The Great Age of Wigs
By the time the money rolled in from the Age of Exploration, men had more time for liesure. They were also concerned with vermin. Head lice and body lice (or crabs, affectionately known as "crotch crickets") were a serious problem in an age without indoor plumbing. The only non-DDT way to get rid of these pests is to shave the entire body from head to toe and then itch like crazy. A generation or two after Good Queen Bess, men and women of Quality were wearing wigs and, on certain social occasions, merkins as well.

Louis XIV, the Sun King, was the one who said "L'etat c'est moi," which, loosely translated, means "I am the state and you're not." His was a splendid reign, at 72 years the longest in French history, that left his country broke. An ardent advocate of the divine right of kings, he kept Europe embroiled in an endless series of pointless wars, the while building such lovely palaces as Versailles and having affairs with one good-looking babe after another. His tailor's bill was nearly as large as his military budget.

 

John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, spent his formative years shifting his allegiance back and forth between James II of England and William of Orange, at one point being charged with treason and in danger of having his head cut off. In the nick of time, Queen Anne ascended the throne and Marlborough and his friend Prince Eugene rushed off to beat up the French in the War of Spanish Succession. He was later charged with with embezzlement and lived in exile until the accession of King George I. Marlborough was a great man and a military hero. He just wasn't an easy man to like.

King Augustus III was the son of Augustus II, elector of Saxony and king of Poland. His father was said to have had 354 illegitimate children, one for each day of the year except for the twelve days of Christmas, not counting Christmas Eve. Junior was brought to the Polish throne with the "fraternal assistance" of Russian and Saxon forces. Augustus' most notable accomplishment was taking his daughter as his mistress. Under his reign, Poland completely lost her significance on the international arena and went into decline. On the other hand, unlike Marlborough, he was a likable fellow.

Madame Pompadour was the mistress of King Louis XV, who wasn't the man his great grandfather was. She was a talented woman with an extensive collection of lingerie. She was known for her patronage of art and literature, as well as for her habit of raiding the royal treasury and ruthlessly breaking anyone who crossed her.

The intrigues of the age of Louis XV have been long forgotten, but the name of Madame Pompadour lives on, associated with her favorite hairstyle. Go figure.


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