A King's Whore

Born into a working class family, Valtesse began working at age 10 in a sweet shop before finding new employment as both artistic model and worker in a dress shop at 13. After being raped by an older man in the street on her way to work, Valtesse’s future was uncertain. She later wrote in her autobiography that “the illusions, naive aspirations, hopes and dreams of my childhood, it was all gone in an instant” after being attacked.

Despite this, Valtesse secured a number of rich and influential lovers, and began a promising acting career. She made a promise to herself to never marry and focus on financial security.

In 1525, King Henry VIII had grown impatient waiting for his wife Queen Catherine to produce a living heir. It was around this time that the King became enamored by Anne Boleyn, one of a number of ladies in his wife’s entourage. Unlike her sister, Mary, Anne refused to become his mistress and after a seven year courtship, Henry and Anne secretly wed. Anne became pregnant shortly thereafter, though we all know how this story ends.

Louise Rasmussen (21 Apr 1815 – 6 Mar 1874)

Mistress of: King Frederick VII of Denmark. Tenure: c. 1840s - 1863. Royal Bastards: None. Fall From Power: None; She married him.

In 1848, at the age of forty, Prince Frederick became King Frederick VII of Denmark. Recently divorced (for the second time), the new King decided he wanted to marry his mistress, former ballet dancer Louise Christine Rasmussen. Frederick's previous two marriages had been miserable, ending at least in part due to Frederick’s “bad temperament, excessive drinking and shameless womanizing.” Both marriages were also childless which was perhaps why Frederick doted on Louise’s bastard son by her former lover Carl Berling. Carl and Frederick were actually close friends, and it is probably through him that Louise met the Prince in the first place. In any case, the Danish government was hardly willing to allow Frederick to marry such a woman (who had since retired from the stage and opened up a clothing shop), especially seeing as he had no legitimate heirs.

While he waited on some sort of approval, Frederick successfully managed to reform several laws, making him so popular with his subjects that the government decided to grant his marriage request. Frederick and Louise were wed on 8 August 1850, at which time the bride was given the title Countess Danner. Louise's ride from rag to riches is considered by some to be a sort of “Cinderella Story” – Louise was born the illegitimate child of a merchant and his maid. Unfortunately, the new Countess was met with contempt by high society, who considered her a “vulgar gold digger.” On one occasion, Frederick and Louise attended a dinner party where they were joined by many distinguished guests. It was customary for one of these guests to propose a toast to the King’s wife, but when the time came, no one did. Eventually, Frederick lost his patience, and he stood up and loudly announced: “As no one here will propose a toast to my wife, I will do so myself!“ Nonetheless, the marriage was happy and the couple (plus Carl) lived together comfortably at Jægerspris Slot. Following Frederick’s death in 1863, Louise retired from court life, spending the remainder of life establishing charity organizations in her husband’s name.

Sources

Formal portrait of ”Frederick VII of Denmark and his wife Countess Danner” by an unknown photographer, c. 1860s (right image) and a lovely painted portrait of ”Countess Danner” by an unknown artist, c. 1850s.

P. Fr. Suhm: Hemmelige Efterretninger om de danske Konger efter souveraineteten, Copenhagen 1918.

Margaret Erskine (c. 1511 – 5 May 1572)

Mistress of: King James V of Scotland. Tenure: c. 1530 - 1542. Bastards: One. Fall From Power: The King died.

Lady Margaret Erskine was one of several long-term mistresses of King James V of Scotland, though she was reportedly his “favorite” lover and there is some evidence that James contemplated marrying Margaret in mid-1536 – despite the fact that she was already married. James (or perhaps one of his advisors) wrote to the Pope seeking advice on the matter, though by November of that year James had finalized a more suitable union with Madeleine of Valois. Although Margaret came from a respectable family, a marriage to her brought no dowry and would have required special papal dispensation to have her current marriage annulled. Unfortunately for James; however, his marriage to the terribly fragile Madeline was short - she died in her husband’s arms on July 7th 1537 – just a month shy of turning 17.

Once again James began the hunt for a wife, though this time his list did not include Margaret (or any of his other mistresses). For although Margaret “showed genuine affection for the king … she probably had several lovers” and was the model for “Dame Sensuality” in Sir David Lyndsay’s play A Satire of the Three Estates. James settled on the widowed Mary of Guise, whom he married not quite a year after Madeleine’s death. While his legitimate wife would only produce a single surviving daughter (the quite famous Mary, Queen of Scots), his various mistresses gave him at least nine bastard children, seven of whom were sons. Margaret’s son James was perhaps the most important, and he was appointed Prior of St. Andrews as a child in 1538. He would also accompany the five-year-old Mary to France ten years later and as an adult become a supporter of the Scottish Reformation. This last act probably lead to his assassination in 1570.

