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Diane de Poitiers, the true love of Henri II and the number one enemy of Catherine de Medicis was born on January 9, 1500. Educated by Anne, Duchess of Bourbon, daughter of Louis XI she was close to court life from a very early age. Married at fifteen to Louis de Bréze Seigneur d’Anet, he was almost forty years older than her. They had two children and would have a happy marriage until he was sentenced to death for a plot against King Francois I. On the scaffolding about to die, he was pardoned and sent to prison.

Diane remained at court as the lady in waiting to Queen Claude of France and in 1525 her path would cross with the young son of Francois I. Henri II was being sent off to Spain in a trade deal to release his father from prison and as the 7-year-old was led from court and Diane gave him a kiss on the cheek. 

When he returned four years later he and Diane became very close and she even approved of his marriage to Catherine. A year after their marriage the affair of Henri II and Diane de Poitiers began. Diane remained a solid element of his life and even educated the royal children. All was well until the untimely death of Henri II and Catherine could finally exile Diane from her life. 

Listen to her full story on this week's new episode of La Vie Creative - Paris History Avec A Hemingway. 

More info and photos: https://www.claudinehemingway.com/paris-history-avec-a-hemingway-podcast-1

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