Diane de Poitiers - Her Life and Influence on King Henry II, the French Court, Art, and Feminism
Diane de Poitiers (1499-1566), the mistress of Henry II of France, was beautiful, intelligent, and cultured. She was a patron of many artists and poets and exerted immense influence over the king who completely ignored his wife. Even when she was very old, she still had an admirable body and intellectual vigor, which continually surprised the people around her. She was what one could call a strong woman. This paper explores the life and influence of Diane de Poitiers, including her influence on King Henry II, the French Court, art, and her role in feminism.
