Marie of Brittany, Lady of La Guerche facts for kids

Marie of Brittany was born on February 18, 1391, and lived until December 18, 1446. She was an important noblewoman in France during the Middle Ages. She held titles like Countess of Perche and Lady of La-Guerche. Later, she became the Countess of Alençon. In 1414, her husband's land, Alençon, was made a duchy, which meant she became the Duchess of Alençon. Marie connected two important noble families: the House of Montfort from Brittany and the House of Valois-Alençon.

Early Life of Marie of Brittany

Marie of Brittany was born in Nantes on February 18, 1391. Her parents were John IV, Duke of Brittany, and Joan of Navarre. She was the fourth of nine children. Only two of her siblings, including Marie, lived to be adults. When she was very young, there were talks about her possibly marrying Henry IV of England or his son, Henry V of England. But these plans did not work out. Instead, her father arranged for her to marry John I d’Alençon in 1396. After Marie's father passed away, her mother, Joan, later married Henry IV of England.

Marie's Marriage and Family

Marie of Brittany married John of Perche on June 26, 1396. The wedding celebration took place in July at Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier. Marie's father promised a large dowry of 100,000 francs. However, he never paid the full amount. This caused some problems between the families of Brittany and Alençon later on. In 1404, Marie's husband, John, became the Count of Alençon and Perche after his father died.

Marie and her husband John had five children:

• Pierre (born October 4, 1407 – died March 16, 1408)
• John II of Alençon (born March 2, 1409 – died 1476)
• Jeanne (born September 17, 1412 – died October 17, 1420)
• Marie (died at age 2)
• Charlotte (born December 15, 1413 – died March 24, 1435)

In January 1414, the King of France, Charles VI, made the county of Alençon into a duchy. This meant Marie's husband, John, became the very first Duke of Alençon. Sadly, Marie's husband died in 1415. He was fighting alongside the King of France at the famous Battle of Agincourt.

Marie's Life After Her Husband's Death

After her husband died in 1415, Marie had to leave Normandy, where she had been living. Her son, John, became the new Duke, known as John II of Alençon. He was captured by the English at the Battle of Verneuil in 1424. John II had to pay a lot of money to be set free from the English in 1427. He later became a strong supporter of the famous French hero, Joan of Arc.

Marie of Brittany passed away on December 18, 1446. It is not known exactly where she was buried. At the time of her death, she was known simply as Marie of Brittany, Lady of La Guerche.

Marie's Legacy and Education

Marie of Brittany was an educated woman for her time. She owned at least one Book of Hours. A Book of Hours was a special prayer book used by many people in the Middle Ages. This shows that she was able to read and had access to important books. She was similar to other notable women of her era, like Gisela of Aquitaine and Mahaut of Artois, who were also known for their literacy.