Agnes Sorel 15th century courtesan Country: France

1. Biography of Agnes Sorel
2. A Legendary Life
3. A Tragic End

Biography of Agnes Sorel

Agnes Sorel, a courtesan of the 15th century, was the beloved of French King Charles VII. Born into a noble family in the village of Fromento in Touraine, she was known as "demoiselle de Fromenteau" due to her origin. Agnes served as a lady-in-waiting to Isabella of Lorraine, Duchess of Anjou. Her beauty captivated King Charles VII, who made her the chief lady of the queen and gifted her the castle of Beauté-sur-Marne, earning her the title Dame de Beauté-sur-Marne.

A Legendary Life

Agnes Sorel's life story is legendary. Some criticized her for her extravagance, while others saw her as a successor to Joan of Arc. King Francis I even wrote a quatrain praising her for her alleged role in liberating France from the English. Agnes had a positive influence on the king, fighting against unworthy favorites and advocating for the appointment of deserving individuals to high positions. She bore three daughters with the king, who were granted the title of "filles de France."

Agnes is credited with introducing several innovations, such as non-royals wearing diamonds, the invention of the long train, and the fashion of daring attire that revealed one breast. Her behavior and open acknowledgment of her relationship with the king often caused outrage, but she was forgiven due to the king's protection and her exceptional beauty. Even the Pope himself proclaimed, "She has the most beautiful face that can be seen in this world."

A Tragic End

During her lifetime, Agnes Sorel gave birth to three children. However, while pregnant with her fourth child, she unexpectedly died. Initially, it was believed that she died of dysentery, but later, Jacques Coeur was accused of her murder. This theory did not gain much support and was considered a conspiracy to discredit Coeur. Nowadays, scholars are convinced that Sorel's death was the result of mercury poisoning. It is possible that the poison was added to Sorel's food by her killer, but it is also likely that she unintentionally ingested mercury, as it was commonly used in cosmetics at the time.