(254)

Louise de Savoie
Duchesse d'Angoulême
(1476–1531)

Biographical

Regent of France 1515–16; 1525–26
Duchesse d'Angoulême 1515–31†
Duchesse de Bourbon 1528–31†
Duchesse d'Anjou 1515–31†
Duchesse de Nemours 1524–28
Duchesse de Châtellerault
Comtesse de Maine 1515–31†
Comtesse de Gien
Comtesse de Yvray
Comtesse de Clermont-en-Beauvaisis
Comtesse Clermont d'Auvergne
Comtesse de La Marche
Comtesse de Montpensier
Comtesse de Forez 1521-31†
Comtesse de Beaufort-en-Vallée 1515
Comtesse d'Angoulême 1515–31†
Dauphine d'Auvergne
Vicomtesse d'Aulnay
Vicomtesse de Carlat
Vicomtesse de Murat
Baronne d'Amboise
Dame de Beaujolais
Dame de Mercoeur
Dame de Romorantin

At the age of twelve, Louise was married to Charles of Valois, count of Angoulême. The accession of Louis XII, who was childless, made Louise's son, Francis of Angoulême, the heir-presumptive to the throne of France. Louise brought her children to the court, and received Amboise as her residence. From then on, she lived in fear lest Louis should have a son. In consequence there was a secret rivalry between her and the queen, Anne of Brittany, but finally, her son became king in 1515 after Louis XII's death. From her son, Louise received the county of Angoulême (which was erected into a duchy), the duchy of Anjou, and the counties of Maine and Beaufort. She was then given the title of 'Madame'. From 1515 to her death, she took the chief share in the government, and was appointed regent during her son's two expeditions to Italy. The part she played as the king's mother has been variously judged, but Louise certainly had a clear head, practical good sense and tenacity. In the critical situation after the battle of Pavia of 1525, she proved herself equal to the emergency, maintained order in the kingdom, and manoeuvred very skilfully to detach Henry VIII of England from the imperial alliance. But she appears to have been passionate, exceedingly rapacious and ever careful of her own interest. In her malignant disputes with the constable de Bourbon on the question of his wife’s succession, she goaded him to extreme measures, and her rapacity showed itself also in her dealings with the superintendent of finances, J. de Beaune, baron de Samblançay, who diverted the money intended for the French soldiers in Italy into the coffers of the queen, and suffered death in consequence. In 1529, she negotiated the Treaty of Cambrai with Margaret of Austria. When Louise died, Francis reunited to the crown her domains, which comprised the Bourbonnais, Beaujolais, Auvergne, la Marche, Angoumois, Maine and Anjou.

Place of birth: Pont d'Ain, France
Place of marriage: Paris
Place of death: Grez, near Fontainebleau
Place of burial: Church of the Abbey of Saint-Denis

Daughter of Philippe II de Savoie and Marguerite de Bourbon. She married Charles de Valois-Orléans in 1488, and had issue.

© 2024 The Universal Compendium