ENTRAGUES, CATHERINE HENRIETTE DE BAL ZAC D' (1579-1633), marquise de Verneuil, mistress of Henry IV., king of France, was the daughter of Charles Balzac d'Entra gues and of Marie Touchet, mistress of Charles IX. She induced Henry IV. to promise to marry her after the death of Gabrielle d'Estrees, a promise which led to bitter scenes at court when shortly afterwards Henry married Marie de Medici. She was deeply compromised in the conspiracy of Marshal Biron against the king in 16o6; and in 1608 Henry actually took her back into favour. She seems then to have been involved in the Spanish intrigues which preceded the death of the king in 161o.
See H. de la Ferriere, Henri IV. le roi, l'amoureux (189o).