Page 53 - All About History 48 - 2017 UK
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14
Notorious
Royal
Mistresses
Nell once made bread on the stage
But played the star role of her age
Kept by the king
With no title or ring
A pet in a sumptuous cage
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Mary Hamilton
Royal Lover: Peter the Great of Russia
Years as mistress: 1713-17
Scot by birth, Mary emigrated to Russia her royal mistress. When Mary’s rooms were
where she joined the household of the searched in 1717, several of Catherine’s belongings
A Empress Catherine in 1713. It was here were discovered there, and Mary was arrested.
that she caught the eye of Catherine’s husband, To make matters worse, it came to light that she
Peter the Great, but their love affair was destined had not only had an abortion, but that she had
Mary went a bit too far to end dramatically. Peter was not Mary’s only also given birth in secret to a baby that she had
In knocking boots with a tsar lover, and she was simultaneously conducting proceeded to drown. In November 1718, Mary was
found guilty of theft, abortion and infanticide, and
an affair with Ivan Mikhailovich Orlov. However,
She lied to him she was devastated when she learned that Ivan was sentenced to death by her royal lover. On 14
And for her sin was also the lover of another of Peter’s mistresses, March 1719, Mary was beheaded by sword. In a
Avdotya Chernysheva. Desperate to try and win
last bitter encounter, Peter raised her head to the
Her severed head rose like a star back his affection, Mary presented Ivan with a assembled crowd, kissed it and then threw it to
number of costly gifts that she had stolen from the ground.
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Henrietta Howard
Royal lover: George II of England Years as mistress: 1723-34
ravelling to Hanover, Henrietta planned to in love with Caroline, he felt duty bound to take a
ingratiate herself with the future George mistress, and selected Henrietta with his wife’s full
T I. There, she met and became close to knowledge and approval. Unlike some other royal
his son, the future George II. When he journeyed mistresses, Henrietta was unassuming, and did not
Her royal tryst was all so clean with his wife, Caroline of Ansbach, to England to crave power and influence. She continued to serve
With the blessing of the queen take up his place in his father’s court, Henrietta in Caroline’s household, and was rewarded with
Without a rival obtained a position in Caroline’s household an increase in her wages and protection from her
abusive husband. A more tangible reminder of their
as a woman of the bedchamber. Her husband
Her survival was also given a place at court, and Henrietta affair survives in the form of Marble Hill House,
Was guaranteed, her life serene quickly became popular as she was attractive and the splendid Twickenham home George built for
renowned for her wit. Although George was deeply his obliging mistress.
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