Opulent Facts About Gabrielle De Polastron, The Queen's Favorite
Yolande Martine Gabrielle de Polastron, Duchess of Polignac, was Marie Antoinette’s favorite courtier and best friend. She might also have been the reason that the ill-fated Queen of France lost her head.
From humble beginnings, the stunning beauty climbed the social ladder right to the top. But there were grave consequences for her ambitions.
1. She Was A Diplomat’s Daughter
Yolande Martine Gabrielle de Polastron—her friends just called her Gabrielle—was born in September 1749 in Paris, France. Her father was at one point the French ambassador to Switzerland. Little did she know then that she would eventually have to flee to Switzerland to save her life. But there was a lot of drama before that.
2. She Came From Royalty
Gabrielle was born into France’s high society, and her family had one of the longest and most illustrious lines of the Ancien Régime, France’s brutal feudal system.
Despite her high pedigree, however, she wasn’t exactly living it up, royal style. In fact, before she moved to Versailles and stunned the nation, her lifestyle would have shocked the queen.
3. Her Parents Were Poor
By the time that Gabrielle came around, her family’s name was about all that she had going for her. To say that her family had fallen on hard times would be a pretty drastic understatement. The Polastron family was decidedly poor and severely indebted. It’s fair to say they were living the life of paupers. It led them to a drastic decision.
4. She Lived In A Hovel
Before Gabrielle was even able to walk, her family’s position became so desperate that they couldn’t afford life in the increasingly expensive city of Paris. So, they had to move.
They left Paris and went to their ancestral home in Noueilles in the south of France. But their “chateau” was more like a glorified mud hut. But if Gabrielle thought that was bad, she hadn't seen anything yet.
