Anne of Brittany; the story of a duchess and twice-crowned queen

Front matter

WNE OF BRITTANY

HELEN J. SANBORN

Class

CHAPTER I The Duchy op Brittany 1

From England to Brittany — Origin of the Bretons — The Duchy of Brittany — House of Dreux — Relation of Brittany to France — Last Days of Feudalism — The Brittany of To-day, its Language and Customs — Great Men of Brittany — Breton Country — Market Day — Hotels in Brittany — Typical Peasant's Cottage — 'Religious Festivals — Shrines — Mont St. Michel to St. Malo — La Maison de la Duchese Anne — "Quiqu'en Grogne" Tower.

CHAPTER II The Father op the Duchess Anne, the Last Duke op Brittany 17

Francis II, Last Duke of Brittany — Coronation at Rennes — Duke Francis and the French Kings — Brittany Independent of France — Nantes, Capital of Brittany — Chateau of Nantes — Magnificence of Francis — Francis and Louis XI — League of the "Public Good" — Duke Francis and his Subjects — Landais — Louis of Orleans at the Court of Francis — Siege of Nantes — Treaty of Sable" — Death of Francis — Tomb of Francis — Summary of Reign of Francis.

CHAPTER III Birth and Youth op Anne op Brittany .... 35

Nantes, its Chateau — Birth of Anne of Brittany — Anne's Governess, Frangoise de Dinan — Anne at the Age of Nine — Anne's Early Sorrows — Anne and Louis of Orleans — Uprising against Landais — Invasion of Nantes by the French — Siege of Gwengamp — A Ball at the Court of Anne's Father.

viii CONTENTS

CHAPTER IV page

Anne, the Duchess of Brittany, 1488-1491 ... 50 Anne proclaimed Duchess of Brittany — Angers of Charles VIII — French Invasion of Brittany — Anne's Capability as Ruler — Her Suitors — Her Bravery in Danger — Maximilian, Emperor of Austria — Anne's Betrothal to Him — Her Marriage by Proxy — Terms of the Marriage-Contract — Anne's Defiance of France — Lack of Aid from Maximilian — Rieux — The Duchess at Rennes — Siege of Rennes — Charles VIII as Conqueror of Anne — His Terms — Their Betrothal.

CHAPTER V Marriage of Anne to Charles VIII 68

The Chateau at Langeais — Anne's Arrival with her Trousseau — The Marriage-Contract — The Wedding of Charles VIII and Anne of Brittany — The Bridal Dress — Joy in France — Indignation in Austria — Dunois — Coronation of Anne at St. Denis — Anne and Charles in Paris — H6tel des Tournelles — Love and Respect of the French People for Anne.

CHAPTER VI Anne, Queen of Charles VIII .:..... 79

The Royal Pair at Amboise — Improvements in the Chateau — First Years Together — Traveling — Birth of the Dauphin ; his Baptism — -Claims of Charles in Italy — Affairs in Brittany — Italian Campaign — Entry of Charles and Anne into Lyons — Departure of Charles for Italy — Anne's Gifts to Churches — Success of Charles at First — Reverses — Death of the Dauphin — Other Children of the King and Queen — Tomb of the Children — Reforms of Charles in France — Change in his Daily Life — Happiness of Anne — Death of Charles — Sorrow of Anne.

CHAPTER VII Anne a Second Time Duchess of Brittany, 149&- 1499 103

Anne again Duchess of Brittany — Her Period of Mourning — Her Acts as Duchess — Anne in Paris — Arrival in Brittany — Her Meetings with the New King — His Divorce from Jeanne of France — His Betrothal

CONTENTS ix

PAGE

to Anne — Anne's Journey to Chartres — Inventories of the Duchess — Convocation of the States General at Rennes — Reception at Nantes — Death of Frangoise de Dinan — Anne's Breton Guards — Lebaud's "History of Brittany" — The Cordeliere; its Emblem — Anne's Work as Duchess.

CHAPTER VIII Anne of Brittany and Louis XII 116

Louis and Anne — Ancestors of Louis — Childhood and Education of Louis — Jeanne of France; Her Divorce from Louis — Marriage-Contract of Anne and Louis — Festivities.

Chapter IX

From Tours to Blois — Chateau at Blois ; the Guard- Room — Tapestries — Anne's Furnishings — Her Chamber — Three Portraits of Anne — The Gallery To-day — The Chapel.

Chapter X

Italian Campaign of Louis XII — Anne of Brittany and Louise of Savoy — Birth of Claude — Joy of the *^ King and Queen — Anne's Lack of Faith in Physicians — Madame Buchage — Anne's Pilgrimage to St. Claude — Tournament at Lyons — Charles and Louis in Italy — Anne's Help to Louis in Time of War — Her Breton Soldiers and Sailors — The Cordeliere; Loss of the Vessel — Bravery of the Bretons.

Chapter XI

Illness of Louis — Misunderstanding of Anne's Treatment of de Gie — Unprejudiced Account by Lavisse — Anne's Position at Court — The Two Rival Factions — Gie, the Governor of Francis — Cardinal d'Amboise — Power of Gie at Court — Death of Louis Imminent — Conduct of Gie — Anne's Preparation for her Return to Brittany — Interference of Gie — Louise of Savoy and Gie — Accusations against Gie ; his Trials and Sentence — Recovery of Louis — Result of the Trial.

x CONTENTS

CHAPTER XII page

Preparations for Anne's Second Coronation — The Coronation — Festivities of the Parisians — "The Five Anne's" — The Queen at Notre Dame — Banquet at the Palace of Justice — In Touraine — Loches — Anne, Louis, and Claude at Blois — Illness of Louis — Anne's Prayers — The King's Will — His Recovery — Anne's Pilgrimage to Brittany — Notre Dame de Folgoet — Dinan — Anne at Morlaix — The Ermine — St. Jean-du-Doigt —.The Relic— St. Jean-du-Doigt To-day.

