Marie-Jeanne du Barry Official mistress of the French King Louis XV Date of Birth: 19.08.1746 Country: France

1. Marie Jeanne Dubarry: The Infamous Mistress of Louis XV
2. Early Life and Controversial Relationships
3. From Modiste to Royal Mistress
4. The Fall and Execution

Marie Jeanne Dubarry: The Infamous Mistress of Louis XV

Marie Jeanne Dubarry, the official mistress of the French King Louis XV, was the last in a series of renowned royal mistresses in the 17th and 18th centuries. However, Dubarry was widely despised by the public, being seen as a symbol of the crimes of the "Old Regime," despite her minimal involvement in state affairs or court intrigues.

Early Life and Controversial Relationships

Marie Jeanne Dubarry, born on August 19, 1746, was the illegitimate daughter of a tax collector, Gomar de Vobernay. Besides using her mother's surname, Becku, and her father's surname, Gomar, she also adopted the alias "Lange." In her youth, Marie Jeanne worked as a prostitute and had a relationship with the executioner Henri Sanson, whose hand she ironically met her death at the guillotine during the French Revolution.

From Modiste to Royal Mistress

After her early years, Marie Jeanne became a milliner before finding residence in the house of Count Dubarry. Louis XV took an interest in her and arranged her marriage to the count's brother. In 1769, she was presented at court. Louis XV famously remarked, "After us, the deluge," which would ultimately lead to Jeanne's downfall. Following Louis XV's death, she was arrested and imprisoned in a convent, as she had many enemies at court. However, she soon returned to her estate in Marly.

The Fall and Execution

During the revolution, Marie Jeanne Dubarry was brought to trial and guillotined on December 8, 1793. She was accused of aiding emigrants and engaging in affairs with supporters of Brissot. With her execution, she met the same fate that she had witnessed as a young woman.