du Barry, Jeanne Becu
Summary
Jeanne Becu, better known as du Barry, rose from humble origins as a commoner and prostitute to become the mistress of King Louis XV. Her ascent earned her the mutual disdain of Princess Marie Antoinette, establishing the pair as bitter archenemies. Following the King’s death, du Barry was exiled from the royal court to the convent of Pont-au-Dames. She ultimately met her end by guillotine in 1793.
