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Barbara Villiers, Duchess of
Cleveland, (1641-1709)
daughter of William Villiers, 2nd Viscount Grandison
and The Hon. Mary Bayning
Born circa 1641
Died 9 October 1709 Chiswick, Midx.
Affaire with Charles II, King of England, Scotland and Ireland
1660-1685
Born 29 May 1630 St.James's, London
Died 6 February 1685 Palace of Whitehall
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Perhaps history's best known nymphomaniac she was described as "the
lewdest as well as the fairest of King Charles's concubines", when he was
twenty-nine and she ten years younger.
Born in a well-connected family, she had lost her father in the civil
war and at eighteen her mother married her off to Roger Palmer. This loveless
arranged marriage did not stop Barbara pursuing an affair with the Earl
of Chesterfield. In the Royalist cause she was
sent to Breda to Charles II where she succeeded in seducing this king.
They returned together when Charles II was restored as King of England
and nine months later a daughter was born. At this time Roger Palmer was
created Earl of Castlemaine. After another baby was born, Roger Palmer
separated from his wife but, living for another forty years, he prevented
her from remarrying. However, just before this last baby was born, Charles
II consented to marry the Portugese Infanta, Catherine de Braganca.
On the Infanta's arrival in England, Barbara was listed as one of the
Ladies of the Bedchamber; but Catherine removed her name, causing a political
furore. However, Charles II forced her to accept Lady Castlemaine, and
for a period pretended his affair with Barbara had ended. Catherine de
Braganca treated Barbara courtiously and affectionately. But after a period,
Charles II returned to Barbara and more children were born. The paternity
of some were questioned by others but not by Charles II.
Lady Castlemaine was greedy and loved expensive clothing and jewelry.
She often outshone the Queen and if Charles II failed to buy her enough
jewelry, she would buy them herself and present Charles II with the bills.
To gain money she became clever with bribery. Foreign Ambassadors would
pay her, hoping she would espouse their causes. She
lived extravagantly, loved extravagantly and became a great gambler.
The Earl of Clarendon kept Barbara in check as long as he could, but seven
years after the Restoration he was removed from power. She had a great
influence over Charles II but in important matters he would do only what
he wished.
Lady Castlemaine's philanderings gave Charles II the freedom to look
elsewhere, which he did frequently. Not to endanger the succession to the
throne, he would acknowledge his children but not legitimise them. He would
find rich wives for his sons as well as
shower them with titles. Lady Castlemaine had other affairs with a
wide variety of lovers:
the Duke of Buckingham; William Wycherley the dramatist; Henry Jermyn
the future Lord Dover; Jacob Hall a rope dancer; and even John Churchill,
the future Duke of Marlborough.
With these affairs she lost her hold over Charles II who, after several
other ladies, settled for Nell Gwyn. Barbara's tantrums became more unbearable
and, to pension her off, she was made Duchess of Cleveland and her pension
increased. She moved to Paris where she had an affair with the English
Ambassador, Ralph Montagu, but he transferred his attentions to Barbara's
daughter. To spite him, Barbara revealed to Charles II Montagu's double
dealings with the French and Montagu was recalled. Having returned, Montagu
revealed that Charles II's minister Danby was also trying to gain French
financial support and Danby finished up in prison. She returned to England
and remained on friendly terms with Charles had many more and mostly younger
lovers and, when she was in her sixties, married one of these but soon
found out he was married already.
Source: Leo van de Pas |
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