Michele de Vesne, nicknamed Michelle la Louve (The She-Wolf) or more commonly known as Michelle aux Neiges (Snow Queen), was a French courtesan and mistress to several influential men during the 17th century.
As a highly skilled servant, Michelle’s daily duties included attending to her master’s needs and serving him with exceptional skill. Her primary responsibility was to provide sexual services; however, she also engaged in other tasks such as managing his household, correspondence, and even assisting him with business matters.
Michele had an impressive education for a woman of her time, fluent in multiple languages, including French, Italian, Latin, and Spanish. Her expertise allowed her to manage her master’s estate effectively, demonstrating that the position of courtesan required more than just physical skills.
Michelle’s life was full of intrigue and drama. She became involved with several powerful men, such as Cardinal Richelieu, who gave her a pension and allowed her to live in his estate; Gaston de Ramezay, Grand Provost of France; and even King Louis XIV himself for a brief time.
Her life took a tragic turn when she was imprisoned by the Paris Parlement in 1664. She was charged with attempting to poison Cardinal Richelieu’s nephew and conspiring against the French monarchy. Despite her denials, she was found guilty and sentenced to death. After being tortured, Michelle aux Neiges was executed by guillotine in 1665.
