Poison Affair

The Affair of the Poisons (French: affaire des poisons, pronounced [afɛʁ de pwazɔ̃]) was a major murder scandal in France during the reign of King Louis XIV. Between 1677 and 1682, a number of prominent members of the aristocracy were implicated and sentenced on charges of poisoning and witchcraft. The scandal reached into the inner circle of the king. It led to the execution of 36 people.