Gabrielle d'Estrées was a mistress of Henry IV of France. She persuaded Henry to renounce Protestantism in favour of Catholicism in 1593.
Background
Gabrielle d'Estrées was born in 1573 at either the Château de la Bourdaisière in Montlouis-sur-Loire, in Touraine, or at the château de Cœuvres, in Picardy. She was the daughter of Antoine d'Estrees, marquis of Cceuvres, and Franfoise Babou de la Bourdaisiere.
Career
Henry IV, who in November 1590 stayed at the castle of Coeuvres, became violently enamoured of Gabrielle d'Estrées. Her father, anxious to save his daughter from so perilous an entanglement, married her to Nicholas d'Amerval, seigneur de Liancourt, but the union proved unhappy, and in December 1592, Gabrielle, whose affection for the king was sincere, became his mistress.
She possessed the king's entire confidence; he willingly listened to her advice, and created her marchioness of Monceaux, duchess of Beaufort (1597) and Etampes (1598), a peeress of France. The king even proposed to marry her in the event of the success of his suit for the nullification by the Holy See of his marriage with Margaret of Valois; but before the question was settled Gabrielle died, on the 11th of April 1599. Poison was of course suspected; but her death was really caused by puerperal convulsions (eclampsia).
Achievements
Connections
She lived with Henry IV from December 1592 onwards, and bore him several children, who were recognized and legitimized by him.