Margaret, Countess of Vertus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Margaret |
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| Countess of Vertus and Etampes | |
Detail of a folio from the Book of Hours of Marguerite, c. 1430
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| Born | 4 April 1406 |
| Died | 24 April 1466 (aged 60) Abbey at Guiche, Order of Sainte Claire near Blois |
| Burial | Abbey at Guiche, Order of Sainte Claire near Blois |
| Spouse | Richard of Brittany, Count of Étampes |
| Issue among others |
Francis II, Duke of Brittany Catherine, Princess of Orange |
| House | Valois |
| Father | Louis I, Duke of Orléans |
| Mother | Valentina Visconti |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Margaret, Countess of Vertus (French: Marguerite d'Orléans; born December 4, 1406 – died 1466), was a French noblewoman. She held the titles of Countess of Vertus and Étampes from 1420 to 1466. Margaret was the daughter of Louis I, Duke of Orléans, and Valentina Visconti.
Contents
Life Story
Margaret was the granddaughter of King Charles V of France and the niece of King Charles VI of France. Her mother, Valentina Visconti, was the daughter of Gian Galeazzo Visconti, who was the Duke of Milan.
Margaret had a famous brother named Charles, Duke of Orléans. He was captured during the Battle of Agincourt and spent 25 years as a prisoner in England. During this long time, he became a very important poet in the French language.
In 1423, Margaret married Richard of Montfort. He was the son of John IV, Duke of Brittany. His mother, Joanna of Navarre, later became the Queen of England when she married Henry Bolingbroke.
Margaret became the Countess of Vertus after her brother Philip passed away. She and Richard had seven children together. Only two of their children, Francis and Catherine, had children of their own. In 1458, Margaret's son Francis became the Duke of Brittany, taking over from his uncle Arthur III.
Margaret became a widow in 1438. She spent a lot of time living in monasteries with her younger daughters, Margaret and Madeleine. Madeleine was born after her father had died. Margaret was known for being a very religious woman.
A special prayer book called The Book of Hours of Marguerite d'Orleans was made for her. This book is a great example of the beautiful illustrated prayer books from the 1400s. It helped her practice her daily prayers.
Margaret received a special permission from a church leader, Cardinal of Estouteville. This allowed her and her daughters to move freely between convents and religious monasteries in northern France. She eventually retired to the Abbey at Guiche, a monastery near Blois. She passed away there on April 24, 1466, at the age of 60.
The County of Étampes
When her father died, Margaret gained the rights to the County of Étampes. In 1423, she was named countess, with her husband as count. This county had been returned to the French crown after the death of its previous owner in 1416.
However, the Duke of Burgundy, Philip the Good, also claimed the county. Philip took control of the county and ruled it himself until 1434. After that, he gave it to his cousin, John II, Count of Nevers.
In 1435, the county was given back to Margaret's husband, Richard, by King Charles VII of France. After Richard died in 1438, King Charles VII confirmed this gift to Margaret in 1442.
Later, this decision was questioned. The county was taken from Margaret's son Francis in 1478. The next year, King Louis XI gave it to John of Foix, Viscount of Narbonne. His wife, Marie of Orleans, was Margaret's niece.
Children
- Marie of Brittany (born June 22, 1424 – died October 9, 1477). She became the head of the Fontevrault monastery.
- Isabelle of Brittany (born February 2, 1426 – died February 9, 1438).
- Catherine of Brittany (born May 28, 1428 – died June 22, 1476). She married William VII of Chalon-Arlay, who was a Prince of Orange.
- Francis II, Duke of Brittany (born June 23, 1433 – died September 9, 1488).
- An unnamed son (born 1436 – died December 19, 1436).
- Margaret of Brittany (born November 22, 1437 – died 1466). She became a nun.
- Madeleine of Brittany (born May 1, 1439 – died March 29, 1462). She also became a nun.
Legacy
Margaret is best remembered for the beautiful Book of Hours that was made for her. This book is one of the most stunning examples of French art from the 1400s. Its creation involved many steps, starting with the text as early as 1421. The artwork in the book was inspired by different artists and styles.
A small painting in the book, showing Margaret praying to the Virgin Mary, was later used as a source for historical pictures of Margaret published in 1820.
