Abstract
The political ideas of Mme de Genlis contribute significantly to our current image of political ideas and political debate during the French Enlightenment. Genlis was a well-known political figure and a widely read author of her time who can compete on this point with canonical authors such as Rousseau, Diderot and Voltaire – authors often cited as the instigators of the political innovations brought about by the French Revolution. This research addresses Genlis' thoughts about the (revolutionary) ideal of equality and has as its main hypothesis that Genlis tries to reconcile this 'Enlightenment ideal' with her Christian faith.