On 1st December 1530, fifty-year-old Margaret of Austria, Princess of Asturias and Duchess of Savoy, died at her home at Mechelen. She was buried alongside her second husband, Philibert II, Duke of Savoy, in their mausoleum at Bourg-en-Bresse.
Margaret was an important woman. She was the daughter of Maximilian of Austria and Mary of Burgundy, the wife of John, Prince of Asturias, and then Philibert II, Duke of Savoy, and served as Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands.
But why am I writing about Margaret of Austria on a blog dedicated to Anne Boleyn?
Well, that’s because a young Anne Boleyn was sent to serve at Margaret’s court in the summer of 1513, remaining with Margaret for just over a year. Here are a couple of articles related to Anne Boleyn and Margaret of Austria:
- Anne Boleyn’s Education and her time at Margaret of Austria’s Court
- Margaret of Austria and the Royal Monastery of Brou by Yann Kergourlay
Thomas Boleyn apparently according to Lauren Mackay was stuck at her Court because Maximillian was away hunting and he was going to negotiate later. To pass the time Marguerite had a bet with Thomas on some game or race or cards and he won the bet. She bet her best horse but Thomas asked another favour instead. Lauren believes it was here that Thomas took the opportunity to ask for a placement for his daughter. Anne must have been very talented even now as the opportunity for an unproven, daughter of a Knight even to go to serve in an illustrious household, let alone receive an education abroad, in this time was extremely rare. A high born girl of twelve or so may go as lady in waiting with a foreign Princess but to receive an elite education as well was a true privilege and very rare. Thomas was asking a very special favour based on a new and growing friendship with Marguerite and she was delighted to grant it. I believe she was impressed by him, just as she would be by his pretty young daughter, Anne Boleyn.
She was full of praise for Anne, describing her as so bright and untoward a young lady that she was more beholden to Thomas for sending her to him than the other way round, they were good friends and Thomas and Elizabeth must have beamed with pride at Marguerites letter, Anne was very privileged and the tuition she received at Marguerite at Savoys court was to help mould her into the fascinating young woman she later became, in was in fact the stepping stone to her career, the tuition she later received in France was to give her the polish that marked her out at home when she made her debut at the English court.