Louise Chevalier

James Ward. Madame Chevalier in the Character of Virginia (after Ch. Henard). Coloured mezzotint. 1799

Louise Chevalier (1774 - died after 1801), was a French actor and opera singer. She was active in Russia in the French theater troupe of her spouse, the ballet dancer and playwright  [ru] (Pierre Peicam), from 1797 until 1801.

During her tenure in Russia, she was the lover of first the Master of the Stables, the court noble and emperor's favorite , and then of emperor Paul I of Russia. She was an important figure during the reign of Paul I, when she wielded great influence as a channel for supplicants to Kutaisov and the emperor, and reportedly accepted substantial sums as such, and attracted great animosity in St Petersburg.

After the fall of Paul I in March 1801, she was asked to leave Russia by tsar Alexander. It is not confirmed what happened to her after this, though conflicting reports place her as a courtesan and a spy in Paris, in Germany and in Poland.

References[]

• Шевалье-Пейкам // Энциклопедический словарь Брокгауза и Ефрона : в 86 т. (82 т. и 4 доп.). — СПб., 1890—1907.

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