Albret facts for kids
The House of Albret was a very powerful family in France during the Middle Ages. They got their name from a place called Albret (now Labrit) in the Landes region.
Contents
History
Members of the Albret family were important in the local wars of their time. In the 1300s, they first supported England for a while. Later, they switched sides and supported France.
Arnaud Amanieu, a lord of Albret, helped France take Guienne from the English. His son, Charles, became a top military leader for France, known as the Constable of France. He died in the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.
Later, Alain the Great, another lord of Albret (who died in 1522), wanted to marry Anne of Brittany. He even fought against King Charles VIII to try and make this happen. But Anne ended up engaged to someone else, so Alain gave up and handed Nantes over to the French in 1486.
By this time, the House of Albret had gained a lot of land. This was partly because the kings of France often gave them land as gifts. John of Albret, Alain's son, became the King of Navarre by marrying Catherine of Foix. Their son, Henry II, became King of Navarre and was also made a Duke of Albret and a "peer" of France in 1550. (A peer was a noble with special high rank.)
Henry II and his wife, Marguerite d'Angoulême (who was the sister of King Francis I), had a daughter named Jeanne d'Albret. She became Queen of Navarre. Jeanne married Anthony de Bourbon, a duke, and they became the parents of Henry IV, who later became King of France.
When Henry IV became King of France, the Dukedom of Albret joined the French crown. In 1651, it was given to another family, the La Tour d'Auvergne family, in exchange for other lands.
A different branch of the Albret family included Jean d'Albret, who was a lord of Orval. He was also a count and governor of Champagne. He died in 1524. King Francis I used him for many important talks with other countries. Jean also helped the king try to become the Holy Roman Emperor in 1519.
Lords of Albret
Here is a list of some of the important leaders from the House of Albret:
- Amanieu I (around 1050)
- Amanieu II (around 1096)
- Amanieu III (around 1130)
- Bernard I (around 1140)
- Amanieu IV (around 1174, died about 1209)
- Amanieu V (died 1255)
- Amanieu VI (died about 1270)
- Bernard Ezi I, 1270–1281
- Mathe d'Albret, 1281–1295
- Isabelle d'Albret, 1295–1298
- Amanieu VII, 1298–1324
- Bernard Ezi II, 1324–1358
- Arnaud Amanieu, 1358–1401
- Charles I d'Albret, 1401–1415
- Charles II d'Albret, 1415–1471
- Jean I of Albret (died before 1471)
- Alain I of Albret le Grand, 1471–1522
- Jean II of Albret (died 1516)
- Henry I of Albret 1522–1555 (also King of Navarre as Henry II)
- Jeanne d'Albret 1555–1572 (also Queen of Navarre as Jeanne III)
- Henry IV of France 1572–1610 (son of Jeanne III)
Images for kids
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A historical Bible (around 1355) with the d'Albret coat of arms and a signature from Jeanne d'Albret.
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Coat of arms of the early Lords d'Albret.
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Coat of arms of the Counts d'Albret from the 14th century.
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Coat of arms for the Kings of Navarre from the Albret family.
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Coat of arms for the Lords of Orval.
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Another coat of arms for the Lords of Orval.
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Coat of arms for the Counts of Rethel.
See also
In Spanish: Casa de Albret para niños
- Navarre monarchs family tree
- Guiraude de Dax
