Maîtresse-en-titre
Encyclopedia
Royal mistress
A royal mistress is the historical position of a mistress to a monarch or senior Royal. Some mistresses have had considerable power. The prevalence of the institution can be attributed to the fact that royal marriages were until recent times conducted solely on the basis of political and dynastic...
of the king of France. It was a semi-official position which came with its own apartments. The title really came into use during the reign of Henry IV
Henry IV of France
Henry IV , Henri-Quatre, was King of France from 1589 to 1610 and King of Navarre from 1572 to 1610. He was the first monarch of the Bourbon branch of the Capetian dynasty in France....
and continued until the reign of Louis XV
Louis XV of France
Louis XV was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1 September 1715 until his death. He succeeded his great-grandfather at the age of five, his first cousin Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, served as Regent of the kingdom until Louis's majority in 1723...
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This page contains a listing of notable French royal mistress
Royal mistress
A royal mistress is the historical position of a mistress to a monarch or senior Royal. Some mistresses have had considerable power. The prevalence of the institution can be attributed to the fact that royal marriages were until recent times conducted solely on the basis of political and dynastic...
es.
Charles V of France
Charles V of France
Charles V , called the Wise, was King of France from 1364 to his death in 1380 and a member of the House of Valois...
- Biette de Casinel (ca 1340 – ca 1380)
Charles VI of France
Charles VI of France
Charles VI , called the Beloved and the Mad , was the King of France from 1380 to 1422, as a member of the House of Valois. His bouts with madness, which seem to have begun in 1392, led to quarrels among the French royal family, which were exploited by the neighbouring powers of England and Burgundy...
- Odette de ChampdiversOdette de ChampdiversOdette de Champdivers was the mistress of Charles VI of France...
(ca 1384–1424)
Charles VII of France
Charles VII of France
Charles VII , called the Victorious or the Well-Served , was King of France from 1422 to his death, though he was initially opposed by Henry VI of England, whose Regent, the Duke of Bedford, ruled much of France including the capital, Paris...
- Agnès SorelAgnès SorelAgnès Sorel , known by the sobriquet Dame de beauté, was a favourite mistress of King Charles VII of France, for whom she bore three daughters....
(ca 1422–1450) - Antoinette de MaignelaisAntoinette de MaignelaisAntoinette de Maignelais was the chief mistress of Charles VII of France from 1450 until his death. The Baroness of Villequier by marriage, she replaced her cousin Agnès Sorel as the king's favourite mistress after Sorel's sudden death in 1450...
(ca 1430 – ca 1461)
Louis XI of France
Louis XI of France
Louis XI , called the Prudent , was the King of France from 1461 to 1483. He was the son of Charles VII of France and Mary of Anjou, a member of the House of Valois....
- Phélisé Regnard
- Marguerite de Sassenage (ca 1449–1471)
Francis I of France
Francis I of France
Francis I was King of France from 1515 until his death. During his reign, huge cultural changes took place in France and he has been called France's original Renaissance monarch...
- Françoise de FoixFrançoise de FoixFrançoise de Foix, Comtesse de Châteaubriant was a mistress of Francis I of France.-Background:Françoise was the daughter of Jean de Foix, Vicomte de Lautrec, and Jeanne d'Aydie. Her father was the son of Pierre de Foix, Vicomte de Lautrec; Pierre had been a younger brother of Gaston IV of Foix,...
(1495–1537), countess of Châteaubriant - Anne de Pisseleu d'HeillyAnne de Pisseleu d'HeillyAnne de Pisseleu d'Heilly , Duchess of Étampes, was the mistress of Francis I of France.She was a daughter of Adrien de Pisseleu, seigneur d'Heilly, a nobleman of Picardy, who, with the rise of his daughter at court, was made seigneur of Meudon, master of waters and forests of Île de France, of...
(1508–1580), duchess of Étampes
Henry II of France
Henry II of France
Henry II was King of France from 31 March 1547 until his death in 1559.-Early years:Henry was born in the royal Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, near Paris, the son of Francis I and Claude, Duchess of Brittany .His father was captured at the Battle of Pavia in 1525 by his sworn enemy,...
- Diane de PoitiersDiane de PoitiersDiane de Poitiers was a French noblewoman and a prominent courtier at the courts of kings Francis I and his son, Henry II of France. She became notorious as the latter's favourite mistress...
(1499–1566) - Jane Fleming (or Jane Stewart) (ca 1508 – ca 1553)
- Filippa Duci (ca 1520–?)
- Nicole de Savigny (1535–1590), baroness of Fontette
Charles IX of France
Charles IX of France
Charles IX was King of France, ruling from 1560 until his death. His reign was dominated by the Wars of Religion. He is best known as king at the time of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre.-Childhood:...