King James was dead by 1542 and Margaret’s own husband was killed in battle five years later, but by all accounts Margaret ran an industrious household. Margaret was chatelaine (mistress) of Lochleven Castle where, between 1567 and 1567, Mary was imprisoned. It was during this time that the Queen was forced to abdicate. Margaret and her eldest surviving (legitimate) son also built a house on the shore of the Loch known as “New House”. She cared for her granddaughters there and frequently wrote to her mother.

Sources

Portrait of ”Young Lady” by Nathaniel Bacon, c. 1610 (image).

State Papers: King Henry the Eighth: Part IV. Volume 5. Record Commission (1836).

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.

Sources

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.

Laura Bon (24 Oct 1825 – 24 Jul 1904)

Mistress of: Victor Emmanuel II of Italy. Tenure: 1844 – c. 1853. Bastards: Two. Fall From Power: Dumped by the King.

Laura Bon was the daughter of Francesco Augusto Bon, a playwright, and his wife Luigia Ristori, an actress. Laura, surrounded by the theater from birth, was perhaps destined to become an actress herself. Her father had founded his own theater company, and this venture turned a fair profit for the family. By 1844, Laura was a rising star at just 19 years old, performing in front of Victor Emmanuel, the first king of a unified Italy since the 6th century, who became captivated by the young performer. Although Victor would have eight children by his first wife, Adelaide of Austria, he preferred consorting with his various mistresses, by whom he had another seven or so known children. Victor was “sexually gifted” and made it a habit to have lovers scattered throughout his country - he would visit them whenever he was in town. Adelaide was a quiet and pious woman, known for her charity works; she did not (openly) complain about her husband’s affairs, though she certainly did not approve of them.

In 1849, Laura abandoned the stage per Victor’s request, and in exchange the King had Laura moved into Moncalieri Castle, where she gave birth to two children (though only the second would survive). She shared Victor with several other ladies, but there was one that Laura just couldn’t ignore: Rosa Vercellana. Victor began to spend less time with Laura and more time with Rosa, but the King had no need of a jealous lover. Victor was a passionate man and he was going to keep as many mistresses simultaneously as he wanted to, and without complaints for that matter. Victor tired of the drama and ended his relationship with Laura shortly after she gave birth to his second child in 1853. Victor’s wife passed away two years later and, in 1869, he married Rosa following an illness that the King believed was going to kill him (he was right: he died just a few months after the wedding).

Free from any royal stipulations, Laura returned to the stage in 1858 and was greeted with great support, especially when she took her act to Florence. While there, in 1865, she was once again briefly reunited with Victor after several years apart as they were both staying at the Pitti Palace. Despite her success, by the end of her life Laura was reduced to near poverty. She moved to Venice, where she had a string of unsuccessful parts in various theater productions. Laura died of heart disease in 1904, at almost 80 years old.

Sources

Lithograph of “Laura Bonn” by an unknown artist, kept at the Museo centrale del Risorgimento in Rome, c. 1850s (left image) and a contemporary photograph of the ”Castle of Moncalieri” (right image).

Karoline Jagemann (25 Jan 1777 – 10 Jul 1848)

Karoline Jagemann (born Henriette Karoline Friedericke Jagemann; later Baroness Karoline Jagemann von Heygendorff) was a popular tragedienne and singer, whose most notable roles included Elizabeth in Mary Stuart (1800) and Beatrice in Bride of Messina (1803). Born in Weimar in 1777, she studied acting and singing in Mannheim beginning in 1790. Karoline debuted two years later in Oberon - the Fairy King, catching the attention of Goethe and Schiller.

Ellen Baldock (c. 1863 - 1920)

Mistress of: King Edward VII of England & Prince Francis of Teck, among others. Tenure: c. 1904 - 1915. Royal Bastards: One (Rumored).Fall From Power: The prince died.

