Courtesan meaning

What a courtesan was

A courtesan was a refined, well educated woman who kept company with wealthy and powerful men, often at royal courts, in return for their financial support. The word comes from the Italian cortigiana, meaning a woman of the court. It first came into use during the Renaissance, when the courts of Italy and France were centres of wealth, art and politics.

What set a courtesan apart was accomplishment. The best known were admired for their conversation, music, wit, dress and connections. They could hold their own at a table of diplomats, and their favour could shape careers. In a time when most women had few rights and little money of their own, some of them gained remarkable independence.

Famous courtesans in history

Several names have lasted. Veronica Franco, in sixteenth century Venice, was a published poet who argued for women's standing in print. Madame de Pompadour became the official mistress of Louis XV of France and a serious patron of the arts. In Regency London, Harriette Wilson caused a scandal with her memoirs, and the Duke of Wellington is said to have responded to her threat of exposure with the words, publish and be damned. In nineteenth century Paris, women such as Cora Pearl were among the most talked about people in the city.

Courtesan or escort?

The modern comparison is natural, but it is loose. A courtesan's arrangement was usually long term and often depended on one patron or a few, while an escort's booking is arranged for a set period of time. The word has survived as a romantic term, and today you might see it used for someone at the luxury end of the profession.

If you are drawn to the idea of polished company, conversation and an elegant night out, look at our high class escorts or arrange a dinner date. Today, as ever, the rate is for a lady's time and companionship. Each lady decides what she is comfortable with and can say no at any time. If the history interests you, our guide on what an escort is explains how things work now.