Marie Touchet

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Marie Touchet [1] (born 1549 at Orleans and died March 28, 1638 in Paris), Dame de Belleville, was the only mistress Charles IX of France ever had.

[edit] Humble origins, mistress to the king

Although born bourgeosie (middle class), the daughter of Marie Mathy and Huguenot Orleanian lieutenant Jean Touchet "held her row at court as well as any of the first class ladies" (Le Laboureur, historian). Her anagrammed name was even Je Charme Tout (the letters I and J are interchanged) meaning "I charm all." Henry of Navarre was responsible for this clever wordplay.

By her late teens, she was mistress to Charles IX. In 1573 she bore the king a son, Charles de Valois. It would be his only son, for just one year later the king died, at which time his and Marie's son was entrusted to the care of his younger brother and successor, Henry III of France. The new king was faithful to his dead brother's wishes and raised little Charles dutifully. Marie Touchet received a pension for her services to Charles IX, and continued as a part of the royal circle.

Marie went on to marry the marquis d'Entragues, Charles Balzac d'Entragues, and in 1579 had a daughter, Catherine Henriette de Balzac d'Entragues. Catherine Henriette would follow in her mother's footsteps, later becoming the mistress of Henry IV of France.