Diana (1) OF POITIERS

Diana (1) OF POITIERS, a favourite of Henry II. of France, was born in 1499, the eldest daughter of Jean de Poitiers. Married at thirteen, she became a widow at thirty-two, and ere long attached the affections of the nineteen years younger dauphin strongly to herself. On his accession as Henry II. (1547) Diana enjoyed great influence, did much to reform the court, and brought its influence to bear strongly against the reforming party. She was made Duchess of Valentinois in 1548, retired from court to her castle Château d'Anet on the king's death in 1559, and died in 1566. The splendid Château de Chenonceaux (q.v.) was given her by the king, but after her death was taken by Catharine de' Medici. It still contains many memorials of its most famous mistress.—(2) DIANA OF FRANCE, Duchess of Angoulême, was born in 1538, natural daughter of Henry II. and a Piedmontese (according to others, of Diana of Poitiers), was formally legitimised, and married first to a son of the Duke of Parma, next to the eldest son of the Constable de Montmorency. She enjoyed great influence at court under Henry IV., superintended the education of the young prince, afterwards Louis XIII., then retired from court, and died without issue in 1619.