Chevalier de Mailly

The courtesy title chevalier de Mailly is accorded in France to a younger brother of the marquis or the comte de Mailly in each generation. Though several have carried the designation,[1] the celebrated Louis (or Jean), chevalier de Mailly ([2]-?1724)— possibly a brother of Louis II de Mailly (1662-1699), comte de Mailly, Lords of Rubempré, seigneur de Rieux, seigneur d'Haucourt—[3] was the author of literary fairy tales, imaginary adventures, racy novels and romances, often published anonymously by necessity, sometimes published outside France. Departing from the formulas established by Mme d'Aulnoy, he introduced magic and marvels in his fairy tales to entertain his readers and bring his gallant lovers together. His fairy tales have often been reprinted and collected.

  1. ^ The chevalier de Mailly, son of the marquis, was married in July 1687 to Mlle de Sainte-Hermine, a kinswoman of Mme de Maintenon; the King gave her 100,000 livres for a dowry and a position for the chevalier in the household of Monseigneur (Mémoires du marquis de Sourches sur le règne de Louis XIV (1883) vol. II p 62). The chevalier de Mailly (died 1757) of a later generation was chef de corps of dragoons in 1740, (Dragoons Archived 2007-05-05 at the Wayback Machine) thanks to the offices of his sister-in-law Mlle de Mailly, the second of three Nesle sisters who were successively mistresses to Louis XV. (Mémoires du duc de Luynes sur la cour de Louis XV vol. III (1860), under March 1740, pp 148ff).
  2. ^ A date 1657 is apparently wrong.
  3. ^ (Genealogy of the house of Mailly Archived March 17, 2007, at the Wayback Machine)