Paula de Odivelas

Paula de Odivelas (1701-1768) was a Portuguese abbess and royal mistress. She was the abbess of the Monastery of Saint Denis of Odivelas, and known as the mistress of king John V of Portugal from 1719 onward. Their long term relationship created a scandal, and Odivelas was a controversial figure in contemporary Portugal because of the luxury provided her by the monarch financed by the Brazilian gold: she was given a fortune as an allowance from 1728 onward. She was the mother of José of Braganza, High Inquisitor of Portugal, one of the Children of Palhavã.