Anne de Pisseleu d'Heilly
Anne
“At last I am right with God”
(Francis on Anne)
“I shall remember this final kindness until the day I die”
(Anne on Francis)
In his last years, Francis grew more and more depressed and more and more debauched. In vain he tried to drown his sorrows in wine and loose women. Through it all Anne de Pisseleu d'Heilly maintained her reign as Francis’s chief, but by no means only, mistress.
As the King lay on his deathbed he had a sudden attack of religious fervor. He summoned his mistress and a priest. On his deathbed, to the surprise of all, the King took Anne de Pisseleu d'Heilly to be his sixth and final wife. Afterward, he confessed his sins, and shortly after that, King Francis passed away.
Anne’s new status meant that the new King Henri and his wife Maria of Portugal, could not exile her from court or seize her assets as they had planned. This last brief marriage had been an enormous kindness, one that Anne would remember until the day she died.
“At last I am right with God”
(Francis on Anne)
“I shall remember this final kindness until the day I die”
(Anne on Francis)
In his last years, Francis grew more and more depressed and more and more debauched. In vain he tried to drown his sorrows in wine and loose women. Through it all Anne de Pisseleu d'Heilly maintained her reign as Francis’s chief, but by no means only, mistress.
As the King lay on his deathbed he had a sudden attack of religious fervor. He summoned his mistress and a priest. On his deathbed, to the surprise of all, the King took Anne de Pisseleu d'Heilly to be his sixth and final wife. Afterward, he confessed his sins, and shortly after that, King Francis passed away.
Anne’s new status meant that the new King Henri and his wife Maria of Portugal, could not exile her from court or seize her assets as they had planned. This last brief marriage had been an enormous kindness, one that Anne would remember until the day she died.
