Louise of Savoy

Louise of Savoy

Louise of Savoy (September 11, 1476 – September 22, 1531) was the mother of Francis I of France.

Louise was born at Point d'Ain, the eldest daughter of Philip II, Duke of Savoy (1443–1497) and his first wife, Margaret of Bourbon (1438–1483). Her brother, Philibert II, Duke of Savoy (1480–1504), succeeded her father as ruler of the duchy and head of the House of Savoy. He was, in turn, succeeded by their half-brother Charles III, Duke of Savoy (1486–1553).

At age twelve, Louise married Charles de Valois (1459–1496), Count of Angoulême, on February 16, 1488 in Paris. This was Charles' third marriage. Their first child, Marguerite of Navarre, was born on April 11, 1492; their second child, François, was born on September 12, 1494.

Louise had a keen awareness for the intricacies of politics and diplomacy, and was deeply aware of the advances of arts and sciences in Renaissance Italy. She made certain that her children were educated in the spirit of the Italian Renaissance, also helped by her italian confessor, Cristoforo Numai from Forlì. When she was widowed at the young age of 19, Louise deftly maneuvered her children into a position that would secure for each of them a promising future. She moved her family to the court of King Louis XII, her husband's cousin. Francis became a favorite of the king, who gave him his daughter Claude de France in marriage on 8 May 1514. With that marriage, Louis XII designated Francis as his heir. With the death of Louis XII on 1 January 1515, Francis became king of France.

On February 4, 1515, Louise was named Duchess of Angoulême, and on April 15, 1524, Duchess of Anjou.

Her mother having been one of the sisters of last dukes of main branch of Bourbon, after the death of Susan, Duchess of Bourbon in 1521, she on basis of proximity of blood advanced claims to Duchy of Auvergne and other possessions of the Bourbons. This lead her (supported by her son the king) in rivalry against Charles III, Duke of Bourbon, Susan's widower, whom she proposed to marry in order to settle the Bourbon inheritance issue. When rejected by Charles, Louise instigated efforts to undermine him, which led to Charles' exile and coming to war against France, and in 1527 death. Louise recovered Auvergne from confiscations and became its duchess.

Louise of Savoy remained active on behalf of her son in the early years of his reign especially. During his absences, she acted as regent on his behalf. She was the principal negotiator for the Treaty of Cambrai between France and the Holy Roman Empire, concluded on August 3, 1529. That treaty, called "the Ladies Peace", put an end to the second Italian war between the head of the Valois dynasty, Francis I of France, and the head of the Habsburg dynasty, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. The Treaty temporarily confirmed Habsburg hegemony in Italy.

The treaty was signed by Louise of Savoy for France and her sister-in-law, Margaretha von Habsburg (Margaret of Austria), for the Holy Roman Empire.

Louise of Savoy died on September 22, 1531, in Gretz-sur-Loing. Her remains were entombed at Saint-Denis in Paris. After her death, her lands including Auvergne merged in the crown, having come into king Francis' possession.