Marianna Walewska

Marie-Anne Walewska, Duchess Colonna-Walewski, (née di Ricci; 18 July 1823 – 18 November 1912), was a French courtier and royal mistress. She served as Première dame d'honneur to Empress Eugénie de Montijo in 1868–1870, and was the last to perform this function in France. She is also known for her relationship to Emperor Napoleon III of France in 1857–1861. Life She was born to the Papal Count Zanobi di Ricci and Princess Isabelle Poniatowski-Luci (illegitimate daughter of the last King of Poland's nephew). On 4 June 1846, she became the second wife of the Polish Count (later Duke) Alexandre Colonna-Walewski (4 May 1810 – 27 September 1868), the illegitimate son of Napoleon and his mistress, Countess Marie Walewska, and a Minister of the French Cabinet during the Second Empire. She was described as an elegant and intelligent blonde beauty and was a leading member of the high society of Second Empire Paris. While her spouse was described as well respected, but too reserved to be popular in society, she "greatly assisted him in retaining some popularity", and it was said that "Every one was attracted by the Comtesse Walewska, who never lost an opportunity of doing a kind act, or of obliging others in those small things of daily life which are so pleasing and so valuable. She was also quiet and ladylike. Her beauty was much extolled, but this seemed more due to a general impression of a very charming and most agreeable woman, than to real beauty taken in a literal sense." Lord Malmesbury considered her to be the only woman in the company of the Empress who was not vulgar, and Bismarck described her as the most entertaining woman in France after the empress.