Étampes, Anne de Pisseleu d'Heilly, Duchesse d' (1508–c. 1580)

Duchess and mistress of Francis I. Name variations: Anne d'Heilly; duchess of Etampes. Born Anne de Pisseleu d'Heilly in 1508; died around 1580; daughter of Guillaume de Pisseleu, sieur d'Heilly (a noble of Picardy); married Jean de Brosse, eventually the duc d'Étampes; mistress of Francis I, king of France (r. 1515–1547).

Anne de Pisseleu d'Heilly, duchesse d'Étampes, came to the French court before 1522 as one of the maids of honor of Louise of Savoy . Francis I made her his mistress, probably on his return from his captivity at Madrid in 1526, and soon gave up Comtesse de Châteaubriant for her. Known as sprightly, pretty, witty and cultured, Anne would succeed in keeping the favor of the king until his death. The liaison received some official recognition. When Eleanor of Portugal (1498–1558) entered Paris to marry Francis in 1530, Francis and Anne viewed her arrival from the same window.

In 1533, Francis gave Anne in marriage to Jean de Brosse, whom he created duc d'Étampes. The influence of the duchesse d'Étampes, especially in the last years of the reign, was considerable. She upheld Admiral Chabot against the constable de Montmorency, who was supported by her rival, Diane de Poitiers , the dauphin's (Henry II's) mistress. Anne also co-operated with the king's sister, Margaret of Angoulême (1492–1549), and used her influence to elevate and enrich her family, with the result that her uncle, Antoine Sanguin (d. 1559), was made bishop of Orléans in 1535 and a cardinal in 1539. Although accusations were made against her of allowing herself to be won over by Emperor Charles V and of playing the traitor in 1544, they rest on no serious proof. After the death of Francis I in 1547, Anne d'Heilly was dismissed from the court by her rival Diane de Poitiers and humiliated in every way. She died in obscurity around 1580, during the reign of Henry III.