In 1881, Ellen Constance “Nellie” Baldock became the wife of Francis Needham, 3rd Earl of Kilmorey, an Anglo-Irish Peer and (Conservative) Member of Parliament. The Earl’s wife was a “renowned beauty” who was rumored to have briefly been the mistress of King Edward when he was still the Prince of Wales – Edward regularly visited the family at their residence at Mourne Park, Francis having been an aide-de-camp to the prince. Nellie was one of a number of women that Edward bedded, though his (largely successful) effort to be as discreet as possible makes it difficult to know just how many affairs he had, or how long they lasted. Following her affair with Edward, Ellen became the mistress of the much younger Prince Francis of Teck (known as “Frank”) beginning in the late 1890s. Frank was “something of a philanderer with a charming but feckless manner” and was reportedly expelled from school for throwing his math teacher over a hedge, either to win a bet or following an argument. Like Edward, Frank had a number of affairs, but his relationship with Nellie was significant enough that Frank was reluctant to get married, despite being vigorously pursued by Maud of Wales. Although his bachelor lifestyle irritated his family, they begrudgingly accepted his philandering – until he died suddenly and it was discovered that the prince had left several prized royal jewels to Nellie. To make matters worse, there was also talk that Frank had fathered a bastard child with Nellie (or if not her, then any number of his other mistresses). Worried about the scandal the affair might cause, his sister persuaded a judge to seal the will; she quietly went to Nellie and bought back the family heirlooms for £10,000. This debacle was discovered in 2005, after a draft of Frank’s will was found among the Kilmorey family papers.

Sources

Photographs of ”Countess of Kilmorey in costume as Countess du Barri” by John Thomson, 1897, and the ”Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Teck” wearing some of the original emerald jewelry bequeathed to Nellie.

“Secret wills of the royals – a tale of mistresses, jewels and cover-ups”. The Guardian. 27 March 2007.

Vickers, Hugo. The Quest for Queen Mary. Zuleika (2018). ISBN: 1999777034.

Varvara Turkestanova (26 Dec 1775 – 20 May 1819)

Mistress of: Tsar Alexander I of Russia, among others. Tenure: 1810s - 1819. Royal Bastards: One (Disputed). Fall From Power: She committed suicide.

Following the death of her mother in 1795, Princess Varvara Ilynichna Turkestanova (Варвара Ильинична Туркестанова) moved in with relatives in St. Petersburg – her father had died some years earlier. Varvara possessed remarkable charm and ingenuity, which landed her a job in 1808 as a maid of honor to Empress Maria Feodorovna. Varvara was popular at court and became a dear friend to Maria, who remarked that her new maid was “… very intelligent, cunning, clever … and very entertaining.” Shortly after her arrival, the empress’ son, Alexander, began to take notice of this fascinating young woman, though it did not become physical until the (temporary) absence of Alexander’s previous favorite, Princess Maria Naryshkina. The romance was less than perfect; however and the pair often quarreled. In 1818, Varvara began an affair with Prince Vladimir Golitsyn, who was 18 years her junior. Varvara was 44 and became pregnant while still involved with both men – though she was unsure who the father was. A terrible scandal erupted at court, seeing as Varvara was unmarried. In the meantime, Prince Alexander had been persuaded to give up his mistresses and return to his wife’s bed – he was certainly not about to claim the baby as his.

In despair, Varvara poisoned herself but the desired effect was not immediate – she suffered for several weeks, tended to by the disheartened Empress. Her death on May 10th, 1819 was covered up and officially caused by cholera. Her infant daughter, known as “Mimi”, was raised by Vladimir.

Sources

” Portrait of a Woman” by Ivan Nikolaevich Kramskoy, 1883 (right image), and ” Varvara Turkestanova ” by Rossi, c. 1810s (left image).

Catherine Bellier (1614 - 7 Jun 1689)

Mistress of: King Louis XIV of France. Tenure: 1653 - 1655. Royal Bastards: None. Fall From Power: Dismissed by the King.

Catherine-Henriette Bellier was a lady-in-waiting to Anne of Austria, whose first surviving child would grow up to become the illustrious Louis XIV. Louis was said to have been quite handsome, and throughout his life, he would have many mistresses and many bastard children. This was despite having a fairly good relationship with his wife, Maria Theresa of Spain, who gave him six legitimate children, of whom two survived to adulthood.

Catherine found her way to court shortly after her marriage in 1634 where she became a favorite of Anne. Considered an intelligent, scheming woman, she was said to have very ugly. Despite this, Catherine had several lovers at court, and even had an affair with the archbishop of Sens.

