Barbara Villiers Duchess of Cleveland 1641 1709 mistress British courtesan
Barbara Palmer, 1st Duchess of Cleveland (May 22 [ May 12] 1641 – October 9, 1709) was a British courtesan and perhaps the most notorious of the many mistresses of Charles II of England. By 1662, Barbara, the King's mistress, had more influence at the court than his Queen, Catherine of Braganza. In point of fact, Barbara chose to give birth to their second child at Hampton Court Palace while he and the Queen were honeymooning. In the summer of 1662 she was appointed Lady of the Bedchamber despite opposition from Queen Catherine and Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon, one advisor to the King and a bitter enemy of Barbara's. Behind closed doors, Barbara and the Queen feuded constantly. Barbara's influence over the King waxed and waned. Her victory, of her appointment as Lady of the Bedchamber, was followed by rumours of an estrangement between her and the King, being the result of his infatuation with Frances Stuart. In December 1663, Barbara announced her conversion to Catholicism; historians disagree as to why she did so. Some believe it was an attempt to consolidate her position with the King, and some believe it was a way of strengthening her ties with her Catholic husband. In June 1670 Charles created her Baroness Nonsuch (being the owner of Nonsuch Palace). She was also, briefly, granted the ownership of Phoenix Park in Dublin as a present from the King. She was made Countess of Southampton and Duchess of Cleveland in her own right; however, no one at court was sure if this was an indication that she was being jettisoned by Charles, or whether this was a sign that she was even higher in his favours. The Dukedom was made with a special remainder which allowed it to be passed to her eldest son, Charles FitzRoy, despite him being illegitimate.
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