Jeanne Du Barry
What is jeanne du barry?
Key facts
Jeanne du Barry was the last official mistress of King Louis XV of France, executed by guillotine in 1793.
Context
Jeanne du Barry, born Jeanne Bécu in 1743, became the last official mistress of King Louis XV after the death of Madame de Pompadour [2]. She moved to Versailles in 1768 and was banished after the king's death in 1774 [2]. She was executed by guillotine in 1793 [2]. Her role and execution are well-documented in historical sources [1].
Documented claims
- Jeanne Bécu became the official mistress of Louis XV after Madame de Pompadour died in 1764. [2]
- Louis XVI banished her from Versailles and sent her to the Pont-aux-Dames convent. [2]
- She was executed by guillotine in December 1793 during the Terror. [2]
- Her unpopularity contributed to the decline of the crown's prestige in the early 1770s. [2]
Questions and answers
Why was Jeanne Du Barry guillotined?
She was condemned as a counterrevolutionary and accused of treason during the Reign of Terror, leading to her execution in December 1793 [2].
What happened to Jeanne Du Barry after the king died?
After Louis XV died in May 1774, Louis XVI banished her from Versailles and sent her to the Pont-aux-Dames convent in Meaux [2].
Why did Marie Antoinette not like Madame du Barry?
Sources do not provide specific details on Marie Antoinette's personal feelings, but Jeanne du Barry's unpopularity at court contributed to the crown's declining prestige in the early 1770s [2].
Sources
- Madame du Barry 1743-1793 — en.chateauversailles.fr (retrieved August 3, 2026)
- Madame du Barry: From Prostitute to King Louis XV's Last Mistress ... — en.thevalue.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)