Who were Les Filles du Roi and what did they do?
Les Filles du Roi were orphaned or poor women around the age of 16 who came from France in Europe to New France to find a better lifestyle. King Louis XVI paid for their journey to New France, also giving them a dowry. A dowry was a gift given by the king. It consisted of 1 chest, 1 kerchief, 1 ribbon for shoes,...
What is the origin of the French term “fille du Roi?
In fact, the term “fille du roi” has been attributed to Marguerite Bourgeoys, the French nun and founder of the Congregation of Notre Dame of Montreal. She was referring to the 17 “marriageable” women she was housing that were waiting to find a husband in her writings in 1698.
How many Filles du Roi were married in New France?
While the marriage banns customarily were to be published three times before a wedding could take place, the colony's need for women to marry quickly led to few filles du roi having marriage banns announced. It is known that 737 of these filles du roi were married in New France.
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Why were the filles du roi sent to New France?
The king's advisor, Minister Jean-Baptiste Colbert, sent the “Filles du Roi” as an incentive for male workers who had finished their contract and soldiers of the Carignan-Salières regiment (which had just been demobilized) to settle in the colony.
How did the filles du roi helping to develop New France?
The Filles du Roi, or King's Daughters, had one mission: populate the colony of New France. From 1663 to 1673, these 800 or so women were shipped from France under the financial sponsorship of King Louis XIV to find male suitors and start families in one of the nation's most geographically significant colonies.
How were the filles du roi chosen?
As Peter Gagné tells us, Gustave Lanctôt reported that he defined the Filles du roi as the "female emigrants - girls, women or widows - who went to Canada on the expenses of the King in convoys recruited and conducted by the French authorities, who were established in Canada by the Intendant and who received at ...
Where did the filles du roi live in New France?
In 1665 the seigneury of Neuville, near Quebec, was virtually uninhabited. Two years later, 40 married couples lived there. 37of these brides were filles du roi.
Did the filles du roi have a choice?
Lawrence River to Trois-Rivières or Montréal. One advantage that the filles du roi had was a choice in who they married. In 17th-century France, this certainly would not be the norm – arranged marriages were. Given the gender imbalance in the colony, these young women could essentially choose their husbands.
How many children did the filles du roi have to have?
As a subject of the family tree, they chose Catherine Moité, one of the first filles du roi to arrive in Canada. “Her genealogy is astounding,” says Rheault. She had 11 children, 65 grandchildren and 344 great-grandchildren, all represented on the tree as either trunk, branches or leaves.
How long did it take for the filles du roi get to New France?
From 1663 to 1673, some 800 young women came to New France at the King's expense, to marry and start families. Within six months of landing in the port of Québec, 80 percent of them were married.
How many filles du roi did not survive the trip to Canada?
So what happened to the Filles du Roi? Well, first they had to survive the transatlantic journey. Roughly 60 women died during their voyage over; 770 was the number that actually made it to New France alive.
How do you pronounce Fille du Roi?
7:4212:21Who were the Filles Du Roi? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo Katherine was born in France emigrated to Quebec in 1671.MoreSo Katherine was born in France emigrated to Quebec in 1671.
What dowry was given to the filles du roi?
The original costs were divided into 10 livres to recruit and get the woman to the port of departure, 60 livres for her ocean transportation and 30 livres for a set of articles for a dowry. This was later changed to 50 and/or 100 livres of "money of Canada' given her on her marriage in New France.
Who married the filles du roi?
While the marriage banns customarily were to be published three times before a wedding could take place, the colony's need for women to marry quickly led to few filles du roi having marriage banns announced. It is known that 737 of these filles du roi were married in New France.
Who settled New France?
The first settler was brought to Quebec by Champlain – the apothecary Louis Hébert and his family, of Paris. They came expressly to settle, stay in one place to make the New France settlement function.
How long did it take for the filles du roi get to New France?
From 1663 to 1673, some 800 young women came to New France at the King's expense, to marry and start families. Within six months of landing in the port of Québec, 80 percent of them were married.
Why was having an intendant beneficial for the colony?
Second in rank to the governor, the intendant controlled the colony's entire civil administration. He gave particular attention to settlement and economic development, and to the administration of justice. Because he also managed financial matters, he had the most sweeping powers in the colony's government.
How do you pronounce Fille du Roi?
7:4212:21Who were the Filles Du Roi? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo Katherine was born in France emigrated to Quebec in 1671.MoreSo Katherine was born in France emigrated to Quebec in 1671.
