Marion Delorme (3 October 1613 – 2 July 1650) was a French

courtesan A courtesan is a prostitute with a courtly, wealthy, or upper-class clientele. Historically, the term referred to a courtier, a person who attended the court of a monarch or other powerful person. History In European feudal society, the co ...

known for her relationships with the important men of her time.

Biography

She was the daughter of Jean de Lou, sieur de l'Orme, president of the treasurers of France in

Champagne Champagne (; ) is a sparkling wine originated and produced in the Champagne wine region of France under the rules of the appellation, which demand specific vineyard practices, sourcing of grapes exclusively from designated places within it, spe ...

, and of Marie Chastelain. She was born in a wealthy family at her father's château near Champaubert. Initiated into the philosophy of physical pleasures by the epicurean and atheist Jacques Vallée, Sieur Des Barreaux, she soon left him for Henri Coiffier de Ruzé, Marquis of Cinq-Mars, at that time at the height of his popularity, and succeeded, it is said, in marrying him in secret. She began hosting a ''salon'', and was introduced into the life of being a courtesan. From this time Marion Delorme's ''salon'' became one of the most brilliant centres of elegant

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

ian society. After the execution of Cinq-Mars, she is said to have numbered among her lovers and benefactors Charles de Saint-Évremond (1610–1703) the wit and litterateur, George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, Louis, Grand Condé, and even

Cardinal Richelieu Armand Jean du Plessis, 1st Duke of Richelieu (9 September 1585 – 4 December 1642), commonly known as Cardinal Richelieu, was a Catholic Church in France, French Catholic prelate and statesman who had an outsized influence in civil and religi ...

. Under the

Fronde The Fronde () was a series of civil wars in the Kingdom of France between 1648 and 1653, occurring in the midst of the Franco-Spanish War, which had begun in 1635. The government of the young King Louis XIV confronted the combined opposition ...

her ''salon'' became a meeting place for the disaffected, and Mazarin is said to have sent officials to arrest her when she suddenly died. The cause of her death, and whether she actually did die then, or rather later, is still debated.

Legend

Her last years have been adorned with considerable legend (cf. Eugène de Mirecourt, ''Confessions de Marie Delorme'', Paris, 1856). It seems established that she died in 1650. But she was believed to have lived until 1706 or even 1741, after having had the most fantastic adventures, including marriage with an English lord, and an old age spent in poverty in Paris. Her name has been popularized by various authors, especially by

Alfred de Vigny Alfred Victor, Comte de Vigny (; 27 March 1797 – 17 September 1863) was a French poet and early French Romanticism, Romanticist. He also produced novels, plays, and translations of Shakespeare. Biography Vigny was born in Loches (a town to wh ...

in his 1826 novel '' Cinq-Mars'', by

Victor Hugo Victor-Marie Hugo, vicomte Hugo (; 26 February 1802 – 22 May 1885) was a French Romanticism, Romantic author, poet, essayist, playwright, journalist, human rights activist and politician. His most famous works are the novels ''The Hunchbac ...

in the drama '' Marion Delorme'', and by

Amilcare Ponchielli Amilcare Ponchielli (, ; 31 August 1834 – 16 January 1886) was an Italian opera composer, best known for his opera La Gioconda (opera), ''La Gioconda''. He was married to the soprano Teresina Brambilla. Life and work Born in Paderno Fasolaro ( ...

and Giovanni Bottesini in two operas of the same title, as well as

Camille Saint-Saëns Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns (, , 9October 183516 December 1921) was a French composer, organist, conductor and pianist of the Romantic music, Romantic era. His best-known works include Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso (1863), the Piano ...

opera ''Cinq Mars''.

Bibliography

*P. J. Jacob, ''Marion Delorme et Ninon Lenclos'' (Paris, 1859) * J. Péladan, ''Histoire et légende de Marion de Lorme'' (Paris, 1882).

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Delorme, Marion Courtesans from Paris 1613 births 1650 deaths People from Champagne (province)