Madeleine of Savoy

Madeleine of Savoy (1510–1586) was a French court official, Première dame d'honneur to the queen of France, Elisabeth of Austria, from 1570 until 1574.

Kneeling, in a stained-glass window

"Room of Madeleine of Savoy", as set up in the National Museum of the Renaissance at the Château d'Écouen, which she built with her husband.

Life

Madeleine was the daughter of René of Savoy and Anne Lascaris.^[1] She married constable Anne de Montmorency, a leading soldier and politician, in 1526.^[2] After she was widowed in 1567, Madeleine served as Première dame d'honneur to the queen of France, Elisabeth of Austria, from 1570 until 1574.

Madeleine of Savoy was described as an austere and strict Catholic with a deep dislike of the Huguenots, but not personally involved in politics, though she was a gathering force for her politically active relations and siblings.

Issue

Madeleine and Anne had:

• François (1530–1579), succeeded his father as duke of Montmorency.
• Henri (1534–1614), succeeded his elder brother as duke of Montmorency.^[3]
• Charles (1537–1612), Admiral of France^[4]
• Gabriel
• Guillaume (died 1594)^[4]
• Eléonore (died 1557) married François de La Tour d'Auvergne, parents of Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, Duke of Bouillon
• Jeanne (1528–1596), married Louis III de La Trémoille.
• Catherine (1532–1624) married Gilbert de Lévis, Duke of Ventadour and had issue; great great grandparents of Anne Geneviève de Lévis;
• Marie
• Anne
• Louise
• Madeleine