Françoise d'Aubigné, Marquise de Maintenon, the second wife of King Louis XIV of France, was a fascinating figure of her time and had an unusual life and ascension to the court. She was born into a poor family. She married poet Paul Scarron and later became the mistress and then the secret wife of King Louis XIV. Although her morals may have been considered questionable because of the path she had chosen, she was a bright and compassionate woman. She studied the philosophical currents of the time and had made an important contribution to the educational system, as she had founded a school for women in Saint-Cyr. Even though her influence with the King was significant, she was never officially recognized as the queen consort of France.