Mistress (Lover)

A Mistress is a female lover and companion who is not married to her partner in question. Generally, the relationship is stable and at least semi-permanent, but the couple does not live together openly and the relationship is usually, but not always, secret. The term "mistress" was originally used as a neutral feminine counterpart to "mister" or "master".
== Imperial Mistress ==
An Imperial Mistress is the historical position of a mistress to a monarch or an heir apparent. Some mistresses have had considerable power. These powerful mistresses have been commonly referred to as the "power behind the throne".
When a male fills this position, there is no distinct name given to the person in question, whether this be a relationship with a female ruler or homosexual relation with a male ruler. Chevalier Servant is often used, however, the most common term is the Italian term, Cicisbeo. Males who exercise political power as a result of their affairs are referred to as Valides, from the Spanish Validos.
=== Maîtresse-en-titre ===
The Maitresse-en-Titre was the chief mistress of the monarch. It was a semi-official position which came with its own apartments. The title came into use during the reign of Charles IV and continued until the reign of Louis XI.
== List of Mistresses ==
==== Charles I ====
* Marie, Duchesse de Valois
==== Louis I ====
* Marie Jeanne, Comtesse d'Artois
==== Louis II ====
* Madeleine, Comtesse d'Angouleme
==== Charles II ====
* Marguerite, Dame de Paris
* Françoise, Baronne de Chatellerault
==== Louis III ====
* Odette, Duchesse de Lorraine
* Marie de Potier, Duchesse de Paris
==== Elisabeth ====
* Henri, Duc de Valois
==== Charles III ====
* Anne, Duchesse d'Orleans
==== Louis VI ====
* Antoinette, Baronne de Parthenay
==== Louis V ====
* Ester, Comtesse du Berry
==== Henri ====
* Françoise, Marquise de Vendome (La Belle de Vendome) 
* Rosemond d'Angleterre, Duchesse d'Orleans
==== Charles IV ====
* Rosemond d'Angleterre, Duchesse d'Orleans (Maitresse-en-Titre)
* Marie, Dame de Nassau
* Anne Bénédicte, Comtesse de Treves
==== Marie IV ====
* Antoine de Turbigen, Marquis de Turbigen
==== Louis VII ====
* Isabelle Marie, Duchesse de Guise (Maitresse-en-Titre)
==== Anne ====
* Louis Joseph, Comte d'Angouleme
==== Charles VI ====
* Henriette Anne, Marquise d'Alencon
* Catherine-Charlotte, Comtesse de Blois
* Marie-Olympe, Duchesse de Luxembourg (Maitresse-en-Titre)
* Charlotte Eleonore Marguerite, Duchesse de Guise
==== Louis X ====
* Marie-Yolande, Dame de Montauban
* Marie-Jeanne, Dame de Montauban
* Marie-Louise, Dame de Montauban
* Marie-Marguerite, Dame de Montauban
* Louise Marie Angélique, Duchesse de Bourbon (Maitresse-en-Titre)
* Elisabeth-Charlotte-Anne, Marquise de Narbonne
==== Louis XI ====
* Adelaide Victoire, Dame de Chatellerault
* Louise Hippolyte, Princesse de Monaco
* Athenais, Duchesse de Normandy
* Emilie Caroline, Comtesse du Bar
* Diane, Marquise de Hollande (Maitresse-en-Titre until death)
* Elisabeth, Comtesse du Berry
* Anne Leonore, Duchesse de Luxembourg (Maitresse-en-Titre)
* Claudine, Comtesse de Cahors
* Diane Adélaïde, Dame de Valois
* Marie Anne, Dame de Valois
Chevalier servente's to Louis XI:
* Etienne Henri, Cardinal Lorraine
* Jean, Comte de Turenne
* Armand Philippe Poisson, Marquis de Pompadour
;Valides to Louis Xl;
* Auguste Philippe, Prince de Bretagne
==== Louis XII ====
* Isabelle de Clermont
* Louise Therese, Duchesse de Nassau (Maîtresse-en-titre)
* Marguerite Angélique, Dame de Roussillon
==== Louis XIV ====
* Sophie Gabrielle, Duchesse de Guise (Maîtresse-en-titre)
Category:Articles relating to the Empire
Category:Imperial Household