DAILLAN, MARQUISE DE mistress of Louis XIV., was born at the château of Tonnay-Charente (Charente-Inferie ure) the daughter of Gabriel de Rochechouart, duc de Mont martre. In 1661 she became maid-of-honour to Queen Maria Theresa, and two years later she married L. H. de Pardaillan de Gondrin, marquis de Montespan, by whom she had two children. A beautiful and brilliant woman, she became mistress of Louis XIV. in 1667. The first of the seven children Mme. de Montes pan bore to the king was born in March 1669, and was entrusted to Mme. Scarron, the future Mme. de Maintenon, who acted as companion to Mme. de Montespan while the king was away at the wars. The eldest, Louis Auguste, became duc de Maine, the second, Louis Cesar, comte de Vexin, and the third, Louise Fran coise, demoiselle de Nantes (afterwards duchesse de Bourbon). These children were all legitimatized in 1673. When Louis's affection showed signs of cooling, Mme. de Montespan resorted to magic. The frequent occurrence of her maid's name in the evi dence before the Chambre Ardente threw suspicion on her con nection with La Voisin, but the affair was hushed up. (See LA
VOISIN, C., for an account of the poisoning affair.) In 1691, Mme. de Montespan retired to the Convent of St.
Joseph with a pension of half a million francs, and honours for the members of her family. She was a generous patron of letters, and befriended Corneille, Racine and La Fontaine. She died at Bourbon l'Archambault on May 27, 1707.