The History of Escorts in Europe: From Courtesans to Modern-Day Companions

When you think of escorts in Europe today, you might picture ads on discreet websites or apps like OnlyFans or social media profiles offering companionship. But this isn’t new. For centuries, people in Europe have paid for company, conversation, and intimacy - not just sex. The line between a courtesan in Renaissance Italy and a modern-day independent companion isn’t as wide as you might think.

Medieval Europe: Patronage and Power

In the Middle Ages, formal prostitution was often tolerated - even regulated - in cities like Paris, London, and Venice. Brothels were licensed, taxed, and sometimes run by the church. But the women who held real influence weren’t the ones working in back-alley dens. They were the courtesans: educated, witty, and well-connected.

Courtesans like Veronica Franco in 16th-century Venice weren’t just sex workers. They were poets, patrons of the arts, and political advisors. Franco published collections of poetry, hosted literary salons, and corresponded with nobles. She earned more than most male artists of her time. Her clients included dukes, cardinals, and even the Doge of Venice. She wasn’t selling bodies - she was selling access, intellect, and social capital.

These women lived in luxury. They wore silk, owned property, and sometimes married into aristocracy. Their power came from their ability to navigate a male-dominated world without being bound by marriage or family obligations. They were exceptions - but they proved that companionship, when skillfully managed, could be a form of economic and social mobility.

The 18th and 19th Centuries: From Salons to Scandal

By the 1700s, the courtesan became a cultural icon. In France, women like Madame de Pompadour and Madame du Barry weren’t just mistresses of kings - they were tastemakers. Pompadour influenced fashion, architecture, and even foreign policy. She commissioned furniture, shaped the Rococo style, and advised Louis XV on state matters.

In England, the line between mistress and escort blurred. Women like Harriette Wilson wrote memoirs detailing her affairs with dukes and politicians. Her book, Memories of Harriette Wilson, sold thousands of copies. She didn’t hide her trade - she turned it into a brand. When a nobleman refused to pay, she published his name. He paid. Others followed.

These women weren’t criminals. They were entrepreneurs. They used networks, reputation, and discretion to build businesses. Many had agents, contracts, and even written agreements. Their clients paid for dinners, theater tickets, travel, and private time. The transaction was clear: money for presence, charm, and companionship.

The 20th Century: Criminalization and Stigma

Then came the 1900s. As moral reform movements swept across Europe, everything changed. The Victorian ideal of female purity took hold. Brothels were shut down. Laws criminalized solicitation. The word "prostitute" replaced "courtesan." The shift wasn’t just legal - it was cultural.

Women who once moved in elite circles were now labeled immoral. The state saw them as threats to public order. In Germany, the 1927 Reichsgesetz zur Bekämpfung der Geschlechtskrankheiten forced women into medical registration. In Italy, fascist laws targeted "public scandal." Even in Sweden, where prostitution wasn’t illegal, buying sex became a crime in 2009 - shifting blame onto clients, not sellers.

But the demand never disappeared. It just went underground. The rise of cars, trains, and later, the internet, made it easier to connect discreetly. Women began working alone, in apartments, or as freelance companions. The term "escort" started appearing in classified ads in the 1970s - not as a euphemism for sex work, but as a way to describe someone who provided company for events, travel, or emotional support.

Modern Europe: Companionship as a Service

Today, the escort industry in Europe is diverse, decentralized, and largely digital. In cities like Berlin, Amsterdam, and Lisbon, women (and some men) advertise as "companions," "personal assistants," or "social partners." Many avoid the word "escort" altogether. Their services include: attending galas, traveling abroad, offering emotional support, or simply being a conversational presence.

A 2023 survey by the European Institute for Gender Studies found that 68% of independent companions in Western Europe listed "emotional companionship" as their primary service - not sex. Many clients are widowers, executives with demanding schedules, or people recovering from divorce. One woman in Stockholm told a reporter: "I don’t sleep with them. I listen to them. Some pay me just to sit with them while they eat dinner. That’s not sex work. That’s human connection."

Platforms like OnlyFans, Patreon, and even LinkedIn have become new marketplaces. Some companions use Instagram to showcase their travel, style, and interests - building personal brands. Others use encrypted apps like Signal or Telegram to screen clients. Rates vary widely: €50/hour for coffee and conversation in Bucharest; €500 for a weekend trip to Paris with a former diplomat.

Legal status differs by country. In the Netherlands, sex work is legal and regulated. In France, selling sex isn’t illegal, but advertising it is. In the UK, it’s a gray zone - no law against selling sex, but soliciting, brothel-keeping, and pimping are crimes. Most modern companions work independently, avoiding third parties to stay under the radar.

Why the Change? Technology, Autonomy, and Shifting Norms

What made the modern companion different from the courtesan? Three things: technology, autonomy, and social acceptance.

Technology removed the middleman. No longer did women need a madam or a broker. They could reach clients directly. Autonomy meant they controlled their schedules, prices, and boundaries. And social norms? They’ve softened. More people see companionship as a legitimate service - not a moral failing.

Studies from the London School of Economics show that women who work as independent companions report higher levels of job satisfaction than those in traditional sex work. Why? Because they define the terms. They choose who they meet. They set boundaries. They often have other jobs - teachers, artists, consultants - and companionship is just one part of their income.

There’s also a growing movement for decriminalization. Groups like the English Collective of Prostitutes and the French association STRASS argue that regulation, not criminalization, protects workers. They point to New Zealand’s 2003 law, which fully decriminalized sex work and led to a drop in violence and trafficking. Similar efforts are gaining traction in Belgium and Denmark.

The Legacy: Power, Not Shame

The history of escorts in Europe isn’t a story of degradation. It’s a story of survival, strategy, and silent power. From Veronica Franco writing poems in Venice to a woman in Berlin hosting weekly dinner parties for lonely executives - the core hasn’t changed. People pay for presence. For connection. For someone who listens without judgment.

The courtesans didn’t beg for permission. They built empires with charm and intellect. The modern companion doesn’t hide behind a curtain. She posts photos of her travels, shares her favorite books, and sets her own rates. The tools changed. The power didn’t.

Today’s escort industry in Europe is less about sex and more about service. It’s about filling a gap the modern world created: loneliness in a hyper-connected age. And in that, it’s not so different from the past. People have always paid for someone to be there - not just physically, but emotionally. The only thing that’s changed is how openly we admit it.