Francoisc Athenais De Roelieclionart De Mortentart Montespan, marquise de, a mistress of Louis XIV. of France, born at the chateau of Ton-nay-Charente in 1641, died at Bourbon-1'Ar-chambault in 1707. She was the younger daughter of Rochechouart, first duke of Mor-temart, and was educated in the convent of Ste. Marie at Saintes. She was first known as Mile. Tonnay-Charente, and was maid of honor to the duchess of Orleans. At the age of 22 she married Pardaillan de Gondrin, marquis de Montespan, and became lady in attendance to the queen. Her beauty, wit, and conversational powers at once made a sensation; but for several years the king seemed scarcely to notice her. She secretly became his mistress however about 1668, and was openly declared such two years later. Her husband, who attempted to break off the connection, was banished to his estate, and was legally separated from her in 1676. For 14 years her influence over the king was unbounded; she prevailed upon him to legitimate their children, who were confided to the care of the widow Scarron, afterward Mme. de Maintenon, who in time supplanted Mme. de Fontanges, the immediate successor of their mother in the royal affections.

She was finally separated from him in 1686, and in 1691 she was obliged to leave Versailles. She retired to a convent, and tried in vain to be reconciled with her husband. She now devoted herself to penance and mortification, distributing most of her income to the poor. Her children by the king were: the duke de Maine, the count de Vexin, Mesde-moiselles de Nantes, de Blois, and de Tours, and the count de Toulouse, besides three others who died in childhood. The marquis d'Antin was her son by her husband.