# Louise de La Vallière

> mistress of Louis XIV

**Wikidata**: [Q232125](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q232125)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_de_La_Vallière)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/louise-de-la-valliere

## Summary
Louise de La Vallière was a French noblewoman and mistress of King Louis XIV of France. She is best known for her role as the king's first official mistress during the early years of his reign.

## Biography
- Born: 6 August 1644
- Nationality: French
- Education: Not specified in source material
- Known for: Being the mistress of Louis XIV
- Employer(s): Not specified in source material
- Field(s): Not specified in source material

## Contributions
The source material does not provide specific information about Louise de La Vallière's contributions beyond her role as the mistress of Louis XIV.

## FAQs
**Who was Louise de La Vallière?**
Louise de La Vallière was a French noblewoman who became the mistress of King Louis XIV of France in the mid-17th century.

**When was Louise de La Vallière born?**
Louise de La Vallière was born on 6 August 1644.

**When did Louise de La Vallière die?**
Louise de La Vallière died on 7 June 1710.

**What was Louise de La Vallière's relationship to Louis XIV?**
Louise de La Vallière was the first official mistress of King Louis XIV of France.

**What is Louise de La Vallière known for?**
Louise de La Vallière is primarily known for her role as the mistress of Louis XIV during the early years of his reign.

## Why They Matter
Louise de La Vallière matters in French history as the first official mistress of Louis XIV, playing a significant role in the court of the Sun King during the early years of his reign. Her relationship with the king influenced court politics and social dynamics at Versailles.

## Notable For
- Being the first official mistress of Louis XIV
- Her influence on the early court of the Sun King
- Her role in the social dynamics of Versailles during Louis XIV's reign

## Body
### Early Life
Louise de La Vallière was born on 6 August 1644 in France. She came from a noble family, though specific details about her parents or early upbringing are not provided in the source material.

### Relationship with Louis XIV
Louise de La Vallière became the mistress of Louis XIV, the King of France, in the mid-17th century. She was his first official mistress, beginning their relationship around 1661 when Louis was 23 years old. Their affair lasted for several years and produced several children.

### Children
Louise de La Vallière bore Louis XIV four children:
- Charles de La Baume Le Blanc (1663-1665)
- Philippe de La Baume Le Blanc (1665-1666)
- Louis de La Baume Le Blanc, Duke of Vermandois (1667-1683)
- Marie Anne de Bourbon, Mademoiselle de Blois (1666-1739)

### Later Life and Death
After her relationship with Louis XIV ended, Louise de La Vallière retired from court life. She entered a Carmelite convent in 1674, taking the name Sister Louise of Mercy. She spent the remainder of her life in religious seclusion until her death on 7 June 1710 at the age of 65.

### Historical Context
Louise de La Vallière's relationship with Louis XIV occurred during a significant period in French history. Louis XIV was consolidating his power and establishing the absolute monarchy that would define his reign. The Sun King's court at Versailles was becoming the center of political and cultural life in France.

### Legacy
While Louise de La Vallière's time as Louis XIV's mistress was relatively brief compared to some of his other relationships, her position as his first official mistress secured her a place in French history. Her transition from royal mistress to nun also made her a subject of fascination and speculation among contemporaries and later historians.

## References

1. BnF authorities
2. The Peerage
3. International Standard Name Identifier
4. Virtual International Authority File
5. SNAC
6. Find a Grave
7. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
8. FemBio database
9. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
10. GeneaStar
11. Genealogics
12. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013