Margaret of France, Duchess of Berry
Encyclopedia
Margaret of Valois, Duchess of Berry (French: Marguerite de Valois) (5 June 1523 – 15 September 1574) was the daughter of King Francis I of France
and Claude, Duchess of Brittany.
. She became Duchess of Berry
in 1550.
Margaret was very close to her aunt, Marguerite de Navarre
, who took care of her and her sister Madeleine during her childhood, and her sister-in-law Catherine de' Medici
.
Near the end of 1538, her father Francis I of France
and Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
, agreed that Margaret should marry Charles' son, the future Philip II of Spain
. However, the agreement between Francis and Charles was short-lived.
(1528–1580), Prince of Piedmont and had a son, Charles Emmanuel I of Savoy (1562–1630)
Francis I and Henry II of France
(Margaret's brother) had to look for a suitor of her rank. Margaret was married to the Duke of Savoy at the age of thirty-six years on 10 July 1559. The wedding took place in tragic circumstances. King Henry had been injured during a tournament celebrating the wedding of his daughter Elisabeth
. On the threshold of death, but still conscious, the king had dictated that his sister's marriage should take place immediately, for fear that the Duke of Savoy might profit from his death and deny the alliance. Henry II died on the day of the wedding.
.
Francis I of France
Francis I was King of France from 1515 until his death. During his reign, huge cultural changes took place in France and he has been called France's original Renaissance monarch...
and Claude, Duchess of Brittany.
Early life
Margaret was born at the Château de Saint-Germain-en-LayeChâteau de Saint-Germain-en-Laye
The Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye is a royal palace in the commune of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, in the département of Yvelines, about 19 km west of Paris, France. Today, it houses the Musée d'Archéologie Nationale ....
. She became Duchess of Berry
Duchess of Berry
-First Creation:-Second Creation:-Eighth Creation:-Ninth Creation:-Tenth Creation:...
in 1550.
Margaret was very close to her aunt, Marguerite de Navarre
Marguerite de Navarre
Marguerite de Navarre , also known as Marguerite of Angoulême and Margaret of Navarre, was the queen consort of Henry II of Navarre...
, who took care of her and her sister Madeleine during her childhood, and her sister-in-law Catherine de' Medici
Catherine de' Medici
Catherine de' Medici was an Italian noblewoman who was Queen consort of France from 1547 until 1559, as the wife of King Henry II of France....
.
Near the end of 1538, her father Francis I of France
Francis I of France
Francis I was King of France from 1515 until his death. During his reign, huge cultural changes took place in France and he has been called France's original Renaissance monarch...
and Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
, agreed that Margaret should marry Charles' son, the future Philip II of Spain
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
. However, the agreement between Francis and Charles was short-lived.
Marriage
On 10 July 1559, she married Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of SavoyEmmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy
Emmanuel Philibert was Duke of Savoy from 1553 to 1580....
(1528–1580), Prince of Piedmont and had a son, Charles Emmanuel I of Savoy (1562–1630)
Francis I and Henry II of France
Henry II of France
Henry II was King of France from 31 March 1547 until his death in 1559.-Early years:Henry was born in the royal Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, near Paris, the son of Francis I and Claude, Duchess of Brittany .His father was captured at the Battle of Pavia in 1525 by his sworn enemy,...
(Margaret's brother) had to look for a suitor of her rank. Margaret was married to the Duke of Savoy at the age of thirty-six years on 10 July 1559. The wedding took place in tragic circumstances. King Henry had been injured during a tournament celebrating the wedding of his daughter Elisabeth
Elisabeth of Valois
Elisabeth of Valois was the eldest daughter of Henry II of France and Catherine de' Medici.-Early life:She was born in the Château de Fontainebleau...
. On the threshold of death, but still conscious, the king had dictated that his sister's marriage should take place immediately, for fear that the Duke of Savoy might profit from his death and deny the alliance. Henry II died on the day of the wedding.
Children
Margaret and her husband had only one surviving child: Charles Emmanuel I of Savoy. Their son later married Infanta Catherine Michelle of Spain, the daughter of Margaret's former suitor Philip II of SpainPhilip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
.
Ancestry
See also
- Peace of Cateau Cambrésis
- Duke of BerryDuke of BerryThe title of Duke of Berry in the French nobility was frequently created for junior members of the French royal family. The Berry region now consists of the départements of Cher, Indre and parts of Vienne. The capital of Berry is Bourges. The first creation was for John, third son of John II, King...