Madeleine of Valois

Madeleine of Valois (10 August 1520Template:Cn – 7 July 1537) was a French princess who briefly became Queen of Scotland in 1537 as the first wife of King James V. The marriage was arranged in accordance with the Treaty of Rouen, and they were married at Notre-Dame de Paris in January 1537, despite French reservations over her failing health. Madeleine died in July 1537, only six months after the wedding and less than two months after arriving in Scotland, resulting in her nickname, the "Summer Queen".

Early life

Madeleine (back right) with her mother and sisters, from the Book of Hours of Catherine de'Medici.

Madeleine was born at the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France, the fifth child and third daughter of King Francis I of France and Claude, Duchess of Brittany, herself the eldest daughter of King Louis XII of France and Anne, Duchess of Brittany.

She was frail from birth, and grew up in the warm and temperate Loire Valley region of France, rather than at Paris, as her father feared that the cold would destroy her delicate health. Together with her sister, Margaret, she was raised by her aunt, Marguerite de Navarre until her father remarried and his new wife, Eleanor of Austria, took them into her own household.<ref>Rosalind Marshall, Scottish Queens, 1034-1714 (John Donald: Edinburgh, 2003), p. 101.</ref> By her sixteenth birthday, she had contracted tuberculosis.<ref name="Seward194">Template:Cite book</ref>

Marriage negotiations

Three years before Madeleine's birth, the Franco-Scottish Treaty of Rouen was made to bolster the Auld Alliance after Scotland's defeat at the Battle of Flodden. A marriage between a French princess and the Scottish King was one of its provisions.<ref>Andrea Thomas, Princelie Majestie: The Court of James V (Edinburgh: John Donald), 183.</ref> In April 1530, John Stewart, Duke of Albany, was appointed commissioner to finalize the royal marriage between James V and Madeleine.<ref>Denys Hay, Letters of James V (Edinburgh: HMSO, 1954), pp. 43–44, 51–52, 170.</ref> However, as Madeleine did not enjoy good health, another French bride, Mary of Bourbon, was proposed.<ref>Rosalind K. Marshall, Scottish Queens, 1034-1714 (John Donald: Edinburgh, 2003), 101: James Balfour Paul, "Matrimonial Adventures of James V", Transactions of the Glasgow Archaeological Society, 5:2 (1906), p. 98.</ref>

James V sent his herald James Atkinhead to see Mary of Bourbon,<ref>Denys Hay, Letters of James V (Edinburgh: HMSO, 1954), pp. 289-290.</ref> and a contract was made for James to marry her. Although Mary not being a daughter of the King, she was allotted a dowry like that of a French princess. King James travelled to France in 1536 to meet Mary of Bourbon. However upon arrival James was not attracted to Mary. James was taken with the beauty of the delicate Madeleine, he asked Francis I for her hand in marriage. Fearing the harsh climate of Scotland would prove fatal to his daughter's already failing health, Francis I initially refused to permit the marriage.<ref>Rosalind K. Marshall, Scottish Queens, 1034-1714 (Edinburgh: John Donald, 2003), 102-103.</ref>

James V met Francis I and the French royal household between Roanne and Lyon on 13 October.<ref>Jamie Cameron, James V (East Linton: Tuckwell, 1998), 132: Peter G. B. McNeill & Hector L. MacQueen, Atlas of Scottish History to 1707 (Edinburgh, 1996), 122.</ref> He continued to press Francis I for Madeleine's hand, and despite his reservations and nagging fears, Francis I reluctantly granted permission to the marriage only after Madeleine made her interest in marrying James very obvious. The court moved down the Loire Valley to Amboise, and to the Château de Blois, and the marriage contract was signed on 26 November 1536.<ref>Andrea Thomas, Princelie Majestie: The Court of James V (Edinburgh: John Donald), 185: Rosalind K. Marshall, Scottish Queens, 1034-1714 (Edinburgh: John Donald, 2003), 104.</ref>

Wedding at Notre-Dame

Notre-Dame de Paris and its environs, known as the Parvis, Jean Marot, 17th century

