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 Émilie de Joly de Choin to the king, they were both exiled from court. The relationship to Louis did not end, however. Marie Émilie married Louis secretly in 1694. No details are known of the ceremony, but on 19 July 1694, Louis referred to her as his legal spouse in a letter to his father's wife, Madame de Maintenon. Marie Émilie did not, however, acquire the title of "Dauphine" but continued to be officially referred to as Mademoiselle de Choin; the marriage was not officially mentioned or recognized, and she did not participate in court life. Marie Émilie resided in the palace of Meudon, where