What is blanche monnier?

Blanche Monnier, also known as "La Séquestrée de Poitiers" (The Recluse of Poitiers), was a French woman from a well-respected aristocratic family in Poitiers, France.

  • Imprisonment: She was secretly kept locked in a small, dark room by her own mother, Madame%20Monnier, for 25 years.

  • Reason for Imprisonment: Her mother disapproved of her daughter's choice of a Protestant%20lawyer whom she wished to marry. Desiring a more "suitable" match for Blanche, her mother chose to lock her away, rather than allow her to marry the man she loved.

  • Discovery: In 1901, an anonymous letter was sent to the Attorney General of Paris, revealing Blanche's existence. This led to the police discovering her appalling condition.

  • Condition: When found, Blanche was emaciated, covered in filth, and suffering from numerous health problems. She was living in her own excrement and surrounded by rotten food.

  • Aftermath: Madame%20Monnier was arrested but died shortly after being imprisoned herself. Blanche was taken to a hospital and eventually lived in a sanatorium. She suffered from psychological problems and died in 1913.

  • Legacy: The case of Blanche%20Monnier is a stark example of abuse and the power of family secrets. It remains a shocking and tragic story in French history.