Affair of the Diamond Necklace
Through an intimate relationship with Jeanne de Saint-Rémy de Valois, the pair staged a scandal involving a diamond necklace. The famous Affair of the Diamond Necklace made history in France. Villette played the role of forger by writing letters to Jeanne in the hand of Queen Marie Antoinette to make it seem as if the Queen desired the necklace but was unable to purchase it because of the reluctance on the part of King Louis XVI. The letters were presented in turn to Cardinal Rohan and persuaded him to buy the necklace for the Queen or so he thought. After the necklace had been purchased by Rohan and given to Saint-Remy to pass along to the queen, she and her husband, Nicolas de la Motte, immediately took off to London and began selling the jewels from the necklace for their own profit. Villette later testified against the La Mottes. The scheme was eventually exposed, and all of those involved were prosecuted, including Villette.