Étienne Balsan

[citation needed] A French socialite and heir, he was born into the family of wealthy industrialists from Châteauroux (Indre) who created Balsan (Company) and provided the army with uniforms and originated the famous cloth known as "blue horizon."

[2] An officer in the cavalry, he renounced his career, to breed horses and participate in races.

A polo-player, he owned the estate Chateau de Royallieu (destroyed during World War II) near Compiègne (Oise).

The chateau was located near the site of the Prix de Royallieu, a Group 2 flat horse race, which has been active since 1922.

In 1909, when Chanel settled in Paris, he lent her his bachelor flat on the ground floor, 160 Boulevard Malesherbes, and helped her to open a boutique in Deauville.