Marquis de Sade

Donatien Alphonse François de Sade, better known as the Marquis de Sade (pronounced "saad"; June 2, 1740 – December 2, 1814), was a French aristocrat and writer of philosophy-laden and often violent pornography, as well as some strictly philosophical works; much of his writing was done while in prison. His name is the source of the word sadism.

Imprisoned again, return to Charenton, and death

In 1801, Napoleon Bonaparte ordered the anonymous author of Justine, or the Misfortunes of Virtue and Juliette to be arrested. Without trial, de Sade was imprisoned in the harsh fortress of Bicetre. After intervention by his family, he was declared insane in 1803 and transferred again to the asylum at Charenton.

Related Topics:
1801 - Napoleon Bonaparte - Justine, or the Misfortunes of Virtue - Juliette - Bicetre - 1803

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Constance was allowed to live with him there. The liberal director of Charenton, Abbe de Coulmier allowed and encouraged him to stage several of his plays with the inmates as actors, to be viewed by the Parisian public. Coulmier's novel approaches to psychotherapy attracted much opposition.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

De Sade began an affair with twelve-year-old Madeleine Leclerc at Charenton. This affair lasted some 4 years, until de Sade died in the asylum in 1814. His eldest son had all his remaining unpublished manuscripts burned; this included the immense multi-volume work Les Journées de Florbelle. De Sade was buried in Charenton; his skull was later removed from the grave for (dubious) scientific investigations.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~