What was it like to be a royal mistress? Francoise de Foix was the first official royal mistress in France.
Diane de Poitiers is probably the most famous royal mistress in French History. She wielded a huge amount of power as the lover of Henri II. However, it was the lovers of Henri’s father, François I, who helped set the precedent of an official royal mistress.
François I was the first French monarch to create the position of royal mistress, for his lover, the sultry dark beauty Françoise de Foix. She even had a sexy mistress name!
So what was it like to be a royal mistress? Well, in the case of Diane de Poitiers, she had nearly as much power as the king. I fact, she and Henri often signed royal documents as one signature--HenriDiane.
Most royal mistresses did not enjoy the same level of power as Diane, either before her, or after her. However, women who graced the king’s bed did stand to make substantial gains, including jewelry, estates, titles, and lavish clothing. The family of a royal mistress also gained titles, estates and government positions. In fact, many girls were brought to court to try and catch the kings eye, thereby bettering their family fortunes.
I’ve always wondered what happened to the royal mistress when the king loses interest in her, as the case with Françoise de Foixe, or dies, as the case with Diane de Poitiers. Poor Françoise was forced to return to her country house and a very angry husband. (Married women were often mistresses.) According to some theories, following several years of being locked up and abuse by her husband, Françoise died mysteriously. Apparently, even being the royal mistress did not save her from an abusive spouse. Of course, not all royal mistresses suffered such abuses. Many were left very well off, with estates and titles.
For more reading on royal mistresses, check out Sex With Kings by Eleanor Herman.
