Voltaire Voltaire François-Marie Arouet (; 21 November 169430 May 1778), known by his "nom de plume" Voltaire (; ), was a French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher famous for his wit, his criticism of Christianity, especially the Catholic Church, and his advocacy of freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and separation of church and state. Voltaire was a versatile and prolific writer, producing works in almost every literary form, including plays, poems, novels, essays and historical and scientific works. He wrote more than 20,000 letters and more than 2,000 books and pamphlets. He was an outspoken advocate of civil liberties, despite
Marie-Angélique de Bombelles Marie-Angélique de Bombelles Marie-Angélique Charlotte de Bombelles née "de Mackau" (1762-1800), was a French court office holder and letter writer. She was maid of honour and a personal friend and confidante of Élisabeth of France (1764–1794), and known in history for her correspondence with her, which is preserved. She was the daughter of baron Louis Eléonor Dirkheim de Mackau (1727-1767) and Marie-Angélique de Mackau, and the sister of Renée Suzanne de Soucy (1758-1841) and Armand Louis de Mackau (1759-1827). She married her cousin, the diplomat baron Marc Marie, Marquis de Bombelles in 1778, and became the mother of Louis Philippe