Diane De Poitiers, The Woman Who Drank Herself To Death — With Gold
Wikimedia CommonsDiane de Poitiers was a mistress of King Henry II of France.
A 16th-century French noblewoman, Diane de Poitiers held significant influence in the court of her lover, King Henry II. Her sway on Henry was stronger than that of his wife, Catherine de’ Medici. The king even gifted her the crown jewels and Château de Chenonceau, which the queen herself wanted.
Diane de Poitiers rarely used her influence over the king for matters of state, however. Rather, she exerted her power to gain material possessions and luxuries for herself, her friends, and her family.
Given her penchant for lavish items, it’s no surprise that de Poitiers went to extremes to maintain her beauty — and it may have killed her. According to Atlas Obscura, the noblewoman routinely drank gold chloride mixed with diethyl ether.
Though she lived to be 66, contemporary records state that she appeared forever young. French historian Brantôme wrote, “I believe that if this lady had lived another hundred years she would not have aged… in her face, so well-composed it was.”
The idea of drinking gold to retain one’s youth predated de Poitiers, of course. Even ancient Egyptians used “gold-water,” believing that because the metal didn’t corrode, it would bring longevity to those who ingested it.
However, when Diane de Poitiers’ grave was ultimately rediscovered centuries after her passing, researchers discovered high levels of gold in her hair. This indicates that she likely died of chronic intoxication due to her efforts to maintain her youthful appearance.