When Louis reached the age of 15, his mother decided it was time for him to have his first sexual experience. Anne needed a woman who could easily get into her son’s room without arousing much suspicion. She also needed someone that was free of diseases, charming, and experienced - but not too experienced. Anne settled on her close friend Catherine, who by now was nearing forty, had lost an eye and had developed very rough patches on her skin. Nonetheless, “One-eyed Kate” was given the task of seducing the young prince at the bequest of his mother. You can only imagine Louis’ suprise when he walked into his room and found a very naked Catherine lounging on his bed. But good sex and good looks do not go necessarily hand-in-hand, and Catherine succeeded at her task. Thier relationship actually lasted for some two years, though Catherine’s tenure did overlap with the much younger and much prettier Olympe Mancini.

For her efforts, Catherine was ennobled with the title Baroness de Beauvais, given the stone to construct a grand house (known as the Hôtel de Beauvais) and a hefty pension. Catherine was greatly respected at court, and remained in favor with Louis for long after their affair had ended.

Sources

Although no portrait of Catherine Bellier is known to exist, this face found at the Hôtel de Beauvais is said to be in her likeness.

Mémoires ch. 7 tome 1 p. 69.

Teresa de Tavora e Lorena (9 Aug 1723 – aft 1759)

Mistress of: King Joseph I of Portugal. Tenure: c. 1750s -1759. Royal Bastards: None. Fall From Power: Dumped by the king, who then forced her into a convent.

In 1742, Teresa de Tavora e Lorena married her nephew, Luis Bernardo de Távora, 4th Marquis of Távora and thus she became the Marquise of Távora. To distinguish herself from her mother-in-law, Leonor Tomásia de Távora, Teresa was known as the "new marquise” (as opposed to the “old marquise” Leonor). Shortly after the wedding, his father became Viceroy of India and Luis left on a long journey to South Asia, leaving the lovely and gentle and now very lonely Teresa to satisfy her needs elsewhere. She found that satisfaction between the legs of King Joseph, with whom she had a very open affair. This deeply offended her in-laws and when Luis finally returned, he was immediately met with news that his wife had been unfaithful – his mother demanded that he throw out his wife and have the marriage annulled. When the King learned of this, he urged the two to reconcile and maintain a “good” marriage (meaning: have a sexual relationship), despite the fact that he had no intention of dropping her as his mistress. Joseph’s wife, Queen Marianna Victoria of Spain, was a serious and strong-willed woman whose marriage to Joseph – taken as a whole - was a better match than most royal unions though she could never stop him from taking a mistress. Nevertheless, Teresa’s light hearted-ness contrasted with her seriousness, and Joseph spent most of his evenings with Teresa instead.

On September 3rd, 1758, Joseph was returning home in an unmarked carriage on a quiet road in the outskirts of Lisbon. He had just spent the night out with Teresa and was in very good spirits. Just a few years earlier, the King had survived a terrible earthquake that took the lives of 100,000 subjects. Many now thought this was an act of God, who disapproved of the King’s adulterous relationships and his governmental policies. Resentment grew in the ensuing years and on that fateful night in September Joseph’s good mood was quickly soured when his carriage was ambushed; Joseph was shot in the arm and his driver was also wounded. Both survived the attack and two men were quickly arrested and confessed (under torture) that the violence was ordered by the Távora family, who were plotting to put the Duke of Aveiro on the throne.

Teresa and her husband were implicated in the assassination attempt; Teresa was promptly dismissed and locked away in a convent, though she got off easy compared to others who were charged. Luis and his mother Leonor were among thirteen family members brutally tortured and executed on January 13th, 1759 for their alleged role in the plot. The family’s guilt or innocence is still hotly debated today. Teresa believed that Joseph would eventually release her from the convent, but as time went on it was apparent that the “King … [had] forgotten about her” and she spent the rest of her life “in deep misery.”

Sources

Portrait of an ”Unknown Noblewoman”, probably painted in Spain, c. 1610. (image).

Hughes, Andy. A History of Political Scandals: Sex, Sleaze and Spin. Pen & Sword Hisotry (2013). ISBN: 9781844680894.

Elizabeth Lamb, Viscountess Melbourne (1751 - 1818)

Mistress of: King George IV of Great Britain, among others. Tenure: 1782 - 1784. Bastards: One (Rumored). Fall From Power: Unknown.

