Courtesan, born in Paris, France, where at an early period of her life her beauty and wit gathered a group of high-born lovers round her - among them the 1st Duke of Buckingham, Saint-Evremond, the Duc de Brissac and the Duc de Gramont. Even Richelieu was not insensible to her charms, and caused her to be separated from the Marquis de Cinq-Mars, whose mistress she was until he was executed in 1642. During the early days of the Fronde uprising (164853) her house was the rallying-point of its chiefs, and Mazarin was about to imprison her when she suddenly died.
Marion Delorme (3 October 1613–2 July 1650) was a French courtesan known for her relationships with the important men of her time.
Early life, life as a courtesan, early death
She was the daughter of Jean de Lou, sieur de l'Orme, president of the treasurers of France in Champagne, and of Marie Chastelain.
From this time Marion Delorme's salon became one of the most brilliant centres of elegant Parisian society. After the execution of Cinq Mars she is said to have numbered among her lovers and benefactors Charles de St Evremond (1610-1703) the wit and littrateur, Buckingham (George Villiers), the great Conde, and even Cardinal Richelieu.
Legend
Her last years have been adorned with considerable legend (cf. Merecourt, Confessions de Marie Delorme, Paris, 1856). But she was believed to have lived until 1706 or even 1741, after having had the most fantastic adventures, including marriage with an English lord, and an old age spent in poverty in Paris. Her name has been popularized by various authors, especially by Alfred de Vigny in his novel Cinq Mars, by Victor Hugo in the drama Marion Delorme, and by Amilcare Ponchielli and Giovanni Bottesini in two operas of the same title. Péladan, Histoire et légende de Marion de Lorme (Paris, 1882).
This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
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