In preparation for the wedding, Francis I bought clothes and furnishings for Madeleine; jewels and gold chains were supplied by Regnault Danet, linen and cloths by Marie de Genevoise and Phillipe Savelon, clothes by the tailors Marceau Goursault and Charles Lacquait, veils by Jean Guesdon, and trimmings by Victor de Laval, who also made passementerie for a bed that Francis gave the couple. The goldsmith Thibault Hotman made silver plate for Madeleine.<ref>Leon de Laborde, Les comptes des bâtiments du roi (Paris, 1877), p. 234: Collection des ordonnances des rois de France: Catalogue des actes de François 1er, 8 (Paris, 1905), p. 114 nos. 30297, 30298, 30299</ref><ref>Sally Rush, 'French Fashion in Sixteenth-Century Scotland: The 1539 Inventory of James V's Wardrobe', Furniture History, 42 (2006), 1-25.</ref> The merchants of the royal "argenterie", René Tardif and Robert Fichepain supplied silks and woollen cloth.<ref>Louis, duc de La Trémoille, Les La Trémoille pendant cinq siècles: Charles, François et Louis III (Paris, 1894), pp. 28–29.</ref><ref>Accounts of the Treasurer, 7 (Edinburgh, 1907), p. 6.</ref> A quantity of gold and silver trimmings for embroidering the clothes of Madeleine and her ladies were ordered from Baptiste Dalverge, a wire-drawer.<ref>Collection des ordonnances des rois de France, 1er janvier 1535 – avril 1539, 3 (Paris, November 1889), p. 276 no. 8795.</ref> A platform walkway was constructed from the Bishop's Palace to Notre-Dame de Paris.<ref>Andrea Thomas, Princelie Majestie: The Court of James V of Scotland (Edinburgh: John Donald, 2005), p. 187.</ref>

James bought a diamond "spousing ring" for his bride which cost 1,100 French crowns.<ref>James Balfour Paul, Accounts of the Treasurer, 7 (Edinburgh, 1907), pp. xxvi, 14.</ref> After a Royal Entry into Paris on 31 December 1536,<ref>Andrea Thomas, Princelie Majestie: The Court of James V (Edinburgh: John Donald), p. 185–6.</ref> they were married at Notre-Dame on 1 January 1537.<ref name="Seward194"/> Madeleine wore "a precious close crown of gold upon her head, and under it a coif of gold set with stone very precious, with other sumptuous apparel according to her degree", and was attended by three "goodly ladies in cloth of gold gorgeously decked as waiters of the bride".<ref>James Gairdner, Letters and Papers Henry VIII, 12:1 (London, 1890), p. 11 no. 12.</ref>

There was a banquet that night in the Great Hall of the Palais de la Cité. at end, James V and others entered dancing in a masque.<ref>Rosalind Marshall, Scottish Queens, 1034-1714 (Edinburgh: John Donald, 2003), 105-6.</ref> Over the next two weeks there were further celebrations and tournaments at the Château de la Tournelle and Louvre.<ref>Dana Bentley-Cranch & Rosalind K. Marshall, 'Iconography and Literature', Janet Hadley Williams, Stewart Style, 1513–1542 (Tuckwell, 1996), p. 279.</ref> The wedding festivities in 1537 were similar to those of 24 April 1558, for the wedding of Mary, Queen of Scots, and Francis, Dauphin of France.<ref>Andrea Thomas, Princelie Majestie: The Court of James V of Scotland (Edinburgh: John Donald, 2005), pp. 91, 187–188.</ref>

Francis I provided Madeleine with a generous dowry of 100,000 écu, and a further 30,000 francs settled on James V. According to the marriage contract made at Blois, Madeleine renounced her and any of her heirs' claims to the French throne. If James died first, Madeleine would retain for her lifetime assets including the Earldoms of Fife, Strathearn, Ross, and Orkney with Falkland Palace, Stirling Castle, and Dingwall Castle, with the Lordship of Galloway and Threave Castle.<ref>Denys Hay, Letters of James V (Edinburgh: HMSO, 1954), pp. 325–6.</ref>

Queen of Scots

Coat of arms of Madeleine of Valois as Queen consort of Scots

In February the couple moved to Chantilly, to Senlis and Compiègne, where James received the Papal gift of hat and sword.<ref>Jamie Cameron, James V (East Linton: Tuckwell, 1998), 133: Charles Burns, 'Papal Gifts to Scottish Monarchs: The Golden Rose and the Blessed Sword', Innes Review, 20:2 (Autumn 1969), pp. 150–194. {{#invoke:CS1 identifiers|main|_template=doi}}</ref><ref>Charles Burnett, 'Outward Signs of Majesty', Janet Hadley Williams, Stewart Style, 1513–1542 (Tuckwell, 1996), p. 292.</ref><ref>Andrea Thomas, Glory and Honour: The Renaissance in Scotland (Edinburgh: Birlinn, 2013), p. 186.</ref> They stayed two nights at the Château de La Roche-Guyon.<ref>James Balfour Paul, Accounts of the Treasurer of Scotland, vol. 7 (Edinburgh, 1907), p. 19.</ref> After months of festivities and celebrations, the couple left France for Scotland from Le Havre in May 1537. The French ships were commanded by Jacques de Fountaines, Sieur de Mormoulins.<ref>Andrea Thomas, Princelie Majestie: The Court of James V (Edinburgh: John Donald), p. 159: Collection des ordonnances des rois de France: Catalogue des actes de François 1er, 8 (Paris, 1905), p. 271 no. 31819</ref> On 15 May, English sailors sold fish to the Scottish and French fleet off Bamburgh Head.<ref>Jamie Cameron, James V (East Linton: Tuckwell, 1998), 133: James Balfour Paul, Accounts of the Treasurer of Scotland, vol. 7 (Edinburgh, 1907), pp. 19, 24.</ref> Madeleine's health deteriorated even further, and she was very sick when the royal pair landed in Scotland. They arrived at Leith at 10 o'clock on Whitsun-eve, 19 May 1537.<ref>Andrea Thomas, Princelie Majestie: The Court of James V (Edinburgh: John Donald), p. 189: State Papers Henry VIII, vol. 5 part 4 cont., (London, 1836), p. 79.</ref>

