Issue No. 21: Of Bretagne & Borders
The twice-Queen of France, home is where the heart lies, and political machinations.
Happy Friday, dear readers! Thank you for your patience and understanding in that I missed my usual Monday bookish post. I was traveling and sadly didn’t have time to schedule something in advance. However, I’ll be sharing a new book review this Monday that I hope makes up for it!
This week focuses on Anne of Brittany, a woman from the early modern period who served twice as Queen of France while simultaneously defending her sovereignty in the Brittany region of France, then a duchy. The loss of Brittany to French machinations slowly transformed France into a single country, not a mosaic of duchies and counties. I hope you’ll find her to be a fascinating individual!
Duchess Anne, Champion of Breton Independence
History primarily remembers Anne, Duchess of Brittany, for two reasons. The first relates to her devotion to maintaining Breton independence against French incursions in the late-fifteenth and early-sixteenth centuries. The second comes from Anne’s being the only woman to reign as Queen of France twice. But her story also illuminates how early modern royal women wielded power and influence within their realms, even in a society dominated by men.
![Illustrated manuscript depiction of Anne of Brittany kneeling in prayer. Wearing gold, she's surrounded by her patron saints. Illustrated manuscript depiction of Anne of Brittany kneeling in prayer. Wearing gold, she's surrounded by her patron saints.](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd398bd09-90c5-4602-86e4-d2407e344fc8_572x734.jpeg)
Anne of Brittany was born around January 25 or 26, 1477, in what is now Nantes, France. The eldest daughter of Francis II, Duke of Brittany, and his second wife Margaret of Foix, Anne ended up her parents’ sole heiress, and the last hope of survival for the duchy of Brittany.
During the preceding centuries, France had slowly absorbed many of neighboring counties and duchies through a combination of marriage, inheritance, and military incursions. In his reign, Francis had fought against French suzerainty, but his efforts failed to strengthen Breton independence. Rather, the French wrestled concessions from him, including that Francis seek permission from the king for any marriages for his daughters.
Francis’s death in September 1488 saw the ascension of Anne as duchess as a mere child, a highly untenable and vulnerable position. On his deathbed, Francis pressed Anne to promise that she would maintain Breton independence and resist the French.
It was at this time France saw an opportunity to annex its independent neighbor.
![Engraved regional map of Brittany, France. Showing towns, landmarks, forests, rivers and mountains. Relief shown pictorially. Includes decorative cartouches and sailing ships. Engraved regional map of Brittany, France. Showing towns, landmarks, forests, rivers and mountains. Relief shown pictorially. Includes decorative cartouches and sailing ships.](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5f5296c6-5da3-470b-b48c-899fb51eca80_1536x1150.jpeg)
Franco-Breton relations tensed between 1488 and 1491, evolving into a series of political and military conflicts. In an effort to stave off French intrusion and to protect her duchy’s independence, Anne married by proxy Maximilian I, later the Holy Roman Emperor, in 1491. However, King Charles VIII and his military besieged Anne at the city of Rennes, forcing the end of the Habsburg marriage.
In succession, Anne married the next two French kings. She first married Charles in December 1491, and the king’s successor, his cousin Louis XII, in January 1498. Louis had renounced his first wife Joan (Charles’ sister) in order to marry Anne. From her second marriage, Anne had two daughters: Claude and Renée. Sadly, she passed away from a kidney stone attack on January 9, 1514, at the age of 36.
After her death, Claude inherited the title Duchess of Brittany and followed her mother’s lead in trying to keep the duchy separate. Eventually, however, it became part of what is now France.
Though subjected to the political whims of the men around her, Anne proved a devout and remarkable queen. She patronized artists and effectively administered her duchy in an attempt to maintain Breton independence.1 Anne deserves to be remembered as a highly intelligent and talented early modern queen.
Book of the Week: The Importance of Wives by Keira Morgan
Keira Morgan’s The Importance of Wives delivers a powerful story about Anne of Brittany, the fifteenth-century noblewoman and duchess who later became Queen of France. Immensely detailed and engaging, the novel explores the complex nature of French medieval politics and those who chose to stand against French annexation.
In short, The Importance of Wives is a well-written, beautifully-constructed novel about a remarkably tenacious and intelligent medieval woman trying to safeguard her birthright amidst a system designed to undermine and remove her authority and agency.
I am very excited to offer a review of The Importance of Wives ahead of its publication on Friday, May 21st! Look for the review this Monday!
Artifact of the Week: Gold Reliquary Containing the Heart of Anne of Brittany
It was common during the medieval and early modern periods for a noble person to bury their body and heart in two separate locations. In the case of Anne of Brittany, her heart, encased in a 500g gold reliquary, rested with her beloved parents in Nantes. Her body, on the other hand, lies in St. Denis Basilica.
In 2018, the reliquary was stolen from the Musée Dobrée in Nantes, where it resided. Fortunately, the men responsible were caught and the stolen artifact found. The reliquary survived the 1789 French Revolution, during which many priceless monuments, tombs, and artifacts were destroyed. Thankfully for all, this incredibly important object has survived to the present day.
Artifact Description
Title: Gold Reliquary Containing the Heart of Anne of Brittany
Artist: Unknown
Place of Production: France
Material: Gold
Date: c. 16th century
Measurements: 500g
Collection: Musée Dobrée
Thank you for joining me this week! Have a great weekend!
Cheers,
Featured image: Sunset view of the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany in Nantes, France, at sunset (Canva/RossHelen)
For more information on how Anne and her daughter Claude demonstrated their power through patronizing artists, religious institutions, writers, and more, see: Thomas Tolley, “States of independence: women regents as patrons of the visual arts in Renaissance France” in Renaissance Studies and Kathleen Cavalier-Walker, “Claude de France and the Spaces of Agency of a Marginalized Queen” in Women and Power at the French Court, 1483-1563.
Fascinating story about Anne. I can’t wait to read the novel