On this day in history, 10th January 1480, Margaret of Austria (Princess of Asturias and Duchess of Savoy) was born to her parents Maximilian of Austria and Mary of Burgundy. Margaret was their second child and was named after her maternal stepgrandmother, Margaret of York, Duchess of Burgundy and third wife of Charles the Bold (Duke of Burgundy).
When she was just two years old, Margaret was promised in marriage to Louis XI’s son, Charles the Dauphin, and so was sent to France to be educated and prepared for her role as Queen Consort. However, Charles ended up marrying Anne of Brittany and Margaret married John, Prince of Asturias, the only son of Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon and brother of Catherine of Aragon, in 1497. Margaret quickly became pregnant but sadly John died six months into the marriage and Margaret suffered a stillbirth two months after his death. Margaret married again in 1501 but her husband, Philibert II, Duke of Savoy, died three years into the marriage causing Margaret to vow that she would never marry again and that she would spend the rest of her life in mourning.
Margaret’s father, Maximilian, appointed her as Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands in 1507 as regent for her nephew, Charles, the man we know as the future Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. When Charles came of age in 1515 he took her title away from her but then settled it on her again in 1519. Acting as Governor of the Netherlands made Margaret an immensely powerful woman, in fact, the most powerful woman in Europe and her court at the Palace of Mechelen became famous for its culture, its courtly love tradition, its education, its vast library and Margaret’s collections of paintings, illuminated manuscripts and music books. This was the court that the young Anne Boleyn stayed at between 1513 and 1514 – what an oppportunity for a young woman and what an influence it must have had on her.
You can read more about Margaret of Austria, Anne Boleyn’s time at her court and her influence on Anne in my article The Early Life of Anne Boleyn Part Two – The Court of Margaret of Austria. You may also be interested in reading about the courtly love tradition that Margaret’s court was famed for and that Anne Boleyn learned there, see Courtly love, Flirtation and the Fall of Anne Boleyn – Part One
Margaret of Austria died at her home of Mechelen on the 1st December 1530 and was laid to rest with her second husband in their mausoleum at Bourg-en-Bresse. Her nephew, Charles V, was chosen as her heir. Photos of her amazing tomb can be found at http://amorbidfascination.blogspot.com/2008/03/tomb-of-margaret-of-austria-brou-bourg.html
Margaret of Austria is one of my favourites historical figures ! She really has had a complicated and interesting life with all her marriages and what she must have been through emotionally because of it . But she became afterwards a really competent ruler with all she learned of politics…A great example of tenacity and courage for both Anne Boleyn and Charles V for sure 🙂
I’d like to note also,because you made a reference to her in the article,that yesterday (January 9th) was Anne Of Brittany’s Death’s 498th anniversary 🙂
Thanks for the reminder about Anne of Brittany’s death anniversary, Yann, she was also a very interesting woman.
What a tomb! That is amazing. She would have been an excellent example for Anne Boleyn to see how a powerful woman could rule. Plus, all the excellent culture available would have prepared Anne for anthing really. I wonder if Anne ever considered herself lucky in her young years to have had the opportunities she did have. Her father did at least give her those.
Margaret was a very fascinating woman. At the
time of the domination of men got very strong
position. Without a doubt had a great influence
on the life Anne.
Margaret was also a friend of the young Catherine of Aragon, and may well have been an influence on her as well.
Margaret spent almost three years at the Spanish Court, remaining there for two years after her husband’s tragic death. She seems to have taught Catherine some French – this had been suggested by Henry VII because of Catherine’s engagement to Prince Arthur.
She was only 50 years old when she died? What was the cause of her death?
I don’t know what her cause of death was but as Fiz says 50 was a very good age for those times.
50 was old for the times.