Valentina Visconti, Duchess of Orléans facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Valentina of Milan
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| Duchess of Orléans | |
Valentina Visconti receiving Honoré Bonet's Apparicion maistre Jehan de Meun, c. 1398. Illumination on parchment, BnF
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| Countess of Vertus | |
| Tenure | 17 August 1389 – 4 December 1408 |
| Predecessor | Gian Galeazzo Visconti |
| Successor | Philip of Orléans |
| Born | Valentina Visconti 1371 Pavia, Visconti fiefdoms, Italy |
| Died | 1408 (aged 37) Château de Blois, Orléanais, France |
| Noble family | Visconti |
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| Father | Gian Galeazzo Visconti |
| Mother | Isabella of France |
Valentina Visconti (born 1371 – died 4 December 1408) was an important noblewoman from Italy. She was a countess and later became the Duchess of Orléans when she married Louis I, Duke of Orléans. Louis was the younger brother of King Charles VI of France. As a duchess, Valentina lived at the French royal court. However, she had disagreements with the Queen of France, Isabeau of Bavaria. Because of these problems, Valentina was asked to leave the court and Paris. Sadly, her husband was murdered in 1407 due to political rivalries. Valentina passed away a little over a year later, in December 1408.
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Life of Valentina Visconti
Valentina was born in Milan, Italy. She was the second of four children born to Gian Galeazzo Visconti, who was the first Duke of Milan. Her mother was Isabelle, a French princess and daughter of King John II of France. When Valentina's mother died in 1373, Valentina and her siblings were raised by their grandmother and aunt. Valentina became the only surviving child of her parents' marriage after her brothers died. This meant she inherited the title of Countess of Vertus.
Early Marriage Plans
In 1379, when Valentina was young, she was planned to marry her cousin, Carlo Visconti. He was the Lord of Parma. Even the Pope gave special permission for this marriage. However, Carlo's father later canceled the plan. In 1382, Carlo married a French noblewoman instead.
Later, in 1385, Valentina's father, Gian Galeazzo, became the sole ruler of his family's lands. This made Valentina even more important. Her father then started talking to King Wenceslaus of Germany about Valentina marrying his half-brother, John. At the same time, he also talked about her marrying Louis II of Anjou, who was a king in name only.
However, Louis II's mother, Marie of Blois, stopped those talks. So, Gian Galeazzo then looked to his nephew, Louis, Duke of Touraine. Louis was the second son of King Charles V of France and the brother of the current King Charles VI of France. King Wenceslaus found out that Gian Galeazzo was talking to both families. He became angry and ended his negotiations. This left Louis, Valentina's first cousin, as the only person left to marry her.
Valentina's Marriage
Because Valentina and Louis were cousins, they needed special permission from the Pope to marry. This permission was given on 25 November 1386. Their marriage contract was signed in Paris on 27 January 1387.
Valentina brought a large dowry to the marriage. A dowry is money and gifts given by the bride's family. She brought the County of Vertus and the city of Asti. She also brought a lot of money and jewelry. The contract also said that if her family had no male heirs, Valentina would inherit their lands in Milan. This part of the contract was very important later. Her grandson, Louis XII of France, used it to claim the Duchy of Milan and start the Italian Wars. The wedding ceremony, where someone stood in for the bride and groom, happened on 8 April in both Milan and France.
Valentina could not leave Milan for France until 23 June 1389. Her father said it was for "safety reasons." But really, he wanted to change the marriage contract. He wanted to wait until his second wife had given birth. After his son, Gian Maria, was born on 7 September 1388, he felt safe enough to send Valentina to France.
Valentina traveled with her cousin, Amadeus VII, Count of Savoy, and a group of 300 knights. She was then handed over to Louis's representatives. The official wedding took place in Melun on 17 August 1389.
In June 1392, her husband traded his title of Duke of Touraine for the title of Duke of Orléans. From then on, Valentina was known as the Duchess of Orléans. Because of secret plans and disagreements at the court of Charles VI of France, and the dislike of Queen Isabeau of Bavaria, Valentina was sent away from the court and had to leave Paris.
Valentina supported the poet Eustache Deschamps, who wrote poems in her honor. She was also the mother of one of France's most famous poets, Charles of Orléans.
Valentina's husband was murdered in 1407. His cousin and political rival, John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy, planned the murder. Valentina died a little over a year after her husband, on 4 December 1408, in Blois.
Burial Place
Valentina was buried at the Celestins convent in Paris, in the Orleans chapel. Her grandson, Louis XII of France, ordered a special tomb for her in 1508. Her tomb was later moved to the Basilica of Saint-Denis between 1817 and 1818.
Valentina's Children
Valentina and Louis had several children:
- Charles, Duke of Orléans (born 24 November 1394 – died 4 January 1465). He was the father of King Louis XII of France.
- Philip, Count of Vertus (born 21/24 July 1396 – died 1 September 1420).
- John, Count of Angoulême (born 24 June 1399 – died 30 April 1467). He was the grandfather of King Francis I of France.
- Margaret (born 4 December 1406 – died 24 April 1466). She married Richard of Brittany. She received the County of Vertus as her dowry.
See also
In Spanish: Valentina Visconti para niños
