Montez, Lola

Montez, Lola (mŏntĕz`), 1818?–1861, Irish adventurer, whose original name was Marie Dolores Eliza Rosanna Gilbert. Her early marriage to an army officer soon ended in divorce. She adopted the name Lola Montez, claimed Spanish descent, and became a dancer. Her dancing was mediocre, but her beauty, extravagant charm, and adventures (in particular her affairs with Franz Liszt and Dumas père) were legendary. She gained sensational success and by 1846 became the mistress of King Louis I of Bavaria, who made her countess of Lansfeld. Her intervention in politics aroused antagonism and helped provoke the Revolution of 1848, when she was banished. She returned (1849) to England and remarried. In 1851 she toured the United States and after the death of her husband married P. P. Hull, a San Francisco newspaperman. After an Australian tour (1855–56), she returned to the United States. She died in New York City.

Bibliography

See biographies by A. Darling (1972), I. Ross (1972), and M. Ophuls (1986).

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Montez, Lola

 orig. Marie Dolores Eliza Rosanna Gilbert

(born 1818, Limerick, Ire.—died Jan. 17, 1861, New York, N.Y., U.S.) Irish adventuress and dancer who achieved notoriety as the mistress of King Louis I of Bavaria. After a few dance lessons in Spain, she toured Europe, billing herself as a Spanish dancer. While in Munich in 1846, she became Louis's mistress and influenced him toward supporting liberal and anti-Jesuit policies. Her power over the king provoked angry reactions in the government in 1848, forcing her to flee and causing his abdication. After further tours, she settled in New York City.

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Montez, Lola

(c. 1818–1861) Irish singer and dancer; mistress to famous men. [Irish Hist.: NCE, 1821]

See : Beauty, Sensual

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Montez, Lola

(1818–1861) beguiling mistress to the eminent. [Br. Hist.: Wallechinsky, 325]

See : Lust