CHARLOTTE DE SAUVE

CHARLOTTE DE SAUVE

Charlotte was a French noblewoman and a mistress of King Henry IV of France.

She was a member of Catherine de Medici’s notorious ‘flying Squadron’.

A group of beautiful female spies and informants recruited to seduce important men at Court, and thereby extract information to pass on to Queen Catherine.

Charlotte was born in France on 26th October 1551.

She was sent to court, where she was educated in the household of Catherine de’ Medici.

Charlotte was an angelic blonde-haired woman, and often described as “beautiful, intelligent, but immoral”

In 1569 when she was eighteen years old, her marriage was arranged to Simon de Fizes~Baron de Sauve.

In 1572, Catherine recruited Charlotte to her elite group of beautiful female spies and informants known as the “Flying Squadron”

Charlotte quickly became one of its “most accomplished members”

Charlotte is recorded as taking part in some of the extravagant parties which Catherine de’ Medici produced in abundance.

On 9th June 1577, Charlotte helped Catherine host an outdoor banquet and lavish show.

During the banquet the male guests were served by Catherine’s most beautiful ladies-in-waiting, who wore topless gowns with their hair flowing loose.

When Catherine got word of a plot to overthrow her, between Henry of Navarre and the Duke of Aleçon, she devised a plan to thwart them.

With the aim of provoking hostility between the two young men, so that they would not conspire together in the future – Catherine called upon the expert ‘talents’ of Charlotte.

Charlotte’s job was to seduce both Henri of Navarre, and the Duke of Aleçon.

Henri of Navarre’s good judgement was already known to desert him, when it came to women.

Charlotte subsequently became the duke’s mistress, creating a rift between the former close friends.
Navarre and Alençon became rivals over Charlotte

Navarre and Alençon became extremely jealous of each other, to such a point that they forgot their ambitions, their duties and their plans, and thought of nothing but chasing after this woman.

Thus the plot against the throne was foiled, without a single drop of blood being shed.

On 27th November 1579 Charlotte’s husband died.

Charlotte’s second marriage on 18th October 1584, was to Francois de La Tremoille~Marquis de Noirmoutier.

Charlotte gave birth to their son, Louis de La Tremoille in 1586.

Charlotte later became the mistress of Navarre’s greatest adversary, Henry I~Duke of Guise.

Charlotte wasn’t content with just one lover, she had many – and enjoyed all the luxuries and gifts they bestowed upon her.

Other lovers, included the Duc d’Épernon and the Seigneur d’Avrilly.

Charlotte died on 30th September 1617, less than a month before her sixty-sixth birthday.

Portrait of Charlotte de Sauve c. 1565
Unknown Artist.