A Mistress is a female lover and companion who is not married to her partner in question. Generally, the relationship is stable and at least semi-permanent, but the couple does not live together openly and the relationship is usually, but not always, secret. The term "mistress" was originally used as a neutral feminine counterpart to "mister" or "master".
Imperial Mistress[]
An Imperial Mistress is the historical position of a mistress to a monarch or an heir apparent. Some mistresses have had considerable power. These powerful mistresses have been commonly referred to as the "power behind the throne".
When a male fills this position, there is no distinct name given to the person in question, whether this be a relationship with a female ruler or homosexual relation with a male ruler. Chevalier Servant is often used, however, the most common term is the Italian term, Cicisbeo. Males who exercise political power as a result of their affairs are referred to as Valides, from the Spanish Validos.
Maîtresse-en-titre[]
The Maitresse-en-Titre was the chief mistress of the monarch. It was a semi-official position which came with its own apartments. The title came into use during the reign of Charles IV and continued until the reign of Louis XI.
List of Mistresses[]
Marie de Potier, Duchesse de Paris.
Charles I[]
- Marie, Duchesse de Valois
Louis I[]
- Marie Jeanne, Comtesse d'Artois
Louis II[]
- Madeleine, Comtesse d'Angouleme
Charles II[]
- Marguerite, Dame de Paris
- Françoise, Baronne de Chatellerault
Louis III[]
- Odette, Duchesse de Lorraine
- Marie de Potier, Duchesse de Paris
Elisabeth[]
- Henri, Duc de Valois
Charles III[]
- Anne, Duchesse d'Orleans
Louis VI[]
Louis V[]
- Ester, Comtesse du Berry
Henri[]
- Françoise, Marquise de Vendome (La Belle de Vendome)
- Rosemond d'Angleterre, Duchesse d'Orleans
Charles IV[]
- Rosemond d'Angleterre, Duchesse d'Orleans (Maitresse-en-Titre)
- Marie, Dame de Nassau
- Anne Bénédicte, Comtesse de Treves
Marie IV[]
- Antoine de Turbigen, Marquis de Turbigen
Louis VII[]
- Isabelle Marie, Duchesse de Guise (Maitresse-en-Titre)
Anne[]
- Louis Joseph, Comte d'Angouleme
Marie-Olympe, Duchesse de Luxembourg
Charles VI[]
- Henriette Anne, Marquise d'Alencon
- Catherine-Charlotte, Comtesse de Blois
- Marie-Olympe, Duchesse de Luxembourg (Maitresse-en-Titre)
- Charlotte Eleonore Marguerite, Duchesse de Guise
Louis X[]
- Marie-Yolande, Dame de Montauban
- Marie-Jeanne, Dame de Montauban
- Marie-Louise, Dame de Montauban
- Marie-Marguerite, Dame de Montauban
- Louise Marie Angélique, Duchesse de Bourbon (Maitresse-en-Titre)
- Elisabeth-Charlotte-Anne, Marquise de Narbonne
Auguste de Bretagne
Louis XI[]
- Adelaide Victoire, Dame de Chatellerault
- Louise Hippolyte, Princesse de Monaco
- Athenais, Duchesse de Normandy
- Emilie Caroline, Comtesse du Bar
- Diane, Marquise de Hollande (Maitresse-en-Titre until death)
- Elisabeth, Comtesse du Berry
- Anne Leonore, Duchesse de Luxembourg (Maitresse-en-Titre)
- Claudine, Comtesse de Cahors
- Diane Adélaïde, Dame de Valois
- Marie Anne, Dame de Valois
Chevalier servente's to Louis XI:
- Etienne Henri, Cardinal Lorraine
- Jean, Comte de Turenne
- Armand Philippe Poisson, Marquis de Pompadour
;Valides to Louis Xl;
Louis XII[]
- Isabelle de Clermont
- Louise Therese, Duchesse de Nassau (Maîtresse-en-titre)
- Marguerite Angélique, Dame de Roussillon
Louis XIV[]
- Sophie Gabrielle, Duchesse de Guise (Maîtresse-en-titre)