Vivienne’s parents were both merchants from Dairsmuid in Rivain, though she herself was born in Wycome in the Free Marches. She was taken to the Ostwick Circle at a very young age, where she became one of the youngest full-fledged mages in Circle history. She was transferred to the Montsimmard Circle at the age of nineteen. She was already an exceptional scholar and showed early promise at the Game. In a shocking move, she elected not to join any Fraternity when she became a fully-fledged enchanter.
At the Imperial Wintersend Ball of 9:16 Dragon, mages from the White Spire and the Montsimmard Circle were invited to attend the festivities and entertain the court. Vivienne was among the envoys from Montsimmard. There, she caught the attention of Duke Bastien de Ghislain, who spent all evening dancing only with her, slighting a number of powerful nobles in the process. Bastien paid her a visit in Montsimmard just a few days later, accompanied by a small army of florists bearing armloads of peonies. In short order, he invited Vivienne to several parties held at his estate, and by the start of summer she had a suite of rooms in his house from which she conducted most of her Circle business.
Their relationship caused a huge scandal at the time because of Vivienne’s status as a mage. Several bards were sent to make an example out of her; half of them were returned to their employers frozen solid while she persuaded the rest to work for her instead. The nobility continued to stew in their opposition until 9:20, when the newly crowned Empress Celene chose Vivienne as her court enchanter after a single meeting with her. While the position had always been regarded as little more than being a glorified court jester, Vivienne managed to turn it into an advisory position to the Empress despite the official ban prohibiting mages from holding political power. Nearly every fraternity clamored for her favor in hopes of having a representative at the empress’ ear.
Her reputation kept growing after becoming Court Enchanter, and she was eventually given the moniker Madame de Fer, the Lady of Iron, a name that indicated her place as both a respected and feared member of the court. She was voted First Enchanter of Montsimmard at an age young enough to cause scandal. Vivienne is also a connoisseur of fashion and was dubbed “the jewel of the high court of Orlais.”
After the Circles revolted Vivienne became the de facto leader of the Loyalists when she rallied those who took up arms against the mage rebels.
When the Inquisitor first arrives in Val Royeaux to deal with the Chantry, Vivienne extends them an invitation to her salon at the Ghislain Estate of her lover Duke Bastien de Ghislain. At the party, Vivienne intervenes when Marquis Alphonse openly disparages the Inquisition and attempts to challenge the Inquisitor, magically immobilizing him and leaving his fate up to the Inquisitor. As she sees the Inquisition as the only group willing to stand against the chaos and wishes to have a hand in deciding her fate, Vivienne offers to join the Inquisition. Banter with Cole later reveals that Vivienne manipulated the marquis into attacking the Inquisition at her party, which allowed her to move against him in response to a vicious insult he had previously dealt her.
Vivienne is extremely bitter and resentful at what she perceives as the selfish actions of the rebel mages. In her mind, they see only their own oppression and fail to consider the well-being of others outside the Circle of Magi, as well as the justifiably increased fear of magic in the populace and ranks of the Templar Order, a fear that she believes is now, by their actions and that of the Kirkwall Rebellion, greater than it ever was since the rise of the Tevinter Imperium. She believes that the Circles and Templar Order must be restored to ensure the continued protection of both mages and ordinary people, and thus supports Cassandra Pentaghast as the new Divine over Leliana. Despite Vivienne’s preference for Cassandra, Vivienne notes to the Inquisitor that Cassandra’s lack of charisma is a serious fault in her leadership abilities. The Inquisitor can mention that mages like Vivienne should be more active in Chantry politics, and that Vivienne herself may make a good Divine – to which Vivienne responds positively.
Vivienne actually is elected the new Divine Victoria. She is the first mage to hold the position and once appointed, the uproar is immediate. Three revolts follow in quick succession, and her response is immediate and vicious. Chaos reigned for months but eventually subsided. To the surprise of many, she reinstates the Circle of Magi and creates a Templar Order firmly leashed to her hand. Mages rise quickly in the new Circle, having more freedom and responsibility than ever before even if all true power lies with her. Her reign is contentious and causes a fracture within the chantry.