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August 1, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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People File • Historical

Jeanne Du Barry

Jeanne Du Barry, born Jeanne Bécu, was the last official mistress of King Louis XV of France and a prominent figure at the court of Versailles.

Updated August 1, 20261 min readCited sources

Jeanne Du Barry was the last official mistress of King Louis XV of France, a controversial figure at the court of Versailles. Born into modest circumstances, she rose to prominence before meeting her end during the French Revolution.

What it is

Jeanne Du Barry, born Jeanne Bécu in 1743, became the king's maîtresse en titre in 1769. Her position at Versailles drew scandal and opposition from court figures and the church, but she also patronized artists and influenced neoclassical taste.

Why it matters

She symbolizes the late Ancien Régime and the scandal surrounding royal favourites. After Louis XV's death in 1774, she was removed from court, and during the Reign of Terror, she was tried and guillotined in Paris on 8 December 1793.

Key details

Born in Vaucouleurs, Lorraine, she was the daughter of a seamstress. Her rise from obscurity to Versailles made her a target, and her execution marked the end of an era.

In short

  • Last official mistress of Louis XV
  • Born Jeanne Bécu in 1743
  • Guillotined in 1793 during the French Revolution
  • Patron of arts and controversial court figure

Quick questions

Who was Jeanne Du Barry?
She was the last official mistress of King Louis XV of France and a notable figure at Versailles.
How did Jeanne Du Barry die?
She was guillotined in Paris on 8 December 1793 during the French Revolution.
Why is Jeanne Du Barry historically important?
She is remembered as a prominent court figure of the late Ancien Régime and a symbol of scandal surrounding royal favourites.

Sources

  1. Château de Versailles — https://www.chateauversailles.fr/decouvrir/histoire/grands-personnages/madame-barry
    Supports: Birth name, role as Louis XV’s favorite, installation at Versailles, court influence, patronage, and death during the Terror
  2. Ministère de la Justice — https://www.justice.gouv.fr/actualites/actualite/proces-jeanne-du-barry
    Supports: Condemnation and execution in December 1793
  3. Madame Figaro — https://madame.lefigaro.fr/celebrites/culture/qui-etait-jeanne-du-barry-cette-fille-du-peuple-qui-fit-scandale-a-la-cour-de-louis-xv-20230516
    Supports: Birth in 1743, modest origins, and death in 1793
  4. Le Point — https://www.lepoint.fr/societe/jeanne-du-barry-celle-qui-scandalisa-la-cour-de-versailles-20-05-2023-2520842_23.php
    Supports: Scandal at Versailles and reputation as a controversial court figure