Étienne Balsan (February 11, 1878 – 1953) was born inParis,France, asFulcran Étienne Balsan.[citation needed]
A Frenchsocialite andheir, he was born into the family of wealthy industrialists fromChâteauroux (Indre) who createdBalsan (Company) and provided thearmy with uniforms and originated the famous cloth known as "blue horizon." Balsan is best known in the present day as having keptCoco Chanel as his mistress. Among his other lovers was famed French actress andcourtesanÉmilienne d'Alençon.[1]
While the Balsan family was a part of the upper class circle, Étienne (and his brotherJacques Balsan) were neitherlanded gentry nor titled aristocrat.[2] An officer in thecavalry, he renounced his career, to breed horses and participate in races. Apolo-player, he owned the estate Chateau de Royallieu (destroyed during World War II) nearCompiègne (Oise). The chateau was located near the site of thePrix de Royallieu, a Group 2 flat horse race, which has been active since 1922.
He noticed Coco Chanel inMoulins (Allier) and became her lover. They remained friends throughout their lives. In 1909, when Chanel settled inParis, he lent her hisbachelor flat on the ground floor, 160 Boulevard Malesherbes, and helped her to open a boutique inDeauville. Balsan introduced her to Paris society, including EnglishmanArthur "Boy" Capel who later became Chanel's lover, and who helped Chanel to finance her early fashion business.
His brother,Jacques Balsan, marriedConsuelo Vanderbilt, the former Duchess of Marlborough.
Balsan was portrayed by actorBenoît Poelvoorde in thefeature filmCoco avant Chanel (2009), bySagamore Stévenin in the television filmCoco Chanel (2008), and byRutger Hauer in the 1981 releaseChanel Solitaire.
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