Chapter XIII

Desire of Anne to keep Brittany Independent — Marriage Contract of Claude and Charles, Grandson of Maximilian — Festivities for the Austrian Ambassadors — Archduke Philip at the French Court — Presentation of Little Claude — Opposition in France to the Austrian Alliance — Determination of Louis to betroth Claude to Francis d'Angouleme — Indignation of Anne of Brittany — Louis, the Father of the People — Betrothal of Claude — Reasons for Anne's Opposition to the Marriage — Anne's Journey to Brittany — Anxiety of d'Amboise; his Letter — Anne's Return to France.

CHAPTER XIV The Court op Anne . 180

How Anne formed her Court — A School for Ladies — Anne's Position at Court — How Louis honored Her — Anne's Household — Her Ladies and Maids of Honor — Salaries of the Members of her Household — Anne's Order of Chivalry, the Cor&elidre — Anne's Supervision of the Maidens at Court ; their Recreations — Anne's Interest in the Marriage of her Maidens — Brantome and His "Book of the Ladies" — Children of Anne's Household — Anne's Democracy — Her Care for her Servants — Anne's Reputation as Matchmaker — Ladislau II — Anne de Foix — Germaine de Foix — Charlotte d'Aragon — Rolandine — The Daughters of Admiral Graville — Happy Hours of Anne with her Maid-

CONTENTS xi

CHAPTER XV page

Writers and Artists at the Court op Anne . . . 200

Literature in Anne's Time — Commines — Jean le Maire of Belgium — Chroniclers — St. Gelais — Jean d'Auton — Jean Marot — Gringoire — Anne's Secretaries — Artists at Court — Bourdichon ; his Work — Jehan Poyet — Jean of Paris — Italian Artists — Artists at Tours — Michel Colomb — Artisans — Robertet — Anne's New Year's Gift to Charles — Tapestries — Anne's Rare Taste in Art.

Chapter XVI

LtE Livre d'Heures of Anne de Bretagne .... 212 Anne's Book of Hours ; its Significance — Anne's Gardens — Prayer-Books of French Kings — Anne's Book Itiself — Four Types of Illustrations — Flower Designs taken from Anne's Gardens — Her "Low Garden at Blois" — Flowers, Fruits, and Insects — Pictures of Anne in the Book — The Book a Revelation of Anne's Daily Life.

CHAPTER XVII Last Years op the Duchess Anne 221

Departure of Louis for Italy — Jean Marot — "Le Voyage a Genes" — Anne with Louis in Lyons — Birth of a Son — League of Cambrai — Louis again off to Italy — Anxiety of the Queen — The King's Return — , Marriage of Marguerite and the Duke d'Alencon — \/ Birth of Renee; her Life Story — Birth of Another Son without Life — The Holy League — Anne's Joy over the Reconciliation of Louis with the Pope.

CHAPTER XVIII Death and Funeral of the Queen 234

Anne's Last Sickness — Her Death — The Room of State — The Funeral Procession, from Blois to Paris — Notre Dame de Paris — Funeral Services — St. Denis — Funeral Banquet — Peter Choque — An Epitaph — Anne's Heart — Inscriptions on the Golden Box — Tomb of Anne.

Finis 251

ILLUSTRATIONS

House of the Duchess Anne. — St. Malo. (Page

15) Frontispiece ^

FACING PAGE ,

"Quiqu'en Grogne" Tower. — Chateau of St. Malo 16^

Tomb Erected by Anne to Her Father and Mother. Cathedral of Nantes . 30

Window of the Room where Anne was Born.

Chateau of Nantes 34 ^

Horseshoe Tower. — Chateau of Nantes . . . . 36 ^

Duchess Anne's Birthplace. Chateau of Nantes . 44 "

Anne, Duchess of Brittany, at Fifteen Years of Age 50

Chateau of Langeais

Room in which Anne was Married to Charles

VHI. Chateau of Langeais 72 i/

Medal of Charles VIII and Anne 74 •/

Chateau of Amboise. Residence of Charles VIII

and Anne 80 *

Charles VIII 88 v

Tomb of the Children of Charles VIII and Anne.

Cathedral of Tours 96 ^

Fac-simile of One of Anne's Letters to Louis XII 108

Nantes. — Statue of the Duchess Anne .... 112 *

xiii xiv ILLUSTRATIONS

FACING PAGE

Leap from a Folio Antiphonary Executed in 1499 for the Wedding of Louis XII and Anne of Brittany 126 v

Chateau of Blois. — Wing Louis XII. Residence of

Louis XII and Anne 130 v

Duchess Anne's Fireplace, Chateau of Blois . . 134

Louis XII 138

Oratory of the Duchess Anne. — Chateau of Loches 160

Dinan. — Chateau of the Duchess Anne .... 168

Claude, Daughter of Louis XII and Anne . . . 176

"Justice," from the Tomb of Anne's Father and Mother; Probably the Portrait of Anne Herself 208

Anne and Her Three Patron Saints: Saint Ursula, Saint Margaret, and Saint Anne . . . 218

Anne in Later Years 230

Gold Box which once contained Anne's Heart . . 246 Tomb of Louis XII and Anne.— St. Denis . . .250