Louise de La Vallière

Louise de La Vallière, born on August sixth, sixteen forty-four, was a prominent French noblewoman and a significant figure at the royal court of Louis XIV. She began her journey in the court as a maid-of-honour to Henrietta of England in sixteen sixty-one, where her charm and intellect quickly caught the attention of the King, leading to her becoming his mistress.

During her time with Louis XIV, La Vallière bore four children, two of whom survived infancy: Marie-Anne, known as Mademoiselle de Blois, and Louis, Count of Vermandois. Both children were legitimized, marking her influence within the royal lineage. Beyond her role as a mistress, she was an active participant in the court's vibrant intellectual life, showing a keen interest in the arts, literature, and philosophy.

In sixteen sixty-six, La Vallière's position as the King's mistress was taken over by Madame de Montespan. Despite this shift, she was honored with the title of suo jure duchess and granted lands. However, after suffering from an illness in sixteen seventy, she experienced a profound spiritual transformation, leading her to write a popular devotional book.

In sixteen seventy-four, Louise de La Vallière chose to enter a Carmelite convent in Paris, where she dedicated her life to religion until her passing in seventeen ten. Her legacy remains as a woman of letters and a significant figure in the history of the French court.