Diane de Poitiers

Diane de Poitiers was a noted beauty who maintained her good looks well into her fifties and was immortalized in both sculpture and paintings.

Royal Family Member

September 3, 1499

Virgo

April 25, 1566

66

Saint-Vallier, Drôme, France

Diane de Poitiers, the renowned royal mistress of King Henry II of France, was a striking beauty and a prominent figure at court. She is best remembered for her enduring relationship with the king, which persisted until his demise. Diane was also an arts patron and played a crucial role in building the Château de Chenonceau. Other accomplishments include her participation in the education and upbringing of King Henry’s children, her charitable endeavors, and her reputation for her fashion sense, as she is believed to have popularized black clothing in France.

In recent times, Diane de Poitiers has experienced a resurgence in popularity and interest. Various media portrayals have featured her, such as the two-episode mini-series “Diane de Poitiers,” starring Isabelle Adjani as the eponymous royal courtesan. The series delves into her passionate and bold relationship with King Henry II, who was twenty years her junior. Diane’s beauty and influence as France’s unofficial queen have been preserved in sculptures and paintings.

Although her position as a mistress was contentious, Diane de Poitiers was an influential figure in French history. Her rivalry with Catherine de Médicis, the official queen, remains one of the 16th century’s most scandalous and tumultuous stories. Diane’s legacy as a powerful and influential woman continues to fascinate both audiences and historians. Notably, she was a celebrated beauty who maintained her good looks into her fifties and was commemorated in various sculptures and paintings.