Anne de Pisseleu d'Heilly

Anne de Pisseleu d'Heilly (French pronunciation: [an də pislø dɛji]), Duchess of Étampes, (1508 – 1580) was chief mistress of Francis I of France.

[3] She came to court before 1522 and was one of the maids-of-honour of Marie of Luxembourg[4] and later Louise of Savoy, Duchess of Angoulême, the mother of Francis I.

[9] In 1534, Francis gave her in marriage to Jean IV de Brosse, whom he created Duke of Étampes.

[11] Foreign diplomats quickly learned they had to gain Anne's favor for their plans to have any chance in succeeding.

[13] When her intrigues were discouraged by Archbishop Tournon, Anne attempted to bring about his fall on a charge of dishonesty.

[19] Following Francis' death in March 1547, Henry, now king, had Anne dismissed from the court and confiscated her possessions.

[20] Her husband accused her of theft of his governorship salary and disgracing his family, and had Anne confined temporarily to the castle of La Hardoinaye.

[20] By 1554-55 she was maintaining her niece Jossine de Pisseleu's rights to the Lenoncourt succession from the Guise family.

Sketch of Anne by François Clouet .
Her coat of arms
Her coat of arms