milady

Milady is an archaic English honorific that translates roughly to "my lady." Historically used to address noblewomen of high rank, the form fell into disuse in most contexts but remains common in literature and period pieces as a name or stylistic device.

In fiction, Milady de Winter is the best-known bearer of the name. Created by Alexandre Dumas, père, she is a principal antagonist in The Three Musketeers, serving as a spy and agent for Cardinal Richelieu. She is portrayed as intelligent, beautiful, and calculating, using charm and deception to advance her objectives. Her backstory and loyalties vary across adaptations, and her fate is depicted differently by different authors and filmmakers, but she is consistently depicted as a formidable foe to the Musketeers.

The character has appeared in numerous film, television, and stage adaptations since the 19th century. These portrayals emphasize her seductive power, political cunning, and personal enmity with Athos, one of the musketeers.

In broader popular culture, Milady's portrayal has influenced depictions of femme fatale archetypes in period adventure narratives and remains a recurring reference in adaptations of the Musketeers canon.