 diane de poitiers (3 september 1499 â 25 april 1566) was a french noblewoman and a prominent courtier at the courts of kings francis i and his son, henry ii of france. she became notorious as the latter's favourite. it was in this capacity that she wielded much influence and power at the french court, which continued until henry was mortally wounded in a tournament accident, during which his lance wore her favour (ribbon) rather than his wife's. the subject of paintings by franÃ§ois clouet as well other anonymous painters, diane was also immortalised in a statue by jean goujon. ==early life== she was born the daughter of jean de poitiers, seigneur de saint vallier and jeanne de batarnay in the chÃ¢teau de saint-vallier, in the town of saint-vallier, drÃ´me, in the rhÃ´ne-alpes region of france.diane (1956) when still a girl, she was briefly in the retinue of anne de beaujeu, eldest sister of king charles viii, a capable and highly intelligent woman who held the regency of france during his minority. diane was educated according to the principles of renaissance humanism which was popular at the time, music, hunting, manners, languages, the art of conversation, and dancing. she learned how to read latin and greek, and became a keen hunter and sportswoman, remaining in good physical condition well into middle age. ==marriage== at the age of 15, she married louis de brÃ©zÃ©, seigneur d'anet, who was 39 years her senior. he was a grandson of king charles vii who served as a courtier of king francis i. she bore him two daughters, franÃ§oise de brÃ©zÃ© (1518â1574) and louise de brÃ©zÃ© (1521â1577).wilson, katharina m. (1991). an encyclopedia of continental women writers, p. 994. garland publishing, inc. isbn 0-8240-8547-7. in 1524, her father was accused of treason as an accomplice of the rebellious connÃ©table de bourbon. his head was already on the execution block when his life was spared by francis i. when louis de brÃ©zÃ© died in 1531 in anet, diane adopted the habit of wearing the colours of black and white,
1499_births 1566_deaths Duchesses_of_Atampes French_ladies-in-waiting House_of_Bourbon House_of_Valois Mistresses_of_French_royalty People_from_DrA'me