Étienne Balsan

Étienne Balsan (b.February 11, 1878 in Paris, France, birth name "Fulcran Étienne Balsan") was a French socialite and heir. He came from the family of wealthy industrialists from Châteauroux (Indre) who provided the 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, Etienne (and his brother Jacques Balsan) were self-made men, neither landed gentry nor titled aristocrat. An officer in the cavalry, he renounced his career to breed horses and participate in races. A polo-player, he owned the estate Chateau de Royallieu (destroyed during WWII,) near Compiègne (Oise). The chateau was located near the site of the Prix de Royallieu, a Group 2 flat horse race, which has been active since 1922.
He noticed Coco Chanel in Moulins (Allier) and became her lover. They remained friends throughout their lives.