The Affair of the Poisons - Part 1

The Affair of the Poisons - Part 1

From Historical True Crime by Lizzie

July 6, 2026 · 24 min · Episode 186

About this episode

This episode explores the hidden poison network in 1670s Paris and the ensuing scandal that reached the court of Louis XIV.

In 1670s Paris, the deaths of a noblewoman’s father and brothers sparked fears of a hidden poison network. As police investigated, they were drawn into a world of fortune-tellers, love powders, secret remedies, and La Voisin , setting the stage for a scandal that would reach Louis XIV’s court. Source Materials Anne Somerset, The Affair of the Poisons: Murder, Infanticide, and Satanism at the Court of Louis XIV Holly Tucker, City of Light, City of Poison: Murder, Magic, and the First Police Chief of Paris Antonia Fraser, Love and Louis XIV: The Women in the Life of the Sun King Nancy Mitford, The Sun King: Louis XIV at Versailles Benedetta Faedi Duramy, “Women and Poisons in 17th Century France,” Chicago-Kent Law Review , Vol. 87, No. 2, 2012 Erika Carroll, “Potions, Poisons and ‘Inheritance Powders’: How Chemical Discourses Entangled 17th Century France in the Brinvilliers Trial and the Poison Affair,” Voces Novae , 2012

People in this episode

Host: Lizzie

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Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Affair of the Poisons: Murder, Infanticide, and Satanism at the Court of Louis XIV, City of Light, City of Poison: Murder, Magic, and the First Police Chief of Paris, Love and Louis XIV: The Women in the Life of the Sun King, The Sun King: Louis XIV at Versailles, Women and Poisons in 17th Century France, Potions, Poisons and ‘Inheritance Powders’: How Chemical Discourses Entangled 17th Century France in the Brinvilliers Trial and the Poison Affair

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