Hortense and Marie Mancini tried to make a place for themselves in 17th-century Europe, defying all kinds of conventions along the way. Their lives were full of adventure and daring, but they were also both stuck in abusive marriages.  
Research:

"Jules Mazarin." Historic World Leaders, edited by Anne Commire, Gale, 1994. Gale In Context: U.S. History, link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1616000407/GPS?u=mlin_n_melpub&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=68d5e2f8. Accessed 11 Oct. 2022.
"When lesbian passions stirred at court." Times [London, England], 7 Feb. 2019, p. 3. Gale In Context: Global Issues, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A572957931/GPS?u=mlin_n_melpub&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=8ab9535e. Accessed 11 Oct. 2022.
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Mancini sisters". Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Dec. 2015, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Mancini-sisters. Accessed 12 October 2022.
Esslemont, Chloe. “Keeping up with the Mazarinettes.” Art UK. 1/17/2019. https://artuk.org/discover/stories/keeping-up-with-the-mazarinettes
Ferguson, Donna. “Restoration influencer: how Charles II's clever mistress set trends ahead of her time." The Guardian.2/28/2021. https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/feb/28/restoration-influencer-how-charles-iis-clever-mistress-set-trends-ahead-of-her-time
Folger Library. “The Fabulous Mancini Sisters.” 3/13/2012. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sX30o5FX0Y
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Goldsmith, Elizabeth C. “The Kings' Mistresses: The Liberated Lives of Marie Mancini, Princess Colonna, and Her Sister Hortense, Duchess Mazarin.” Public Affairs. 2012.
Latour, Therese Louis. “Princesses Ladies And Adventuresses of the Reign of Louis XIV.” London. Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co. 1924.
O’Rourke, John. “17th-Century Sisters the Kardashians Might Admire.” BU Today. 8/27/2012. https://www.bu.edu/articles/2012/17th-century-sisters-the-kardashians-might-admire/
Porter, Linda. “Charles II’s last mistress.” Historia: Magazine of the Historical Writers’ Association. 4/16/2020. https://www.historiamag.com/charles-iis-last-mistress/
Richard, Kristen. “How Italy’s ‘Runaway Duchess’ Changed How We Drink Champagne.” Wine Enthusiast. 2/11/2022. https://www.winemag.com/2022/02/11/hortense-mancini-runaway-duchess-champagne/
Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts. “The Manuscripts of His Grace the Duke of Rutland: Letters and papers, 1440-1797 (v.3 mainly correspondence of the fourth Duke of Rutland). v.4. Charters, cartularies, &c. Letters and papers, supplementary. Extracts from household accounts.” Jan. 1889. https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=IgoRAAAAYAAJ&rdid=book-IgoRAAAAYAAJ&rdot=1
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