Barbara 1st Duchess of Cleveland Palmer

British distinguished family member known through many portraits for her outstanding beauty, vivacity and temperament. The Villiers of both sexes owed their fortunes to their charms for three generations of Stuart kings. Known to history as my Lady Castlemain, she became the mistress, at age 19, to Charles II when he was restored to the throne in 1660. He made her the Duchess of Cleveland and granted her the famous palace of Henry VIII. She had it pulled down and the materials sold to cover her expenses, and sold as well, the mansion and gardens of Berkshire House, St. James.

Manipulative and insatiably importunate, she held an immoral court and was extravagant of state coffers. Her pensions, gifts, gowns and jewels and grants from public funds became a drain on the state. She was probably less politically influential than once thought, though she did play a part in Clarendon's fall from power.

As Charles' mistress, she had a number of his children, although her last child was rumored to be that of her cousin. In 1673, when she was 32, Charles tired of her tantrums and took another mistress.

She died on 9 October 1709.