Marie-Anne Walewska

Marie-Anne Walewska, Duchess Colonna-Walewski, (née di Ricci; 18 July 1823 – 18 November 1912), was a French courtier and royal mistress.

She was born to the Papal Count Zanobi di Ricci and Princess Isabelle Poniatowski-Luci (illegitimate daughter of the last King of Poland's nephew).

On 4 June 1846, she became the second wife of the Polish Count (later Duke) Alexandre Colonna-Walewski (4 May 1810 – 27 September 1868), the illegitimate son of Napoleon and his mistress, Countess Marie Walewska, and a Minister of the French Cabinet during the Second Empire.

The relationship between the Emperor and Walewska was well known and attracted attention in diplomatic reports, and she herself alluded to it, possibly to give the impression that she had influence upon affairs of state.

In January 1858, it was reported that the Emperor had sexual intercourse with every woman at court who initiated it, and during 1859, he had a somewhat more serious affair with the Clothilde de La Bédoyère.