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 became Charles X, King of France, in 1824 – and Louis VI Henri Joseph de Bourbon-Condé, Duc de Bourbon. They 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.

The details of this affair, which attracted considerable public attention at the time, are known primarily through the personal notes of Pierre Victor, Baron de Besenval, a Swiss military officer in French service, who was the most influential Swiss ever to serve at the French court. At the request of the Baron de Besenval's illegitimate son Joseph-Alexandre Pierre, Vicomte de Ségur, Jean-Baptiste-Denis Després, formerly secretary to both men, sorted the late baron's literary estate, including his memoirs, which the Vicomte de Ségur published between 1805 and 1806.Jean-François Barrière: Bibliothèque des Mémoires relatifs à l'histoire de France pendant le 18ème siecle – Mémoires du Baron de Besenval, tome IV, Librairie de Firmin Didot Frères, rue Jacob 56, Paris, 1846, p. 3

As a close confidant of King Louis XVI and Queen Marie-Antoinette, the Baron de Besenval acted, on the one hand, as 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 dispute within the royal family. According to his memoirs, the Baron de Besenval wrote his account of the events surrounding the Incident at the Opera Ball on Mardi Gras in that same year.Pierre Victor, Baron de Besenval: Mémoires de M. Le Baron de Besenval, imprimerie de Jeunehomme, rue de Sorbonne no. 4, Paris, 1805 – chez F. Buisson, libraire, rue Hautefeuille no. 31, Paris, tome II, pp. 282–329

The Opera Ball on Mardi Gras On Mardi Gras, 3 March 1778, the courtly society of Versailles gathered for the traditional opera ball, a masquerade held at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal. Because of the masking, a masked ball always offers the opportunity to guess who is hiding behind which mask, and thus who appears at the ball with whom. They also provide a chance to appear in the company of people who might not otherwise be invited to courtly events, thereby heightening both the excitement and the curiosity of other guests. That is exactly what happened at this ball, where most attendees were masked.

The king's brother and his mistress

Louise-Marie-Thérèse-Bathilde d'Orléans, Duchesse de Bourbon, née Princesse du sang de France and thus a member of the extended royal family, recognised Charles-Philippe de France, Comte d'Artois, the king's brother. He was accompanied by his mistress Anne-Michelle-Dorothée de Roncherolles, Comtesse de Canillac (1753–1844), whom the Duchesse de Bourbon also recognised, although both she and the Comte d'Artois were masked. At that time, the Comtesse de Canillac served as a lady-in-waiting to Élisabeth, Princesse de France, the king's unmarried sister.

The Comte d'Artois and the Comtesse de Canillac noticed that they were being watched by the Duchesse de Bourbon, who, despite also being masked, was recognisable by her behaviour. To escape her scrutiny, they separated in the crowd in order to avoid an embarrassing situation that might have escalated into a scandal, as they were both married at the time – to Marie-Thérèse de Savoie and Ignace de Montboissier-Beaufort-Canillac, Comte de Canillac (1750–1809), respectively. In addition, the Comtesse de Canillac had once served as Dame de compagnie (Lady companion) to the Duchesse de Bourbon until the latter's husband, the Duc de Bourbon, became enamoured of the young and attractive comtesse. When the Duchesse de Bourbon discovered this, she dismissed her. Despite the dismissal, the affair could not be kept secret and soon became known at court. The duchesse was embarrassed by these events, while other members of the nobility and the courtiers were amused. Due to their prior history, the Duchesse de Bourbon was displeased to see the Comtesse de Canillac at the masquerade. She also considered it an affront that the Comte d'Artois had brought the comtesse with him following their earlier dispute. Determined to confront him, she sat down beside the Comte d'Artois when he took his seat. After exchanging a few words, during which he did not identify himself, the still-masked duchesse, in irritation, tore the false beard from his face with such force that the straps attaching it to the mask broke, revealing his identity. Furious at the embarrassment, the Comte d'Artois then tore off the duchesse's mask with equal force, causing her to weep. Without a word, he then withdrew.Bibliothèque nationale de France: Du Mardi Gras 3 Mars 1778, manuscrit français 6682, p. 463Pierre Victor, Baron de Besenval: Mémoires de M. Le Baron de Besenval, imprimerie de Jeunehomme, rue de Sorbonne no. 4, Paris, 1805 – chez F. Buisson, libraire, rue Hautefeuille no. 31, Paris, tome II, pp. 282–285

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 her. When she told him what had happened at the opera ball, he was amused. That same evening, she entertained a large number of guests at dinner and recounted the Comte d'Artois' behaviour. Embellished with lies and half-truths, her story provoked the reaction she had hoped for from her guests: horror and indignation. Accordingly, the affair took its course.Pierre Victor, Baron de Besenval: Mémoires de M. Le Baron de Besenval, imprimerie de Jeunehomme, rue de Sorbonne no. 4, Paris, 1805 – chez F. Buisson, libraire, rue Hautefeuille no. 31, Paris, tome II, pp. 285–287