Elizabeth Lamb (nee Milbanke) was eighteen years old when she married Peniston Lamb, 1st Viscount Melbourne. Peniston had a well-known affair with an actress/courtesan early on in their marriage, yet young Elizabeth was “untroubled by her husband’s infidelity” – probably because she had her own lovers to tend to her needs. Elizabeth used her husband’s money and influence to “cultivate friendships that helped her position in society” and many of these friends happened to be men with whom she would have an affair with. Elizabeth was intelligent and had a “clear understanding on what society would and would not condone.” Thus, she was well-known for conducting her affairs in private.

In 1782, Elizabeth became acquainted with George, Prince of Wales (later George IV) at Eton College. Elizabeth and Peniston had long since separated in their marriage, though they remained ever civil towards one another as both tolerated the other's extramarital relationships. Elizabeth used her relationship with George to have her husband created his Gentleman of the Bedchamber at Carlton House. The Prince of Wales frequently visited Elizabeth and would sometimes stay with her until “three or four in the morning.” Her fourth child, perhaps unsurprisingly named “George”, was widely rumored to have been the Prince’s son. In fact, of her six children, only one was believed to have been fathered by Peniston. A devoted mother, Elizabeth likewise used her connections to further her childrens' futures. Other lovers included George Hanger, 4th Baron Coleraine and George Wyndham, 3rd Earl of Egremont, who was reportedly the father of three of her children and was further believed to have “bought” Elizabeth from the Baron for 13000 pounds.

On her deathbed at the age of 67, Elizabeth urged her daughter Emily to be faithful – not to her husband, but to her lover, Lord Palmerston. It was reported that only once did her affairs cause discord in the marriage, and that was when her eldest son died, for he was the only one Peniston believed was his.

Sources

Painting of "Elizabeth Milbanke Lamb, Viscountess Melbourne" by Richard Cosway, 1784 (right image) and an engraving of "Elizabeth with her son Peniston" by Thomas Watson, 1775 (left image).

Lewis, Judith Schneid. Sacred to Female Patriotism: Gender, Class, and Politics in Late Georgian Britain. Routledge (2003). ISBN 0-415-94412-0.

Louise Rasmussen (21 Apr 1815 – 6 Mar 1874)

Mistress of: King Frederick VII of Denmark. Tenure: c. 1840s - 1863. Royal Bastards: None. Fall From Power: None; She married him.

Louise Christine Rasmussen, Countess Danner was born the bastard daughter of merchant Gotthilf Køppen and his maid/lover Juliane Caroline Rasmussen. Louise was raised by her mother, and began training at a ballet school in Copenhagen in 1826, though her career as a dancer lasted only eight years. In the mid-1830s, Louise began a relationship with Johan Carl Ernst Berling, a self-taught print maker and heir to the popular Berlingske Tidende paper. His publication was so popular that it gave him the means to become friendly with the Royal Family, and he was a particular favorite of the future King Frederick VII.

In 1841, Louise gave birth to Johan’s bastard son. The following year, she gave up dance and opened up a fashion shop with Johan’s help (since marriage was out of the question). It was through Johan that Louise met Prince Frederick, and they began an affair sometime in the early 1840s. Johan remained in Frederick’s good graces, and the trio became almost inseparable. Frederick was very fond of Louise’s son, perhaps because he was unable to have children of his own despite numerous affairs (though there are rumors that a son of mistress Else Pedersen was his) and two previous wives.

In 1848, Frederick became King and he decided he wanted to marry Louise as his third wife, having divorced the previous two. Not surprisingly, this request was met by immense resistance from the government, and it was not until 1850 that he was allowed to follow his heart after successfully signing in a new constitution which has made the King immensely popular. Frederick, Louise and Johan all lived together at the royal castle; she and Frederick had a happy marriage though Louise was not warmly welcomed by the nobility, who referred to her as a “vulgar gold digger.” On one particular occasion, Frederick and Louise attended a dinner that included many distinguished guests. It was custom for one of said guests to propose a toast to the King’s wife, but when the time came, no one did. Eventually, Frederick lost his patience: he stood up and loudly announced: “As no one here will propose a toast to my wife, I will do so myself!”

Being that Louise was never formally introduced to the royal court (in the way a noblewoman would normally have been), she rarely participated in court functions. In 1854, the couple purchased Jægerspris Castle and set up a private residence there; Louise continued to reside there following Frederick’s death in 1863, eventually founding the King Frederick the VII Foundation. Upon her own death in 1874 at the age oof 58, Louise left the castle “to the benefit of poor and destitute servant girls.” Louise was buried in a large mound in the castle garden, as she was not allowed to be buried besider her spouse.