac. She also considered it an affront that the Comte d'Artois had dared to take the comtesse with him to the ball after everything that had happened. Accordingly, she wanted to confront him. When the Comte d'Artois sat down, the Duchesse de Bourbon sat down next to him. After exchanging a few words, during which the still masked Comte d'Artois did not identify himself, the irritated duchesse tore the false beard from the duc's face with such violence that the straps with which the false beard was attached to the mask tore. The Duc d'Artois, furious at the embarrassment caused by the Duchesse de Bourbon, crushed the duchesses’ mask on her face with such violence that she wept. Whereupon the Duc d'Artois rose and left without saying a word.

## The demand for satisfaction and the plan of the Baron de Besenval

The next day, 4 March, the Duchesse de Bourbon's brother, Louis-Philippe d'Orléans, Duc de Chartres, came to visit his sister. When his sister told him what happened to her at the opera ball, he just laughed. It didn't stop the Duc de Chartres from going wild boar hunting with the Duc d'Artois on Thursday, 5 March, and having dinner with him afterwards. That same evening, the Duchesse de Bourbon had a large number of guests over for dinner. She also told them about the Duc d'Artois' behavior at the opera ball. Enriched with lies and half-truths on the part of the duchesse, her story provoked the reaction she was looking for from her guests: Horror and indignation. Accordingly, the affair took its course.

### A royal family affair turns into a royal court affair

Now there was no turning back. The entire royal court only talked about this affair. And various versions of this story have already circulated. The story also reached the ears of the Duchesse de Bourbon's father-in-law, Louis V Joseph de Bourbon-Condé, Prince de Condé. He decided to turn the royal family affair into a royal court affair and to inform the king. The king, for his part, entrusted the Ministre d'État, Jean-Frédéric Phélypeaux, Comte de Maurepas, with the matter, with the order to avoid a scandal.

### Pierre Victor, Baron de Besenval: Advisor, tactician, string puller

On 8 March, as every Sunday, Pierre Victor, Baron de Besenval, arrived at the Château de Versailles, where he met the Comte d'Artois. Of course, the baron had already heard the story. They quickly got to the topic: The Incident at the Opera Ball on Mardi Gras. The baron told the Comte d'Artois that the Duchesse de Bourbon had behaved in an absolutely reprehensible manner. However, the Baron de Besenval also said that he, the Comte d'Artois, should not have allowed himself to be carried away by such impolite behaviour. The Comte d'Artois agreed. Later the king and the queen arrived. They participated enthusiastically in the conversation and all four laughed at the farce – although the matter was actually not amusing since the reputation of the royal family was at stake.
Back in Paris, the Baron de Besenval noticed how the public mood in this affair was tilting to the detriment of the Comte d'Artois. The women in particular demanded that the Duchesse de Bourbon's husband, the Duc de Bourbon, challenge the Comte d'Artois to a duel. The Baron de Besenval decided to take action on this matter – however, informally. He informed Yolande Martine Gabrielle de Polastron, Duchesse de Polignac, who was the favourite of the queen. When the baron spoke to the duchesse the courtier Marie François Henri de Franquetot, Duc de Coigny, was also present. The Baron de Besenval suggested that the king must act now before things got out of hand and the reputation of the royal family was damaged. It was suggested that the king should rebuke both of them: The Duchesse de Bourbon and the Comte d'Artois. The king should then ask the two of them to hug each other and to promise never to talk about this painful matter again. The Duc de Coigny and the Duchesse de Polignac agreed. The Duchesse de Polignac immediately informed the queen of the Baron de Besenval's suggestion. The queen in turn informed the king. And so, it was decided to put the Baron de Besenval's idea into practice. The whole procedure was coordinated by the Ministre d'État, Jean-Frédéric Phélypeaux, Comte de Maurepas.
On Saturday morning, 14 March, the time had come: The king gathered the Prince de Condé, the Duc and the Duchesse de Bourbon as well as the Comte d'Artois in his study at the Château de Versailles. The king did not appear as the head of the royal family, but as the king. He made it clear that he wanted to let bygones be bygones and that this affair would no longer be discussed. The Duc de Bourbon then wanted to speak, whereupon the king abruptly interrupted and unmistakably asked him to remain silent. There was then a leaden silence and everyone soon left the room irritated, frustrated and dissatisfied. The matter was not yet over.
On Sunday morning, 15 March, the Baron de Besenval took part in the Lever du Roi at the Château de Versailles when he noticed the queen's secretary, Pierre-Dominique Berthollet (1722–1791), called Campan, who made signs for him to follow him unobtrusively. On the way through numerous corridors of the Château de Versailles unknown to the baron, Campan explained to the baron that the queen wanted to meet him in confidence. The first meeting failed because the two arrived too late at the agreed location and the queen had to attend the Holy Mass. The appointment was postponed until the afternoon. And at 3 p.m. the appointment between the queen and the baron finally took place in an inconspicuous side room of the Château de Versailles, which also served as a billiards room and where the baron remembered actually having played billiards with the queen.

