[3] Anne Antoinette's mother was born Marie de Malleville in 1676,[4] the daughter of a soldier from Le Mans.
[7] In 1741, using the name Nanette, she was living with her mother Marie Champion in the Rue Boutebrie, where both women were supporting themselves with laundry, sewing and lace making.
Early in 1743, having known them for approximately two years, knowing that she was a Catholic but also fully aware that no dowry would be involved, the philosopher decided he wished to marry Anne-Antoinette.
He sought his father's permission, who opposed the idea and obtained a lettre de cachet (royal injunction) against the proposed marriage;[1] he had Denis locked up in Carmelite Monastery in the countryside outside Troyes where he might reflect further on the matter.
In a letter written at the end of February 1743 to his future wife Diderot describes his incarceration, his monastic existence, the wickedness of the monks, and his overnight escape between a Sunday and a Monday.
[10] His letter spelled out that getting away from the monastery had involved significant weight loss because of the amount of walking he had had to undertake in the cold rain.
[1] Once married the Diderots moved into their first home together, in the Rue Saint-Victor, close to the Place Maubert in what is today the 5th arrondissement of Paris.
[15] Despite evidence of tensions and not withstanding Diderot's infidelities, the marriage proved resilient, based on a relationship of mutual support.
Anne-Antoinette lived her final years with her daughter's family, including her grandson Denis-Simon Caroillon "Fanfan" de Vandeul.