Nicholas de la Motte

{{Short description|French adventurer}}

{{Refimprove|date=July 2007}}

File:Marc Antoine Nicolas de La Motte 02.jpg

Nicholas de la Motte (Bar-sur-Aube 29 July 1755 – Paris 6 November 1831), born Marc Antoine-Nicolas de la Motte, was a French adventurer known for his part as a swindler in the affair of the diamond necklace. He was the husband of Jeanne de Valois-Saint-Remy, whom he married on 6 June 1780.

He claimed to be a nobleman and gave himself the title of Comte (Count). However, his claim to nobility was dubious.

At the time of his marriage, he was known only as an officer of the gendarmes.André Castelot "Queen of France", page 202 Through his wife's influence on her paramour, the Cardinal de Rohan, he later obtained a commission as the Count of Artois's bodyguard.Vincent Cronin "Louis and Antoinette", page 239

La Motte died in November 1831 in Paris, France, forty five years after the affair at the age of 76.