According to the report of the Berwick Pursuivant Henry Ray, there were 10 French ships and 4 Scottish, including the Salamander.<ref>James Gairdner, Letters and Papers Henry VIII, 12:1 (London, 1890), p. 586 nos. 1286, 1287.</ref> According to John Lesley, the ships were laden with her possessions;

"besides the Quenes Hienes furnitour, hinginis, and appareill, quhilk wes schippit at Newheavin and careit in Scotland, was also in hir awin cumpanye, transportit with hir majestie in Scotland, mony costlye jewells and goldin wark, precious stanis, orient pearle, maist excellent of any sort that was in Europe, and mony coistly abilyeaments for hir body, with mekill silver wark of coistlye cupbordis, cowpis, & plaite."<ref>Thomas Thomson ed., John Lesley's History of Scotland (Bannatyne Club, 1830), p. 299.</ref>

A list or inventory of wedding presents from Francis I also survives, including Arras tapestry, cloths of estate, rich beds, two cupboards of silver gilt plate, table carpets, and Persian carpets.<ref>William Guthrie, General History of Scotland, vol. 5 (1767), p. 166: The Historical works of Sir James Balfour, vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1824), pp. 266–267: NLS Adv. MS 33:2:15.</ref><ref>Rosalind K. Marshall, Scottish Queens: 1034-1714 (John Donald: Edinburgh, 2007), p. 106.</ref> Francis I also gave James V three of the ships, the Salamander, Morsicher, and Great Unicorn.<ref>Robert Lindsay of Pitscottie, Chronicles of Scotland, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1814), p. 372.</ref> Madeleine took up residence at Holyrood Palace on 21 May 1537.<ref>Andrea Thomas, 'Coronation Ritual and Regalia', Julian Goodare & Alasdair A. MacDonald, Sixteenth-Century Scotland (Brill, 2008), p. 57.</ref>

Celebrations included a procession of the Edinburgh craft fraternities on the High Street. The Hammerman contributed to the employment of Jacques and his French drummers, a French trumpeter, and minstrels. The musicians were treated to a dinner as an extra reward.<ref>John Smith, The Hammermen of Edinburgh and their altar in St. Giles church (Edinburgh, 1906), p. 99.</ref>

French household in Scotland

The French courtiers who came with Madeleine to Scotland to form her household included; her former governess, Anne de Boissy Gouffier, Madame de Montreuil; Anne de Viergnon, Madame de Bren or Bron; Anne Le Maye; Marguerite de Vergondois her chamberer; Marion Truffaut, her nurse; her secretary, Jean de Langeac, Bishop of Limoges; master household, Jean de St Aubin; squires and cupbearers Charles de Marconnay and Charles du Merlier; the physician Master Partix; pages John Crammy and Pierre de Ronsard; furrier Gillan; butcher John Kenneth; barber Anthony.<ref>Andrea Thomas, Princelie Majestie (John Donald: Edinburgh, 2005), p. 45.</ref><ref>Rosalind K. Marshall, Scottish Queens: 1034-1714 (John Donald: Edinburgh, 2007), pp. 106-107.</ref><ref>Collection des ordonnances des rois de France: Catalogue des actes de François 1er, 8 (Paris, 1905), p. 12 no. 29634</ref> A physician from Paris, Jacques Lecoq, set out later to join her in Scotland.<ref>Collection des ordonnances des rois de France: Catalogue des actes de François 1er, 8 (Paris, 1905), p. 134 no. 30491</ref>