Who settled New France?
The first settler was brought to Quebec by Champlain – the apothecary Louis Hébert and his family, of Paris. They came expressly to settle, stay in one place to make the New France settlement function.
Why did the French send the "Filles du Roi"?
The king’s advisor, Minister Jean-Baptiste Colbert, sent the “Filles du Roi” as an incentive for male workers who had finished their contract and soldiers of the Carignan-Salières regiment (which had just been demobilized) to settle in the colony .
Who were the Filles du Roi?
The Filles du Roi (King’s Daughters) were unmarried women and sometimes widows who were sponsored by the king to immigrate to New France between 1663 and 1673.
What is the legacy of the Filles du Roi?
Legacy and Commemoration. The Filles du Roi, who had many offspring, are the maternal ancestors of thousands of North Americans. Because they came from the French-speaking regions and institutions of France, they contributed to Louis XIV’s longed-for standardization of the French language in 17th-century Canada.
Why did Marguerite Bourgeoys use the phrase "filles du Roy"?
In the 17th century, Marguerite Bourgeoys used the expression “Filles du Roy” on one occasion to designate the 17 “filles à marier” (marriageable women) whom her community of teachers accommodated while they were waiting to find a husband. The king’s advisor, Minister Jean-Baptiste Colbert, sent the “Filles du Roi” as an incentive for male workers who had finished their contract and soldiers of the Carignan-Salières regiment (which had just been demobilized) to settle in the colony.
How much did women get in 1667?
Between 1667 and 1672, many women (41%) were given a royal dowry of 50 livres tournois (pounds) in addition to their trousseau. Some received even higher amounts (100 or 200 pounds). In years of financial hardship, the dowry of 50 pounds was replaced with provisions from the king’s storehouses in the colony.
What were the first women to come to Canada?
The first female immigrants to Canada came either with their families or as nuns. Private recruiters, religious communities and landowners also sponsored small groups of unmarried women, hoping that they would start families. The number of eligible women was not nearly enough to fulfill the needs of the colony.
Why did women come to Quebec?
A view of women coming to Quebec in 1667, in order to be married to the French Canadian farmers. Talon and Laval are waiting for the arrival of the women (Watercolor by Eleanor Fortescue Brickdale, 1871-1945. Courtesy of Library and Archives Canada, Acc. no 1996-371-1).
Why did the Filles du Roi come back to France?
The colonial officials sent several of the filles du roi back to France because they were deemed below the standards set out by the king and the Intendant of New France.
Where did the Filles du Roi travel?
The ships carrying the filles du roi would travel up the Saint Lawrence River, stopping first at Québec, then at Trois-Rivières, and lastly at Montréal. Because the prettiest of the girls would have the easiest time finding a husband, many of the immigrants settled in Québec, the first port of call.
What was the problem with recruiting women?
An early problem in recruitment was the women's adjustment to the new agricultural life. As Saint Marie de L'Incarnation wrote, the filles du roi were mostly town girls, and only a few knew how to do manual farm work. This problem remained but, in later years, more rural girls were recruited.
How much did the King pay for each woman's crossing?
The king paid one hundred livres to the French East India Company for each woman's crossing, as well as furnishing her trousseau. The Crown also paid a dowry for each woman; this was originally set at four hundred livres, but as the Treasury could not spare such an expense, many were simply paid in kind.
How many women were recruited to New France?
To increase the French population and the number of families, the Intendant of New France, Jean Talon, proposed that the king sponsor passage of at least 500 women. The king agreed, and eventually nearly twice the number were recruited. They were predominantly between the ages of 12 and 25, and many had to supply a letter of reference from their parish priest before they would be chosen for emigration to New France.
What was New France populated by?
New France, at its start, was mostly populated by men: soldiers, fur traders, and priests. The colony became more agricultural and by the mid-17th century there was a severe imbalance between single men and women in New France.
What is the meaning of the title "King's Daughters"?
The title "King's Daughters" was meant to imply state patronage, not royal or noble parentage; most of the women recruited were commoners of humble birth. As a fille du roi, a woman received the king's support in several ways.
What did the Fille du Roi receive?
Before leaving France, each fille du roi received a “trousseau” containing a comb, a belt, a pair of shoes and shoelaces, a pair of pantyhose, a pair of gloves, a bonnet, two coiffes (a kind of hood), and sewing supplies (100 needles, a case and thimble, thread, scissors, pins, two knives, and cloth).
