Écouen (95) Église Saint-Acceul Madeleine de Savoie-Villars

Madeleine of Savoy (1510–1586) was a French court official, and the wife of constable

Anne de Montmorency Anne, Duke of Montmorency, Honorary Knight of the Garter (15 March 1493, Chantilly, Oise12 November 1567, Paris) was a French soldier, statesman and diplomat. He became Marshal of France and Constable of France and served five kings. Early li ...

, a leading soldier and politician, whom she married in 1526. After she was widowed in 1567 she served as ''

Première dame d'honneur ''Première dame d'honneur'' ('first lady of honour'), or simply ''dame d'honneur'' ('lady of honour'), was an office at the royal court of France. It existed in nearly all French courts from the 16th-century onward. Though the tasks of the post ...

'' to the queen of France, Elisabeth of Austria, from 1570 until 1574.

Life

She was the daughter of René of Savoy and Anne Lascaris. In 1570, he was appointed to the office of Première dame d'honneur to the new queen of France, Elisabeth of Austria, and as such responsible for the female courtiers, controlling the budget, purchases, annual account and staff list, daily routine and presentations to the queen. Madeleine of Savoy was described as an austere and strict Catholic with a deep dislike of the

Huguenots The Huguenots ( , also , ) were a religious group of French Protestants who held to the Reformed, or Calvinist, tradition of Protestantism. The term, which may be derived from the name of a Swiss political leader, the Genevan burgomaster Bez ...

, but not as personally involved in politics, though she was a gathering force for her politically active relations and siblings.

Issue

She had twelve children: *

François François () is a French masculine given name and surname, equivalent to the English name Francis. People with the given name * Francis I of France, King of France (), known as "the Father and Restorer of Letters" * Francis II of France, King ...

(1530–1579), succeeded his father as duke of Montmorency. * Henri (1534–1614), succeeded his elder brother as duke of Montmorency. *

Charles Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English and French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''*karilaz'' (in Latin alphabet), whose meaning was ...

(1537–1612),

Admiral of France Admiral of France (french: Amiral de France) is a French title of honour. It is the naval equivalent of Marshal of France and was one of the Great Officers of the Crown of France. History The title was created in 1270 by Louis IX of France, d ...

*Gabriel *Guillaume (died 1594) *Eléonore (died 1557) married François de La Tour d'Auvergne, parents of

Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, Duke of Bouillon Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne (''titular'' Duke of Bouillon, ''jure uxoris'', ''comte de Montfort et Negrepelisse, vicomte de Turenne, Castillon, et Lanquais'') (28 September 1555 – 25 March 1623) was a member of the powerful (then Huguenot) House ...

*Jeanne (1528–1596), married Louis III de La Trémoille. *Catherine (1532–1624) married Gilbert de Lévis,

Duke of Ventadour Duke of Ventadour ( Fr.: ''duc de Ventadour'') was a noble title in the peerage of France granted to Gilbert de Lévis de Ventadour by Henry IV of France Henry IV (french: Henri IV; 13 December 1553 – 14 May 1610), also known b ...

and had issue; great great grandparents of

Anne Geneviève de Lévis Anne Geneviève de Lévis (February 1673 – 20 March 1727) was a French noblewoman. She was Princess of Turenne by her first marriage and Duchess of Rohan-Rohan, Princess of Soubise by her second marriage. Anne Geneviève was the only child ...

; *Marie *Anne *Louise *Madeleine

References

Sources

* * * Françoise Kermina, Les Montmorency, grandeur et déclin, Perrin, Paris, 2002. * Henri de Panisse-Passis, Les comtes de Tende de la maison de Savoie, Librairie Firmin-Didot et Cie, 1889, 386 p {{Authority control 1510 births 1586 deaths 16th-century French people French ladies-in-waiting Court of Francis I of France Court of Charles IX of France