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Charlotte de Savoie
(1441–83)

Biographical

Charlotte spent her childhood at the castle of Thonon, and was entrusted under the care of governess Jeannette Riche, together with her brother Philip. She was betrothed to Friedrich, the future Friedrich II, Elector of Saxony, in 1443. Duke Louis I, her father, broke the agreement in favour of a marriage union with the Dauphin of France, the future King Louis XII. However, King Charles VII, father of the dauphin, refused to give his consent, and the dauphin rebelled against his father, proceeding with negotiations in secret. The wedding took place in early March 1451. Louis I sent a herald to stop the ceremony, but he was not received until after the event. Charles VII refused to recognise the union until Louis signed the agreement of Cleppé. Due to her young age, Charlotte continued to live at her father's residence. In 1456 it was said that the dauphin had abandoned her, but in reality, he had rebelled against his father and fled to the lands of Philip, Duke of Burgundy. By 1457 she joined her husband at Namur, residing at the castle of Genappe as guests of the Duke of Burgundy. The marriage seems to have been purely for political purposes, and there appears to have been little emotional bond between the couple. Although she accompanied him to arduous journeys through France whenever there appeared need to consolidate power over a dominion or territory, Charlotte played no prominent role in his life and reign. Over the years, she was increasingly neglected by her husband who kept her mostly in seclusion at a modest court at Amboise where she resided with her mother-in-law until 1464. The king's attitude towards her worsened and he kept her confined in the Dauphiné, probably with the aim of removing their children from her influence. She died three months after her husband, and was buried beside him as requested in her will.

Place of birth: Castle of Thonon, Geneva (possibly)
Place of marriage: Chateau de Chambéry
Place of death: Amboise
Place of burial: Church of Notre Dame, Cléry

Daughter of Louis I, duc de Savoie and Princess Anne of Cyprus. She married Louis XI, King of France, in 1451, and had issue.

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