.. one of the head “goddesses” of the Merveilleuses was Theresa Tallien, known as “Our Lady of Thermidor”.
Other famous leaders included Jeanne Francoise Julie Adelaide Recamier, & two very popular Creoles: Fortunee Hamelin and Hortense de Beauharnais.
Hortense, a daughter of the Empress Josephine, married Louis Bonaparte (Napoleon’s son), & became the mother of Napoleon III, who would rule France in the 2nd Regime.
Fortunee was not born rich. She became famous for owning “salons”, and having a string of prominent lovers.
(photo: Jeanne Francoise Julie Adelaide Recamier – leader of the Merveilleuses)