Glaring Facts About Liane De Pougy, The Ultimate Party Girl of Paris
Liane de Pougy lived countless lives. She was a charming courtesan named Liane and a royal named Princess Ghika—but the end of her life boasted the most shocking twist of all.
1. She Grew Up In A Nunnery
On a warm summer day in 1869, Anne-Marie Chassaigne came into the world in La Flèche, France. She had an incredibly unique upbringing—but this was only the start of her very unique life. She lived in a nunnery surrounded by celibate women and religious rituals. Chassaigne, however, envisioned a different future for herself.
2. She Broke The Rules
Chassaigne was only 16 years old when she succumbed to one of the seven sins: lust. She fell in love with a naval officer named Joseph Armand Henri Pourpe. Having grown up in such a pious environment, her actions were downright unthinkable. She ended up pregnant.
After discovering this shocking news, the couple decided to marry—but first, they needed to get away.
3. She Ran Away
At the time, Chassaigne lived in a nunnery in a provincial French town. She knew that a pregnant young lady would not be welcomed there, so she and her lover devised a plan to run away. This was the first step of their plan.
But it only led to heartache. After tying the knot, Chassaigne experienced the rudest awakening of her life.
4. Her Wedding Night Was A Disaster
This may have seemed like an exciting love story—but it was about to turn into a nightmare for one of them. On their wedding night, Chassaigne realized that she had made an enormous mistake. According to her memoirs, her new groom brutalized her, which traumatized her for the rest of her life. But that wasn't all.
