Montespan

Montespan, Francoise Marquise de (1641-1707), daughter of the Duke of Montemar, was one of the mistresses of Louis XIV. of France. She married in 1663, and was witty, lively, cultivated, and beautiful. In 1668 she came to court and soon supplanted Louise de la Valliere, who finally retired in 1674. Her first child by the king was born in 1672, and was committed to the charge of Madame Scarron, afterwards Madame de Maintenon (q.v.). For a long time the marquise had great influence with the king, till at last she was supplanted by Madame de Maintenon. After 1685 she was seldom at court, and finally quitted it in 1691. Like most of the king's mistresses, she took to piety and penitence.