- Marie TouchetMarie TouchetMarie Touchet , Dame de Belleville, was the only mistress of Charles IX of France.-Humble origins, mistress to the king:...
(ca 1553–1638)
Henry III of France
Henry III of France
Henry III was King of France from 1574 to 1589. As Henry of Valois, he was the first elected monarch of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth with the dual titles of King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1573 to 1575.-Childhood:Henry was born at the Royal Château de Fontainebleau,...
- Louise de La Béraudière du Rouhet
- Renée de Rieux de Châteauneuf
- Veronica FrancoVeronica FrancoVeronica Franco was an Italian poet and courtesan in 16th century Venice.- Life as a courtesan :Renaissance Venetian society recognized two different classes of courtesans: the cortigiana onesta, the intellectual courtesan, and the cortigiana di lume, lower-class prostitutes who tended to live and...
(1546–1591) - Marie van Kleef (1553–1574), countess of Beaufort
Henry IV of France
Henry IV of France
Henry IV , Henri-Quatre, was King of France from 1589 to 1610 and King of Navarre from 1572 to 1610. He was the first monarch of the Bourbon branch of the Capetian dynasty in France....
- Diane d'Andoins (1554–1621)
- Françoise de Montmorency (1562–?)
- Esther Imbert (1570 – ca. 1593)
- Antoinette de Pons (1570–1632)
- Gabrielle d'EstréesGabrielle d'EstréesGabrielle d'Estrées, Duchess of Beaufort and Verneuil, Marchioness of Monceaux was a French mistress of King Henry IV of France, born at either the Château de la Bourdaisière in Montlouis-sur-Loire, in Touraine, or at the château de Cœuvres, in Picardy....
(ca 1571–1599) - Catherine Henriette de Balzac d'EntraguesCatherine Henriette de Balzac d'EntraguesCatherine Henriette de Balzac d'Entragues, Marquise de Verneuil was the favourite mistress of Henry IV of France after Gabrielle d'Estrées died...
(1579–1633), marquise de Verneuil - Jacqueline de Bueil (ca 1580–1651)
- Charlotte des Essarts (ca 1580–1651)
- Charlotte-Marguerite de MontmorencyCharlotte-Marguerite de MontmorencyCharlotte Marguerite de Montmorency was an heiress of one of France's leading ducal families, and Princess of Condé by her marriage to Henry de Bourbon. She almost became a mistress of Henry IV of France, but her husband escaped with her after the wedding.-Life:She was the daughter of Henry de...
(1594–1650), princess of CondéPrince of CondéThe Most Serene House of Condé is a historical French house, a noble lineage of descent from a single ancestor...
Louis XIII of France
Louis XIII of France
Louis XIII was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1610 to 1643.Louis was only eight years old when he succeeded his father. His mother, Marie de Medici, acted as regent during Louis' minority...
- Marie de Hautefort (1616–1691)
- Louise de La FayetteLouise de La FayetteLouise Angélique Motier de la Fayette was a French courtier and close friend of King Louis XIII who renounced the corruption of his court and entered a convent.- Life in the royal court :...
(ca 1616–1665)
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
- Catherine Bellier, baronne de Beauvais
- Olympe Mancini (1638–1708)
- Lucie de la Motte-Argencourt
- Mademoiselle de Marivault
- Marie ManciniMarie ManciniAnna Maria Mancini was the third of the five Mancini sisters; nieces to Cardinal Mazarin who were brought to France to marry advantageously...
(1639–1715) - Hortense ManciniHortense ManciniHortense Mancini, duchesse Mazarin , was the favourite niece of Cardinal Mazarin, chief minister of France, and a mistress of Charles II, King of England, Scotland and Ireland...
(1646–1699) - Henrietta of England (1644–1670), his sister-in-law
- Louise Françoise de la Baume le Blanc de la VallièreLouise de La VallièreLouise de La Vallière was a mistress of Louis XIV of France from 1661 to 1667. She later became the Duchess of La Vallière and Duchess of Vaujours in her own right...
(1644–1710), duchesse de la Vallière and duchesse de Vaujours - Françoise-Athénaïs de Rochechouart de Mortemart, marquise de MontespanFrançoise-Athénaïs, marquise de MontespanFrançoise Athénaïs de Rochechouart de Mortemart, marquise of Montespan , better known as Madame de Montespan, was the most celebrated maîtresse en titre of King Louis XIV of France, by whom she had seven children....
(1640–1707) - Anne de Rohan-Chabot (1641–1709), princesse de Soubise
- Françoise d'Aubigné, marquise de MaintenonFrançoise d'Aubigné, Marquise de MaintenonFrançoise d'Aubigné, Marquise de Maintenon was the second wife of King Louis XIV of France. She was known during her first marriage as Madame Scarron, and subsequently as Madame de Maintenon...