### A royal duel – by coincidence

The queen quickly got to the point. The situation regarding the Incident at the Opera Ball on Mardi Gras was still unsatisfactory. The parties involved remained hostile to each other and the outraged public thirsted for revenge in the form of a duel between the Duc de Bourbon and the Comte d'Artois. Asked for his advice by the queen, the Baron de Besenval said that they must try to reduce the duel demanded by the public to something like a light version of it, a version where no one is critically injured. In addition, the encounter between the two opponents must look like a coincidence which also takes away the officiality of the whole affair. This way you could kill two birds with one stone: On the one hand, the insult that the Duchesse de Bourbon had suffered from the Comte d'Artois could be atoned for. On the other hand, this can ensure that there are no critically injured or even deaths. In addition, this way all involved parties can save their face and the public is also satisfied. The queen agreed to the baron's plan and said that this is certainly in the king's interest too, even though the king had disapproved of the duel and had even forbidden it. The queen left the further procedure to the baron, who added that he would like to inform the Comte d'Artois' guard captain Alexandre-Charles-Emmanuel de Crussol, Chevalier de Crussol, about the plan and some further courtiers. As a result, the Baron de Besenval arranged a meeting with the Chevalier de Crussol, the Comte de Vaudreuil and the Duc de Polignac who all agreed to the baron's plan.

### A royal script full of planned coincidences

The Baron de Besenval informed the Comte d'Artois about the plan and that the Duc de Bourbon would be informed – through targeted indiscretions – so that he could react if he wanted. The plan was as follows: On Monday morning, 16 March at 10 am, the Comte d'Artois is scheduled to set off, as was his custom, to his château, the Château de Bagatelle in the Bois de Boulogne, accompanied only by his guard captain, the Chevalier de Crussol. Through deliberate indiscretions, the Duc de Bourbon finds out about it, so he can confront the Comte d'Artois in the Bois de Boulogne. Should the Duc de Bourbon not take advantage of this opportunity for satisfaction, a second opportunity would be offered by letting the Duc de Bourbon know that the Comte d'Artois would dine that day with the Baron de Besenval at his town house in Paris, the Hôtel de Besenval. The Duc de Bourbon will definitely pass by the baron's residence, as it is practically around the corner from the duc's town house, the Palais Bourbon. And if the Duc de Bourbon did not take advantage of this second opportunity for satisfaction either, no one could blame the Comte d'Artois for not having given the duc the opportunity to do so. It could therefore be assumed that the matter was also settled for the Duc de Bourbon. The Comte d'Artois agreed to the plan.
   "Well, I will come to your place for dinner, and you know that it will be with great pleasure."

## Monday, 16 March 1778: The duel in the Bois de Boulogne

No sooner said than done. As arranged, the Comte d'Artois and the Duc de Bourbon met by chance at the Porte des Princes in the Bois de Boulogne. The Comte d'Artois was on horseback, the Duc de Bourbon was on foot. Both were accompanied by their guard captains. The Comte d'Artois by Alexandre-Charles-Emmanuel de Crussol-Florensac, Chevalier de Crussol, and the Duc de Bourbon by Louis Hurault de Vibraye, Marquis de Vibraye (1733–1802). The Comte d'Artois got off his horse and said to the Duc de Bourbon with a smile on his face: "Monsieur, the public claims that we are looking for each other." The Duc de Bourbon also smiled, took off his hat and replied: "Monsieur, I am here to receive your orders."
They played the game. They both took up their swords when the Duc de Bourbon said to the Comte d'Artois with a wink: "Don't go "en garde," Monsieur, when the sun blinds you." The Comte d'Artois smiled and said: "You are right. There are no leaves on the trees yet." Whereupon they both took their swords under their arms and went to a nearby wall where there was some shade. When they reached the wall, they both took off their spurs and shirts and began to cross blades. However, the fighting took place with less seriousness than is usual in a duel. When the Chevalier de Crussol thought that the Comte de Bourbon was wounded under the arm, he interrupted the fight. He then looked at the Comte de Bourbon's guard captain, the Marquis de Vibraye, who agreed with the Chevalier de Crussol that this was enough. With the consent of the two princes the duel was declared over and the princes hug each other warmly.
   "I thought he [the Duc de Bourbon] was injured, and I went forward to ask the princes to suspend."
Depending on the source of information, the Duc de Bourbon is said to have wounded the Comte d'Artois in the hand. However, in the statements of the contemporary witnesses, in particular the Baron de Besenval and the Chevalier de Crussol, there is no mention of any actual injuries to either prince.

## A princely apology and a royal dinner at the Hôtel de Besenval

Following the duel of the Comte d'Artois and the Duc de Bourbon in the Bois de Boulogne, the delegation of the Comte d'Artois went – as intended – to the Hôtel de Besenval, the town house of the Baron de Besenval, where the queen's secretary, Campan, was already waiting for them. He brought the queen's answer to the Baron de Besenval, according to which she – and also the king – considered his suggestion to be excellent that the Comte d'Artois should also apologise personally to the Duchesse de Bourbon. The Comte d'Artois agreed. Accompanied by the Chevalier de Crussol and the Baron de Besenval, the Comte d'Artois went to the Palais Bourbon to personally apologise to the Duchesse de Bourbon. This gesture was received with great joy by the duchesse and the entire family de Bourbon.
Back at the Hôtel de Besenval, the Comte d'Artois, the Chevalier de Crussol and the Baron de Besenval were already expected by the Duc de Polignac. He brought the message to the Comte d'Artois that the queen wanted him to inform the king about what had happened. Since it was already late in the evening and they were all hungry, the Baron de Besenval suggested to the Comte d'Artois that he, the baron, would prepare a draft for him regarding the letter to the king, which he could then copy in his own handwriting after dinner. The baron suggested that the Comte d'Artois also uses this opportunity to apologise to the king for the inconvenience. After all, the king had forbidden the duel. While the gentlemen were still eating, the baron's draft letter was proofread and approved by the Chevalier de Crussol and the Duc de Polignac and then copied by the Comte d'Artois and sent by courier to the king at the Château de Versailles. The king and the queen were touched by the letter and the king exercised leniency towards the Comte d'Artois and the Duc de Bourbon for having carried out the duel even though he had strictly forbidden it.
   "The bright minds shall live!"