In 1680, Catherine Monvoisin, known as La Voisin, was executed in Paris for her involvement in a series of poisoning scandals that implicated members of the French nobility. This event, known as the Affair of the Poisons, revealed the dark underbelly of court life and the extent of corruption and intrigue in the French aristocracy. The scandal led to a crackdown on witchcraft and sorcery, and it significantly impacted public perception of the monarchy and the judicial system in France.

The Affair of the Poisons and the execution of La Voisin in 1680 inspired Gothic literary motifs of poison and intrigue, influencing poets like John Milton and later Romantic writers. This scandal echoed in their works, exploring themes of courtly corruption and the darker aspects of human nature.