13 Facts About Henriette Caillaux

Henriette Caillaux was a Parisian socialite and second wife of the former Prime Minister of France, Joseph Caillaux.

Henriette Caillaux was born Henriette Raynouard, at Rueil-Malmaison on 5 December 1874.

In 1908, she divorced Claretie; Henriette Caillaux had more difficulties in divorcing his wife, but he eventually did so and they married in October 1911.

Henriette Caillaux claimed she found in her second marriage "the most complete happiness"; their joint assets were worth around 1.5 million francs, placing them among France's wealthiest couples and allowing them to live in what she described as "great comfort".

Henriette Caillaux believed that Calmette would publish other private letters that would demonstrate that Caillaux and she had had an intimate relationship while he was still married to his first wife.

Henriette Caillaux felt the only way for her husband to defend his reputation would be to challenge Calmette to a duel, which, one way or another, would destroy her and her husband's life.

Madame Henriette Caillaux made the decision to protect her beloved husband by sacrificing herself.

Henriette Caillaux was ushered into Calmette's office around 6 pm.

Henriette Caillaux made no attempt to escape and newspaper workers in adjoining offices quickly apprehended her and summoned a doctor and the police.

Henriette Caillaux refused to be transported to the police headquarters in a police van, insisting on being driven there by her chauffeur in her own car, which was still parked outside.

Heightening the drama, Henriette Caillaux's husband threatened to cause a further scandal during the trial by releasing affidavits allegedly in his possession which showed that Poincare was behind the press campaign against him.

Henriette Caillaux published a reference book in 1935 in which she established an inventory of the work of this artist.

In 1918, an American silent film, The Henriette Caillaux Case, was released by Fox Film.