Marie-Anne Walewska one after another of the ladies at court, but she remained his only serious mistress until their relationship ended in 1861. Walewska succeeded Pauline de Bassano as "dame d'honneur" in 1868. Marie-Anne Walewska Marie-Anne Walewska (1823–1912), was a French courtier and royal mistress. She is known for her relationship to emperor Napoleon III of France in 1857–1861. She served as "dame d'honneur" to empress Eugénie de Montijo in 1868–1870. She was born to the Italian count Zanobi di Ricci and princess Isabelle Poniatowski-Luci (illegitimate daughter of the last king of Poland's nephew). She married the Polish count (later duke) Alexandre
Marie Anne de Mailly Louise Julie de Mailly, whom she detested, and the queen herself asked for the vacant place to be given to Marie Anne de Mailly, and by the mediation of d'Argenson, Marie Anne secured the king's approval for her candidacy to this office as "dame du palais". In parallel, Marie Anne persuaded Louise Julie to write to Cardinal Fleury and resign her own post as "dame de palais" in favor of their sister Flavacourt by convincing her that the king wished to favor her sisters for the sake of Louise Julie. She agreed, though she resigned on condition that she be