Filippa Duci
| Filippa Duci | |
|---|---|
| Born |
1520 Moncalieri, Duchy of Savoy |
| Died |
1586 Tours, Kingdom of France |
| Nationality | Italian (Piedmontese) |
| Known for | courtesan |
| Spouse(s) | Jean Bernardin de Saint-Severin. |
| Partner(s) | Henry II of France |
Filippa Duci (French - Philippa Desducs; 1520, Moncalieri, Piedmont - before October 1586, near Tours), dame de Couy, was a French (originally Italian) courtier.
Life
Her father was Gian Antonio Duci. During the Italian Wars in 1537, the French dauphin Henry (later Henry II of France) stayed with a squire, Filippa's brother. Henry was seduced by Filippa on first sight, and she became his mistress, giving birth to their daughter Diane de France in Paris in 1538. This proved that Henry was not sterile; he had been married to Catherine de Médicis, yet had still not produced an heir due to urological problems.[1]
Francis I of France granted Duci 400 'livres tournois' a year for life in an Ordinaire de Touraine in 1541. She married the Italian gentleman and privy councillor Jean Bernardin de Saint-Severin in 1546. After Diane was legitimized, Filippa was known as dame de Bléré en Touraine. In 1582, she became a lady in waiting to queen dowager Catherine de Médicis.
References
- ↑ Jennifer Gordtesky, Ronald Rabinowitz, Jeanne O'Brien, Department of Urology - University of Rochester. "The "infertility" of Catherine de Medici and its influence on 16th century France" (PDF). Retrieved 12 August 2016.