(1635–1719), marquise of Maintenon - Claude de Vin des ŒilletsClaude de Vin des ŒilletsClaude de Vin des Œillets, known as Mademoiselle des Œillets, , was a mistress of Louis XIV of France and a the companion of the official royal mistress and favorite Madame de Montespan...
(ca 1637–1687) - Isabelle de LudresIsabelle de LudresMarie Elisabeth de Ludres, known as Isabelle , was a French noble lady-in-waiting and canoness, royal mistress of Louis XIV of France in 1675-76....
(1687–1722) - Marie Angélique de Scoraille de RoussilleAngélique de FontangesMarie Angélique de Scorailles was a French noblewoman and one of the many mistresses of Louis XIV. A lady-in-waiting to his sister-in-law the Duchess of Orléans, she caught the attention of the Sun King and became his lover in 1679...
(1661–1681), duchess of Fontanges - Charlotte-Eléonore Madeleine de la Motte HoudancourtMadame de VentadourCharlotte de La Motte Houdancourt, Duchess of Ventadour was the governess of King Louis XV of France, great-grandson of King Louis XIV. She is credited with saving Louis XV from the ministrations of the royal doctors when he was ill as a child...
, Duchesse de Ventadour (1654–1744) - Mme S. de Spaner (1672–1809)
- Mme L. de Spaner (1689–1799)
Louis XV of France
Louis XV of France
Louis XV was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1 September 1715 until his death. He succeeded his great-grandfather at the age of five, his first cousin Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, served as Regent of the kingdom until Louis's majority in 1723...
- Louise Julie, Comtesse de MaillyLouise Julie, Comtesse de MaillyLouise Julie de Mailly, comtesse de Mailly was the eldest of the five famous de Nesle sisters, four of whom would become the mistress of King Louis XV of France.- Early life, family and marriage :...
(1710–1751) - Pauline-Félicité de MaillyPauline-Félicité de MaillyPauline Félicité de Mailly , marquise de Vintimille, was the second of the five famous de Nesle sisters, four of whom would become the mistress of King Louis XV of France.- Early life and family :...
(1712–1741), marquise de Vintimille - Diane-Adélaïde de Mailly (1713–1760), duchess of Lauraguais
- Marie-Anne de Mailly-Nesle duchess de ChâteaurouxMarie-Anne de Mailly-Nesle duchess de ChâteaurouxMarie Anne de Mailly, duchesse de Châteauroux was the youngest and prettiest of the five famous de Nesle sisters, four of whom would become the mistress of King Louis XV of France....
(1717–1744) - Jeanne Antoinette PoissonMadame de PompadourJeanne Antoinette Poisson, Marquise de Pompadour, also known as Madame de Pompadour was a member of the French court, and was the official chief mistress of Louis XV from 1745 to her death.-Biography:...
(better known as Madame de Pompadour) (1721–1764), marquise de PompadourArnac-PompadourArnac-Pompadour is a commune in the Corrèze department in central France.The city is famous for its chateau and its stud farm, the Pompadour National Anglo-Arab Stud, headquarters of the French National Stud and France's principal production centre of Anglo-Arabian horses.-History:Arnac was... - Jeanne Antoinette BécuMadame du BarryJeanne Bécu, comtesse du Barry was the last Maîtresse-en-titre of Louis XV of France and one of the victims of the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution.-Early life:...
(better known as Madame du Barry) (1743–1793), countess of Barry - Marie-Louise O'MurphyMarie-Louise O'MurphyMarie-Louise O'Murphy de Boisfaily was one of the younger mistresses of King Louis XV of France. Her original surname is also given in sources as Murphy, Morphy, or O'Morphy, and she is sometimes referred to as "La Morphise" or "La Belle Morphise"...
(1737–1815), was never an actual Maîtresse-en-titre - Françoise de Châlus (1734–1821), duchess of Narbonne-Lara
- Marguerite Catherine Haynault (1736–1823), marquise de Montmélas
- Lucie Madeleine d'Estaing (1743–1826)
- Anne Couffier de Romans (1737–1808), baroness of Meilly-Coulonge
- Louise Jeanne Tiercelin de La Colleterie (1746–1779), called Madame de Bonneval
- Irène du Buisson de Longpré (?–1767)
- Catherine Éléonore Bénard (1740–1769)
- Marie Thérèse Françoise Boisselet (1731–1800)
Louis XVIII of France
Louis XVIII of France
Louis XVIII , known as "the Unavoidable", was King of France and of Navarre from 1814 to 1824, omitting the Hundred Days in 1815...
- Zoé Talon, comtesse du CaylaZoé Talon, comtesse du CaylaZoé Victoire Talon , styled comtesse du Cayla, was an intimate friend and confidante of Louis XVIII of France, and was his maîtresse-en-titre.She was born at Le Boullay-Thierry...
(1785–1852)