Veronica Franco (1546 - 1591)
Mistress of: King Henry III of France, among others
Tenure: 1574.
Royal Bastards: None.
Fall From Power: The King left the country.
Veronica Franco was among the most respected courtesan in Venice by the time she had turned twenty. Belonging to the highest class of courtesan known as the cortigiana onesta, her skills in bed – coupled with her beauty, intelligence and strong personality - skyrocketed her popularity in a short amount of time. Veronica learned the finer art of seduction from another onesta: her mother, who taught her how to use her natural assets to attract wealthy men. The only daughter amongst three sons, Veronica was educated in the same manner as her brothers by a private tutor. In her mid-teens, Veronica was married to a wealthy physician quite a bit older than she, but the marriage ended a few years later in divorce. Veronica was left to support both herself and her infant child when her now ex-husband refused to return her dowry. Undaunted, Veronica splendidly managed her own household and the other children she eventually bore (a total of six by various men, though only three survived childhood). Many years later she would also care for her nephews, who were left orphaned.
Veronica began to seek patrons “among the learned” and by the 1570s, she belonged to one of the more prestigious literary circles in the city. From an early age, Veronica showed great skill in writing, though much of her contributions and literary accomplishments are now forgotten. Veronica would publish some 50 letters, 18 poems and two sonnets, the latter of which were dedicated to her former flame King Henry. She unsuccessfully petitioned the city to create a home for poor women (of which she would be administrator).
Despite her fame, Veronica’s only known royal conquest was that of King Henry III, whom she had a brief affair with when the King passed through Italy on his way to France to accept the French crown. Henry had heard of her talents and “requested an evening with the city’s most famous courtesan.” His request was granted and the pair spent a few hot and steamy nights together before Henry left Italy to finish his journey west.
Things took a downward turn in 1575, when plague ravaged Venice and Veronica was forced to leave the city, losing much of her wealth and possessions due to looting. Upon her return, she was met with a charge of witchcraft, but was able to “[defend] herself with dignity” and the charges were dropped. There is some evidence that her connections with several important Venetian nobles helped get her the acquittal. Veronica was never able to attain the same level of wealth that had before leaving the city, and she died in relative poverty at the age of 45.
Portrait of a ”Lady Baring her Breast”, thought to be a portrait of Veronica Franco by Jacopo Tintoretto, c. 1555 (left image) and another ”Portrait of a Lady” often identified as Veronica, by the same artist, c. 1575 (right image).
Robin, Diana. Encyclopedia of Women in the Renaissance: Italy, France, and England. ABC CLIO (2007). ISBN: 1851097724.
Russell, Rinaldina. Italian Women Writers: A Bio-bibliographical Sourcebook. Greenwood Press (1994). ISBN: 0313283478.
Ditmore, Melissa. Encyclopedia of Prostitution and Sex Work: Volume 1. Greenwood Press.