Mary of Bourbon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mary of Bourbon |
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Mary, as drawn by Jean Clouet in 1534. Later during the same year, this sketch was sent to the Scottish court for James V to see.
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| Born | 29 October 1515 Château de la Fère, Picardie |
| Died | 28 September 1538 (aged 22) Château de la Fère, Picardie |
| Burial | Abbaye de Notre-Dame, Soissons |
| House | Bourbon |
| Father | Charles, Duke of Vendôme |
| Mother | Françoise d'Alençon |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Mary of Bourbon (born October 29, 1515 – died September 28, 1538) was a French noblewoman. She was the daughter of Charles, Duke of Vendôme, and Françoise d'Alençon. Mary became important because of marriage talks with James V of Scotland. He even visited her in France. However, James V later chose to marry Madeleine of Valois, who was a French princess. Mary died two years after these events.
Mary of Bourbon's Life
First Marriage Talks
For a long time, it was expected that the Scottish king would marry a French princess. This idea came from a special agreement between France and Scotland called the Treaty of Rouen in 1517. This treaty was mainly about helping each other in wars.
When James V of Scotland grew up, people first thought he would marry Princess Madeleine of Valois. But by December 1534, it was clear that Madeleine was often sick. So, Francis I of France, the king of France, suggested that James V should marry Mary of Bourbon instead. This would still keep the treaty's promise.
John Stewart, Duke of Albany, a powerful Scottish noble, supported this marriage idea. By the end of 1534, James V had even seen a painting of Mary. However, some people, like Marguerite de Navarre, had doubts. She told an English diplomat that Mary and her sister were "sore made awry," meaning they weren't very attractive. She also thought Mary's family was too close to the Holy Roman Emperor, a rival of France.
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In January 1535, James V wrote to King Francis I. He explained that he couldn't marry someone who wasn't a princess without his Scottish Parliament agreeing. This was because the 1517 treaty specifically mentioned a princess.
More Marriage Discussions
King Francis I made it clear again that his daughter Madeleine was too unwell to marry James V. So, the talks for James to marry Mary of Bourbon started up seriously once more.
On June 3, 1535, James V wrote from Stirling Castle to Francis I. He mentioned hearing that Mary of Bourbon was a possible bride. James V sent his trusted helper, James Atkenhead, to France. Atkenhead's job was to "see and wesie the gentyll woman," which meant to meet Mary and observe her. He had to notice her looks, manners, how she carried herself, and how she talked.
If Atkenhead was happy with Mary, he was to ask about her dowry. A dowry was money or property a bride's family gave to her husband. James wanted Mary's dowry to be as good as if she were a king's daughter. If everything went well, Mary was to travel to Scotland quickly with a "honest train" of ladies before winter.
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For a short time, the Duke of Albany thought James V might marry Christina of Denmark. This made James V pause the plans for Mary of Bourbon. There was also a brief look into him marrying his former girlfriend, Margaret Erskine. But then, on December 28, 1535, James Atkenhead was sent back to France. His mission was to restart the marriage plan with Mary of Bourbon and get the best deal for James V. Again, Atkenhead was told that Mary's group of ladies should be a "sobir nummyr," meaning a small, sensible number. James V then chose his "procurators," who were legal representatives, to finish the marriage details.
On March 29, 1536, a final agreement was made near Lyon, France. This contract said Mary would marry James V of Scotland. King Francis I of France officially approved it. Important people from both sides signed the contract. One part of the agreement was that Francis I would give Dunbar Castle and all its cannons to James V. Also, if James died first, Mary would get Falkland Palace to live in for the rest of her life.
In April 1536, Francis I showed his friendship by sending James V a special necklace from the Order of Saint Michael. This was a sign of their bond and family connection.
Later, in September 1536, James V decided to travel to France himself. He visited Mary of Bourbon in St. Quentin. However, instead of marrying Mary, he went on to meet King Francis I and married Francis's daughter, Madeleine of Valois. Both Madeleine and Mary of Bourbon died soon after. A Scottish writer named Robert Lindsay of Pitscottie wrote that Mary was very upset by James's marriage to Madeleine and died soon after. He also wrote that James V felt bad, thinking he had caused her death.
A Secret Meeting?
Some old Scottish stories say that James V visited the Duke of Vendôme's court in disguise. He supposedly swapped clothes with a servant. But Mary was not fooled. She recognized him because of his bright red hair and a portrait she had been given.
Even though this story might not be completely true, historians note that English observers at the time said James's trip to St. Quentin was kept quite secret. An early writer, Adam Abell, wrote that James "came in a disguised outfit to the Duke of Vendôme, father of the lady he was supposed to marry. He was known there by his picture."
After James V married Madeleine, and Dunbar Castle was given to him, James Aikenhead became the castle's Captain.
