Étienne Balsan
Étienne Balsan (February 11, 1878 – 1953) was born in Paris, France, as Fulcran Étienne Balsan. Life A French socialite and heir, he was born into the family of wealthy industrialists from Châteauroux (Indre) who created Balsan (Company) and provided the French Army, army with uniforms and originated the famous cloth known as "blue horizon." Balsan is best known in the present day as having kept Coco Chanel as his mistress. Among his other lovers was famed French actress and courtesan Émilienne d'Alençon. While the Balsan family was a part of the upper class circle, Étienne (and his brother Jacques Balsan) were neither landed gentry nor titled aristocrat. An officer in the cavalry, he renounced his career, to breed horses and participate in races. A polo, polo-player, he owned the estate Chateau de Royallieu (destroyed during World War II) near Compiègne (Oise). The chateau was located near the site of the Prix de Royallieu, a Group 2 flat horse race, which has be ...
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