The last official mistress of King Louis XV became a victime of the French revolutionary terror too. She was executed by guillotine on 8 December 1793
Born out of wedlock in 1743, Jeanne Bécu had a quite diverse career during her teenage years. She tried to sell things on the street, was domestic servant, entertaining company for old widows, and of course she had connection to the sex industry, too. But fortunately for her, she managed to build up an aristocratic clientele.
Jeanne became the lover of the king sometime in 1768, but according to the etiquette of Versailley, because she did not hold any aristocratic title, she was not fit to be presented to the court officially. She had to marry a noble man. This was an easy business, because she had already a relationship with Comte Guillome du Barry, who also helped her to establish her own career as hight paid courtesan earlier.
Jeanne Bécu, Comtesse du Barry was officially presented to the court of Versailles on 22 April 1769.
After the death of Louis XV she was sent to a convent, which was the decision of Marie Antoinette. Only the first year of her exile was like she was in a prison, later she was permitted to leave the abbey. Slowly but surely she established her life in countryside, bought some property, had also relationships with men. Unfortunatelly one of her lover was brutally slaughtered in 1792.
Some of Jeanne’s houshold servants became jacobine (the most radical group of the Fremch revolution), among them Zamor, her Bengali slave, who was member of her household since her days in Versailles. When Jeanne figured out how deeply Zamor was involved into revolutionary activities, she sent him away. Then Zamor gave a testimony against her, which led to her downfall.
Madame du Barry was accused to finantially assist people (mostly aristocrats, of course) fled from the terror of the revolution. She was found guilty.
Jeanne Bécu, Comtess du Barry was executed on 8 December 1793. At this time, both Louix XVI (executed on 21 January 1793) and Marie Antoinette (16 September 1793) were dead.