Ep. 078 | The Affair of the Poisons
The Affair of the Poisons (1677–1682) was a dark and scandalous episode in the court of King Louis XIV of France, where rumors of witchcraft, black masses, and poisonings gripped Parisian high society. Sparked by the arrest of fortune-teller La Voison, the investigation uncovered a vast criminal network of alchemists, midwives, and nobles accused of selling poisons and performing satanic rituals for love, wealth, or inheritance.
Among the implicated were members of the aristocracy, including Madame de Montespan, the king’s powerful mistress, who was accused of using love potions and dark magic to maintain his affection. The scandal led to more than 300 arrests and dozens of executions, before Louis XIV, fearing damage to his court’s reputation, abruptly shut down the investigation—leaving behind an enduring legend of lust, greed, and occultism beneath the splendor of Versailles.
SOURCES:
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Duramy, B. F. (2012). Women and poisons in 17th century France. Chicago-Kent Law Review, 87(2), 347–367. https://scholarship.kentlaw.iit.edu/cklawreview/vol87/iss2/4
Encyclopaedia Britannica. (n.d.). Affair of the Poisons. Retrieved October 7, 2025, from https://www.britannica.com/event/Affair-of-the-Poisons
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Ramsland, K. (2019, August 26). Murder for magic: Some serial killers take lives for occult purposes. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/shadow-boxing/201908/murder-magic
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