8 x 50 minutes drama (development)
1667, the birth of a new civilization along the St. Lawrence, seen through the eyes of one of hundreds of women sent to populate the eastern land of North America, one of the so-called Filles du Roi, a King’s Daughter, Marguerite Cardillon.
1667, the birth of a new civilization along the St. Lawrence, seen through the eyes of one of hundreds of women sent to populate the eastern land of North America, one of the so-called Filles du Roi, a King’s Daughter, Marguerite Cardillon.
Most French-Canadians are descendent from 800 of these women sent to what is now Québec, Trois-Riviéres, Montréal, Hudson's Bay, Nova Scotia, areas of Newfoundland and south to Louisiana. Housewifery isn’t often considered a job of hard labour, but the lives of many of les filles du roi were very difficult. Wives were often pregnant from their early twenties well in to their forties, some giving birth to a dozen children, suffering emotional and physical stress with miscarriages, infant death and the chance of dying themselves during labour.
They were called daughters as King Louis XIV provided the women with passage, a dowry upon marriage and a trousseau containing some clothes, a comb and sewing supplies – cloth, needles, scissors. And a knife.
The women were selected in France and then given the choice to participate in the scheme. If they agreed they were afforded the unique option of choosing who they married when they arrived in New France. A novel concept as most marriages were arranged at the time. Although, is it considered lucky to have a choice between two uncertain fates?
Once les filles du roi arrived at the mainland the ship that carried the women made stops along the St. Lawrence at outposts, ending their voyage in Montréal. Where to depart though? How to know if there were kinder, better men and prospects further along? Most of the women were married within half a year of landing.
But before les filles du roi were chosen, before they went on their journey, before they became wives and mothers, first the women were individuals with histories of their own. In their homeland these women were subject to harsh circumstances where compassion and access to the privileges of wealthier people was rare. Becoming an explorer of sorts was perhaps the best or worst thing that may happen to them.
They were called daughters as King Louis XIV provided the women with passage, a dowry upon marriage and a trousseau containing some clothes, a comb and sewing supplies – cloth, needles, scissors. And a knife.
The women were selected in France and then given the choice to participate in the scheme. If they agreed they were afforded the unique option of choosing who they married when they arrived in New France. A novel concept as most marriages were arranged at the time. Although, is it considered lucky to have a choice between two uncertain fates?
Once les filles du roi arrived at the mainland the ship that carried the women made stops along the St. Lawrence at outposts, ending their voyage in Montréal. Where to depart though? How to know if there were kinder, better men and prospects further along? Most of the women were married within half a year of landing.
But before les filles du roi were chosen, before they went on their journey, before they became wives and mothers, first the women were individuals with histories of their own. In their homeland these women were subject to harsh circumstances where compassion and access to the privileges of wealthier people was rare. Becoming an explorer of sorts was perhaps the best or worst thing that may happen to them.
