them, and all kinds of perfumes.” In short, he was a little light in the velvet slippers.
            In Alexandre Dumas’s classic tale, The Man in the Iron Mask, Louis XIV’s identical brother is locked away with his face obscured so as to never pose a threat to the king. In truth, Louis and Philippe were not twins and looked little alike—the latter only a “flaccid reflection” of his brother, as one writer described him. Monsieur was never imprisoned, either. He was rendered impotent not by an iron mask, but by the constant encouragement he received as a young boy to engage in all his frilly interests—leaving the boy stuff to his big brother Louis.
            Although the king hated homosexuals, he made an exception for his brother. Monsieur was accorded the highest prominence at court, and Louis was very affectionate toward him. He actually seemed to enjoy his brother’s incessant chattering, and even tolerated his periodic snit fits. But there was always the hint of condescension. “Now we are going to work,” Louis remarked when it was time to settle down to the business of the kingdom. “Go and amuse yourself, brother.” And off Monsieur would flit—to a wig fitting, a gossipy soiree, or any of the other frivolous pastimes that occupied his day.
            Yet despite his flamboyant appearance and feminine behavior, Monsieur proved himself a brave warrior. Leading his troops into battle wearing blush, jewels, and a perfectly coiffed wig, the duke fought without fear. “He was more afraid of the sun, or the black smoke of gunpowder, than he was of musket bullets,” his wife once remarked.