CHARLOTTE DE SAUVE

 

 CHARLOTTE DE SAUVE 

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 Charlotte was a French noblewoman and a mistress of King Henry IV of France.

She was a member of Catherine de Medici's notorious 'flying Squadron'.

This was a group of beautiful female spies and informants, recruited to seduce important men at Court.
They would extract information to pass on to Queen Catherine.

 Charlotte was born in France on 26th October 1551.

She was sent to court, where she was educated in the household of Catherine de' Medici.

Charlotte was an angelic blonde-haired woman, and often described as beautiful and intelligent, but immoral!

In 1569 when she was eighteen years old, her marriage was arranged to Simon de Fizes ~ Baron de Sauve.

 In 1572, Catherine recognised Charlotte's 'talents', and recruited her to the elite group of beautiful female spies and informants ~ the "Flying Squadron"

Charlotte quickly became one of the squadrons most accomplished members.

Charlotte is recorded as taking part in some of the extravagant parties which Catherine de' Medici produced in abundance.

 On 9th June 1577, Charlotte helped Catherine host an outdoor banquet and lavish show.

During the banquet the male guests were served by Catherine's most beautiful ladies-in-waiting, who wore topless gowns, with their hair flowing loose.

 When Catherine got word of a plot to overthrow her, between Henry of Navarre and the Duke of Aleçon, she devised a plan to thwart them.

With the aim of provoking hostility between the two young men, so that they would not conspire together in the future - Catherine called upon the expertise' of Charlotte.

Charlotte's job was to seduce both Henri of Navarre, and the Duke of Aleçon.

 Henri of Navarre’s good judgement was already known to desert him, when it came to beautiful women, he was an easy target.

Charlotte then turned her charms on to the Duke of Aleçon, quickly becoming his mistress.

This created a rift between the former close friends.
Navarre and Alençon became rivals over Charlotte.

 Navarre and Alençon became extremely jealous of each other.

It got to the point that they forgot their ambitions, their duties and their plans of overthrowing Catherine de'Medici - and thought of nothing else but chasing after Charlotte.

Thus the plot against the throne was foiled, without a single drop of blood being shed.

 On 27th November 1579 Charlotte's husband died.

Charlotte's second marriage on 18th October 1584, was to Francois de La Tremoille~Marquis de Noirmoutier.

Charlotte gave birth to their son, Louis de La Tremoille in 1586.
Charlotte later became the mistress of Navarre's greatest adversary, Henry I~Duke of Guise.

 Charlotte wasn't content with just one lover, she had many - and enjoyed all the luxuries and gifts they bestowed upon her.

Other lovers, included the Duc d'Épernon and the Seigneur d'Avrilly.

Charlotte died on 30th September 1617, less than a month before her sixty-sixth birthday.

The Tudor Intruders (and more)
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 Source ~ academic-accelerator/encyclopedia/charlotte-de-sauve
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 Portrait of Charlotte de Sauve c. 1565
Unknown Artist.