Étampes, Anne de Pisseleu, duchesse d'

Étampes, Anne de Pisseleu, duchesse d' än də pēslöˈ düshĕsˈ dātäNpˈ [key], 1508–1580?, official mistress of Francis I of France from 1526. Intelligent as well as beautiful, she patronized men of letters and used her increasing influence over the king to procure the downfall of Anne, duc de Montmorency, and the reinstatement to royal favor in 1541 of Philippe de Chabot, who had been previously banished and fined for peculation. In 1533, Francis married her to Jean de Brosses, whom he created duke and made governor of Brittany. Upon the death of Francis I (1547), Henry II exiled her from court.

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