Marie Louise Madeleine Victoire d’Argenton

Marie Louise Madeleine Victoire d’Argenton (1684-1749), was the royal mistress of Philippe II, Duke of Orléans from 1702 until 1710. She was the mother of Jean Philippe d'Orléans.

She was the daughter of Daniel le Bel and Marie Anne Masparault. She was from a noble family and maid of honor to the mother of Philippe. When they had a child, she lost her position as courtier, but was provided a house by Philippe, and their relationship became public. In 1706, she was given the title countess d’Argenton. In 1709, she was the hostess of the Duke upon his reception of the Duke of Bavaria. She was the subject of several political speculations. When the relationship was discontinued in 1710, she asked to enter a convent, bu twas refused permission. Instead, she was given an allowance. She married Charles-Rodrigue Gonzague de Forbier, Chevalier d’Oppède in 1713, and was widowed in 1717.

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Sources

Argenton (Marie-Louise-Madeleine-Victoire Le Bel de La Boissière de Séry, comtesse d’). In: Louis-Gabriel Michaud (Hrsg.): Biographie universelle ancienne et moderne, 2. Auflage, Bd. 2 (1854), S. 189f. (online).