Jeanne de Valois-Saint-Rémy, born on July twenty-second, seventeen fifty-six, was a French noblewoman whose life was marked by intrigue and scandal. As an impoverished descendant of the Valois royal family, she claimed lineage from an illegitimate son of King Henry II. This connection to royalty, however tenuous, fueled her ambitions and led her into a world of deception.
Married to Nicholas de la Motte, whose family's noble status was questionable, Jeanne became notorious for her role in the Affair of the Diamond Necklace. This scandal not only highlighted her adventurous spirit but also played a significant part in the events leading up to the French Revolution, contributing to the downfall of the monarchy.
Throughout her life, Jeanne was known as an adventuress, a con artist, and a thief. Her exploits captured the attention of the public and historians alike, painting a complex portrait of a woman who navigated the treacherous waters of French society with cunning and audacity.