Philippe de Courcillon

He first gained repute for his skill at playing cards, to the extent that "jouer à la Dangeau" became an expression in the language of the time and he attracted the attention of Louis XIV.

In 1686, Philippe de Courcillon married his second wife Sophia Maria Wilhelmina von Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort (1664, Wertheim – 1736, Paris), at Versailles.

Together they had at least one son, also called Philippe de Courcillon, who fought at the Battle of Malplaquet (during the War of the Spanish Succession) on 11 September 1709.

The abbé relates the epilogue : 'He thus created the letters and their responses ; and that lasted for a year, until La Vallière, pouring out her heart, confessed to the King, who it was that was freely lending her so much of her wit, the best part of which she owed to their mutual confidant, whose discretion they admired.

In his “Siècle de Louis XIV” Voltaire relates precisely the same story about the King and his sister-in-law, Princess Henrietta of England.

Portrait of Philippe de Courcillon by Hyacinthe Rigaud
Signature Philippe de Courcillon de Dangeau (1638–1720)
Signature Philippe de Courcillon de Dangeau (1638–1720)
Signature Philippe de Courcillon de Dangeau (1638–1720)
Signature Philippe de Courcillon de Dangeau (1638–1720)
His second wife Sophia Maria Wilhelmina von Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort, Dame du Palais to Madame la duchesse de Bourgogne .