Montespan, Françoise Athénaïs, marquise de

Montespan, Françoise Athénaïs, marquise de (fräNswäz' ätānäēs' märkēz' du môNtuspäN') [key], 1641–1707, mistress of King Louis XIV of France. She was maid of honor to Queen Marie Thérèse and replaced (c.1667) Mlle de La Vallière as the king's mistress. She bore the king several children. Their education was entrusted to Mme de Maintenon, who succeeded her in the king's favor. She later retired to a convent.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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