Touching Facts About Thérésa Tallien, the French Revolution’s “It” Girl
Thérésa Cabarrus, later known as Thérésa Tallien, was the “It” Girl of the French Revolution—and it was both her beauty and her cunning smarts that saved her from beheading.
1. She Was France’s “It” Girl
Thérésa Cabarrus, Madame Tallien was a fashion icon, musical muse, and scandalous socialite during the turbulent years after the French Revolution.
In fact, her buxom beauty might have been the very thing that ended Maximilien Robespierre’s the dreaded Reign of Terror.
As France’s “It” Girl, there was nothing she couldn’t get away with. And we really mean nothing.
2. Her Father Was Ambitious
Juana María Ignacia Teresa de Cabarrús y Galabert (or just Thérésa for short) was born in Madrid, Spain in July of 1773. But, she was, for all intents and purposes, a child of France. Her father was a wealthy banker and financier from the French-speaking Basque region but he always had big ambitions to become something more.
3. She Became A Countess
More than anything, Thérésa’s family wanted to find acceptance with the aristocracy. Her father served as Minister of Finance for the King of Spain. Eventually, King Charles IV of Spain ennobled Thérésa’s family with the title of “count”. There was just one problem.
With the word “revolution” on the tip of everyone’s tongue, her family might have thrown in with the wrong lot.
4. She Was Very Beautiful
After finishing her education in France, Thérésa briefly returned to Spain at the age of 12. That’s when her father saw his golden ticket to true nobility: his “very beautiful” daughter.
He resolved that she would marry into nobility and, consequently, elevate the family’s status.
With dreams of titles and palaces dancing before his eyes, he shipped her back off to France—into the belly of the beast. Or, at least, the arms of one.