Where did the fille du roi come from?
Although a good proportion of the filles du roi came from Paris and from the Salpêtrière specifically, many also came from the region of Normandie (Normandy) and the western part of France, where the port of La Rochelle was. In fact, most of these women left France from either the port cities of La Rochelle or Dieppe. We know that a little over 60% of the women came from an urban setting, whereas about 28% came from a rural setting (the origins of the remainder being unknown). Interestingly, most of the men they married in New France were from a rural setting. On average, a fille du roi leaving France was 23 years old.
How old was the fille du roi when she married?
Given the gender imbalance in the colony, these young women could essentially choose their husbands. And they did – quickly. On average, a fille du roi married within 5 months of arriving in New France, at an average age of 23 (her husband’s average age was 27.5).
Why were the Filles du Roi called the Daughters of the King?
Not to be taken in a literal sense, the filles du roi were a group of some 700 unmarried women who were sent to New France between 1663 and 1673 by King Louis XIV to solve a gender imbalance problem , and ultimately help to populate the new colony. They were called “daughters of the king” because Louis XIV paid for their recruitment, clothing and passage to the new world and offered dowries to the women when they married.
How many filles du roi came from Salpêtrière?
We know that about 250 filles du roi came from the Salpêtrière. They were personally chosen by two women who came from New France for the recruitment - Madame Bourdon et Mademoiselle Estienne. They were specifically looking for women who were young, average- or good-looking, single, smart, strong, in good health, and having good morals.
What were the advantages of the Fille du Roi?
One advantage that the filles du roi had was a choice in who they married. In 17th-century France, this certainly would not be the norm – arranged marriages were. Given the gender imbalance in the colony, these young women could essentially choose their husbands. And they did – quickly. On average, a fille du roi married within 5 months of arriving in New France, at an average age of 23 (her husband’s average age was 27.5). The monetary incentive provided by the king was surely a motivation to marry, and there must have been considerable pressure by civil and religious authorities to start a family as soon as possible.
What was the Salpêtrière associated with?
The Salpêtrière soon became associated with prostitution, or Filles de joie. When Louis XIV directed his advisor Jean-Baptiste Colbert to recruit women for the passage to Canada, the Salpêtrière in Paris was natural option – the facility was overcrowded, and authorities were keen to offload some of its residents.
What were the Filles du Roi?
Les Filles du Roi were orphaned or poor women around the age of 16 who came from France in Europe to New France to find a better lifestyle. King Louis XVI paid for their journey to New France, also giving them a dowry. A dowry was a gift given by the king. It consisted of 1 chest, 1 kerchief, 1 ribbon for shoes, 100 needles, 1 comb, 1 spool of white thread, 1 pair of stockings, 1 pair of gloves, 1 pair of scissors, 2 knives, about 1,000 pins, 1 bonnet, 4 laces and 2 silver French coins or livres. A few also received animals such as chickens, pigs and other livestock. The women were given this as soon as they found a husband. The king gave the women these items, and called them 'The King's Daughters' or 'Les Filles du Roi'.
What did Les Filles du Roi believe?
Most of Les Filles du Roi believed in Roman Catholic. They also believed that they should have many children and that they ought to give the oldest daughter a dowry, for a better chance of marriage.
How many children did Les Filles du Roi have?
The women also had the task of having as many children as possible, so that the colony grew and prospered. Les Filles du Roi usually had 10+ children, making the colony grow dramatically.
What were the houses of Les Filles du Roi?
The houses that Les Filles du Roi and their new family lived in were rough huts. The houses were very flimsy, and therefore, they were too flimsy to withstand the weather. Although, some of them lived in log cabins, which were a little better than the rough huts, although they were more expensive to build.
How many unmarried men were there in New France?
The population was approximately 3,000 before they arrived. There were 719 unmarried males and only 45 unmarried females in the colony. this did not bode well for the future of New France.
Why were there more men than women in France?
Men found better jobs than in France. If they were intent on farming or fur trapping, or even serving in the military, as many were, it was a good place for them to do. Therefore, there were more men than women there. Also, the women were happy in France, but the poor and orphaned had a chance to start over in New France.
What were the advantages of moving to New France?
The advantages of moving to New France were mostly job opportunities . In the 'Job' section of this website, it explains all the jobs the women could have. There were a lot more job opportunities in New France than back in France.
