The future marquise was born Francoise d'Aubigne in Niort, France. In 1652, she married the much older Paul Scarron, who died in 1660. In 1669, she became governess to Louis XIV's children by his mistress, the Marquise de Montespan. But Louis grew to prefer the governess, giving her land and the title Marquise de Maintenon. After Louis's wife, Queen Marie-Therese, died in 1683, he secretly married Maintenon.
Scholars disagree on the year of the marriage.
For more than 30 years, Maintenon was the king's trusted adviser. She was a deeply religious woman and tried to raise moral standards at court. Just before Louis's death, Maintenon helped him burn hundreds of documents that could have damaged his historical reputation. In 1686, she founded a school for girls at St. Cyr. Maintenon retired there after Louis died in 1715.