The entire royal court discussed the affair due to the embellishments with which the Duchesse de Bourbon had enhanced the story. The story also reached the ears of her father-in-law, Louis V Joseph de Bourbon-Condé, Prince de Condé, who decided to inform the king. The king, for his part, entrusted the Ministre d'État, Jean-Frédéric Phélypeaux, Comte de Maurepas, with the matter, instructing him to prevent a scandal. The Comte de Maurepas, in turn, consulted the Baron de Besenval for advice.Pierre Victor, Baron de Besenval: Mémoires de M. Le Baron de Besenval, imprimerie de Jeunehomme, rue de Sorbonne no. 4, Paris, 1805 – chez F. Buisson, libraire, rue Hautefeuille no. 31, Paris, tome II, pp. 287–289

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

On 8 March, Pierre Victor, Baron de Besenval, arrived at the Château de Versailles, where he met the Comte d'Artois. The baron told him that the Duchesse de Bourbon had behaved in a reprehensible manner; however, he added that he should not have allowed himself to be provoked by her behaviour. The Comte d'Artois agreed.Pierre Victor, Baron de Besenval: Mémoires de M. Le Baron de Besenval, imprimerie de Jeunehomme, rue de Sorbonne no. 4, Paris, 1805 – chez F. Buisson, libraire, rue Hautefeuille no. 31, Paris, tome II, pp. 289–290Jean-Jacques Fiechter: Baron Peter Viktor von Besenval: Ein Solothurner am Hofe von Versailles, Rothus Verlag, Solothurn, 1994, p. 84Jean-Jacques Fiechter: Le Baron Pierre-Victor de Besenval, Delachaux et Niestlé, Lausanne – Paris, 1993, p. 82

Back in Paris, the Baron de Besenval noticed that public opinion in this affair was turning against the Comte d'Artois. Women in particular demanded that the Duchesse de Bourbon's husband, the Duc de Bourbon, challenge him to a duel. The baron decided to take informal action. He informed Yolande Martine Gabrielle de Polastron, Duchesse de Polignac, the queen's favourite. When he spoke with her, the courtier François-Henri de Franquetot de Coigny, Duc de Coigny, was also present. The Baron de Besenval stated that the king must act quickly before the affair escalated into a true scandal that could harm the reputation of the royal family. It was therefore suggested that the king should rebuke both parties – the Duchesse de Bourbon and the Comte d'Artois – and the Duc de Coigny and the Duchesse de Polignac agreed. The Duchesse de Polignac immediately informed the queen, who in turn informed the king. It was thus decided to put the baron's idea into practice, and the entire procedure was coordinated by the Ministre d'État, Jean-Frédéric Phélypeaux, Comte de Maurepas.Pierre Victor, Baron de Besenval: Mémoires de M. Le Baron de Besenval, imprimerie de Jeunehomme, rue de Sorbonne no. 4, Paris, 1805 – chez F. Buisson, libraire, rue Hautefeuille no. 31, Paris, tome II, pp. 290–292Jean-Jacques Fiechter: Le Baron Pierre-Victor de Besenval, Delachaux et Niestlé, Lausanne – Paris, 1993, p. 83

On Saturday morning, 14 March, the king gathered the Prince de Condé, the Duc and Duchesse de Bourbon, as well as the Comte d'Artois, in his study at the Château de Versailles. He made it clear that he wished to let bygones be bygones and that the affair would no longer be discussed. When the Duc de Bourbon attempted to speak, the king abruptly interrupted him and firmly instructed him to remain silent. Everyone then left the room irritated, frustrated and dissatisfied. The matter was not yet over.Pierre Victor, Baron de Besenval: Mémoires de M. Le Baron de Besenval, imprimerie de Jeunehomme, rue de Sorbonne no. 4, Paris, 1805 – chez F. Buisson, libraire, rue Hautefeuille no. 31, Paris, tome II, pp. 293–294

On Sunday morning, 15 March, the Baron de Besenval took part in the Lever du Roi at the Château de Versailles, where he noticed the queen's secretary, Pierre-Dominique Berthollet (1722–1791), known as Campan, making signs for him to follow unobtrusively. As they proceeded through the many corridors of the château, Campan explained that the queen wished to meet him in confidence. Their first attempt failed because they arrived too late at the agreed location. At 3 p.m., however, the meeting between the queen and the baron finally took place in an inconspicuous side room of the Château de Versailles.Pierre Victor, Baron de Besenval: Mémoires de M. Le Baron de Besenval, imprimerie de Jeunehomme, rue de Sorbonne no. 4, Paris, 1805 – chez F. Buisson, libraire, rue Hautefeuille no. 31, Paris, tome II, pp. 294–296Jean-Jacques Fiechter: Baron Peter Viktor von Besenval: Ein Solothurner am Hofe von Versailles, Rothus Verlag, Solothurn, 1994, p. 86Jean-Jacques Fiechter: Le Baron Pierre-Victor de Besenval, Delachaux et Niestlé, Lausanne – Paris, 1993, p. 85France Archives: Pierre-Dominique Campan (1722–1791), Pierre-Dominique Berthollet dit Campan (du nom de son village d'origine dans les Pyrénées) est le fils d'un garçon de chambre de la reine Marie Leszczyńska et d'une femme de chambre de Madame Adélaïde. Vers 1778 il devient secrétaire du cabinet et bibliothécaire de la reine Marie-Antoinette. Sa belle-fille était Henriette Campan, Website, 2025

A royal duel – by coincidence