Étienne Balsan
Encyclopedia
Étienne Balsan was a French socialite
and heir. He came from the family of wealthy industrialists from Châteauroux
(Indre
) who provided the army
with uniforms and originated the famous cloth known as "blue horizon." Balsan is best known in the present day as having kept Coco Chanel
as his mistress. Among his other lovers was famed French actress and courtesan Émilienne d'Alençon .
While the Balsan family was a part of the upper class circle, Etienne (and his brother Jacques Balsan
) were self-made men, neither landed gentry nor titled aristocrat. An officer in the cavalry, he renounced his career to breed horses and participate in races. A polo-player
, he owned the estate Chateau de Royallieu (destroyed during WWII,) near Compiègne
(Oise
). The chateau was located near the site of the Prix de Royallieu
, a Group 2 flat horse race, which has been active since 1922.
He noticed Coco Chanel in Moulins
(Allier
) and became her lover. They remained friends throughout their lives. In 1909, when Chanel settled in Paris
, he lent her his bachelor flat on the ground floor, 160 Boulevard Malesherbes, and helped her to open a boutique in Deauville
. Balsan introduced her to Paris society, including Englishman Arthur "Boy" Capel
who later became Chanel's lover, and who helped Chanel to finance her early fashion business.
His brother, Jacques Balsan
, married Consuelo Vanderbilt
, the former Duchess of Marlborough.
Balsan died in 1953.
in the feature film
Coco avant Chanel
(2009).
Socialite
A socialite is a person who participates in social activities and spends a significant amount of time entertaining and being entertained at fashionable upper-class events....
and heir. He came from the family of wealthy industrialists from Châteauroux
Châteauroux
Châteauroux is the capital of the Indre department in central France and the second-largest town in the province of Berry, after Bourges. Its residents are called Castelroussines or Castelroussins....
(Indre
Indre
Indre is a department in the center of France named after the river Indre. The inhabitants of the department are called Indriens.-History:Indre is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
) who provided the army
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
with uniforms and originated the famous cloth known as "blue horizon." Balsan is best known in the present day as having kept Coco Chanel
Coco Chanel
Gabrielle Bonheur "Coco" Chanel was a pioneering French fashion designer whose modernist thought, menswear-inspired fashions, and pursuit of expensive simplicity made her an important figure in 20th-century fashion. She was the founder of one of the most famous fashion brands, Chanel...
as his mistress. Among his other lovers was famed French actress and courtesan Émilienne d'Alençon .
While the Balsan family was a part of the upper class circle, Etienne (and his brother Jacques Balsan
Jacques Balsan
Louis Jacques Balsan was a French aviator and industrialist, born at Châteauroux in 1868, who was the second husband of society beauty Consuelo Vanderbilt, Duchess of Marlborough...
) were self-made men, neither landed gentry nor titled aristocrat. An officer in the cavalry, he renounced his career to breed horses and participate in races. A polo-player
Polo
Polo is a team sport played on horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team. Sometimes called, "The Sport of Kings", it was highly popularized by the British. Players score by driving a small white plastic or wooden ball into the opposing team's goal using a...
, he owned the estate Chateau de Royallieu (destroyed during WWII,) near Compiègne
Compiègne
Compiègne is a city in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Oise.The city is located along the Oise River...
(Oise
Oise
Oise is a department in the north of France. It is named after the river Oise.-History:Oise is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
). The chateau was located near the site of the Prix de Royallieu
Prix de Royallieu
The Prix de Royallieu is a Group 2 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,500 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September or early October.-History:The original...
, a Group 2 flat horse race, which has been active since 1922.
He noticed Coco Chanel in Moulins
Moulins, Allier
Moulins is a commune in central France, capital of the Allier department.Among its many tourist attractions are the Maison Mantin the Anne de Beaujeu Museum.-History:...
(Allier
Allier
Allier is a department in central France named after the river Allier.- History :Allier is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from parts of the former provinces of Auvergne and Bourbonnais.In 1940, the government of Marshal...
) and became her lover. They remained friends throughout their lives. In 1909, when Chanel settled in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, he lent her his bachelor flat on the ground floor, 160 Boulevard Malesherbes, and helped her to open a boutique in Deauville
Deauville
Deauville is a commune in the Calvados département in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.With its racecourse, harbour, international film festival, marinas, conference centre, villas, Grand Casino and sumptuous hotels, Deauville is regarded as the "queen of the Norman beaches" and...
. Balsan introduced her to Paris society, including Englishman Arthur "Boy" Capel
Boy Capel
Captain Arthur Edward "Boy" Capel CBE was an English polo player, possibly best-remembered for being a lover and muse of fashion designer Coco Chanel.-Biography:...
who later became Chanel's lover, and who helped Chanel to finance her early fashion business.
His brother, Jacques Balsan
Jacques Balsan
Louis Jacques Balsan was a French aviator and industrialist, born at Châteauroux in 1868, who was the second husband of society beauty Consuelo Vanderbilt, Duchess of Marlborough...
, married Consuelo Vanderbilt
Consuelo Vanderbilt
Consuelo Balsan , was a member of the prominent American Vanderbilt family...
, the former Duchess of Marlborough.
Balsan died in 1953.
In popular culture
Balsan was portrayed by actor Benoît PoelvoordeBenoît Poelvoorde
Benoît Poelvoorde is a Belgian actor and comedian who often associates cynicism, humour and drama in his movies.His mother was a grocer and his father a driver, who died when Poelvoorde was still young...
in the feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
Coco avant Chanel
Coco avant Chanel
Coco Before Chanel is a 2009 French film directed by Anne Fontaine, about the early life of the famed French fashion designer Coco Chanel....
(2009).