Death

Madeleine wrote to her father from Edinburgh on 8 June 1537 saying that she was better and her symptoms had diminished. James V had written to Francis I asking him to send the physician Master Francisco, and Madeleine wrote that he was now needed only to perfect her cure. She signed this letter "Magdalene de France".<ref>Denys Hay, Letters of James V (Edinburgh: HMSO, 1954), pp. 331–2.</ref> However, a month later, on 7 July 1537, (a month before her 17th birthday), Madeleine, the so-called "Summer Queen" of Scots, died in her husband's arms at Holyrood Palace.<ref>Rosalind K. Marshall, Scottish Queens, 1034-1714 (Edinburgh: John Donald, 2003), p. 108.</ref>

James V wrote to Francis I informing him of his daughter's death.<ref>Denys Hay, Letters of James V (HMSO: Edinburgh, 1954), pp. 333-334.</ref> He called Madeleine "my dear companion" – votre fille, ma trés chére compaigne.<ref>Dana Bentley-Cranch & Rosalind K. Marshall, 'Iconography and Literature', Janet Hadley Williams, Stewart Style, 1513–1542 (Tuckwell, 1996), pp. 282–83.</ref>

Queen Madeleine was interred in Holyrood Abbey in Edinburgh, next to King James II of Scotland. Black mourning clothes were worn at her funeral, and an order was sent to the merchants of Dundee to provide black cloth. Her household servants were provided with "dule gowns", and horses at the procession had black cloths and trappings.<ref>Perin Westerhof Nyman, 'Mourning Madeleine and Margaret: Dress and Meaning in the Memorials for Two Scottish Queens, 1537 and 1541', Scottish Historical Review, 100:3 (December 2021), pp. 359-377.</ref><ref>Lucinda H. S. Dean, Death and the Royal Succession in Scotland: Ritual, Ceremony and Power (Boydell & Brewer, 2024), pp. 215–216.</ref> The chapel at Holyrood Palace was draped with cloth from Milan.<ref>John G. Dunbar, Scottish Royal Palaces: The Architecture of the Royal Residences (Tuckwell: Historic Scotland, 1999), p. 128.</ref> According to George Buchanan, this was the first use of black mourning dress in Scotland.<ref>Andrea Thomas, Princelie Majestie: The Court of James V of Scotland (Edinburgh: John Donald, 2005), p. 211.</ref>

One of her gentlewomen, Madame de Montrueil or Motrell, visited London on her way back to France. She said that Madeleine "had no good days after her arrival there (in Scotland), but always sickly with a catarrh which descended into her stomach, which was the cause of her death".<ref>Henry Ellis, Original Letters Illustrative of English History, series 1 vol. 2 (London, 1824), p. 109.</ref>

An inventory made of the king's goods in 1542 includes some of her clothes, furnishings for her chapel, six stools for her gentlewomen to sit upon, and gold cups and other items made for her when she was a child.<ref>Thomas Thomson, Collection of Inventories (Edinburgh, 1815), pp. 58, 63, 100–101: Andrea Thomas, Princelie Majestie: The Court of James V (Edinburgh: John Donald), p. 87: Rosalind Marshall, Scottish Queens, 1034-1714 (John Donald: Edinburgh, 2003), p. 108: Bruce Lenman, 'Jacobean Goldsmith-Jewellers as Credit-Creators: The Cases of James Mossman, James Cockie and George Heriot', Scottish Historical Review, 74:198 part (October 1995), p. 165.</ref> The grave was desecrated by a mob in 1776 and her allegedly still beautiful head was stolen.<ref>Charles Alexander Malcolm, Holyrood (Duckworth, 1937), p. 46.</ref>

Commemoration

Madeleine's marriage and death were commemorated by the poet David Lyndsay's Deploration of Deith of Quene Magdalene; the poem describes the pageantry of the marriage in France and Scotland:

O Paris! Of all citeis principall!
Quhilk did resave our prince with laud and glorie,
Solempnitlie, throw arkis triumphall. [arkis = arches]
* * * * * *
Thou mycht have sene the preparatioun
Maid be the Thre Estaitis of Scotland
In everilk ciete, castell, toure, and town
* * * * * *
Thow saw makand rycht costlie scaffalding
Depaynted weill with gold and asure fyne
* * * * * *
Disagysit folkis, lyke creaturis devyne,
On ilk scaffold to play ane syndrie storie
Bot all in greiting turnit thow that glorie. [greiting = crying: thow = death]<ref>Hadley Williams, Janet ed., Sir David Lyndsay, Selected Poems (Glasgow: ASLS, 2000), pp. 101–108, 260–266.</ref>

Epitaphs in Latin were composed by the French writers Etienne Dolet, Nicolas Desfrenes, Jean Visagier, and an anonymous poet. Gilles Corrozet and Pierre de Ronsard wrote verses in French.<ref>Dana Bentley-Cranch & Rosalind K. Marshall, 'Iconography and Literature', Janet Hadley Williams, Stewart Style, 1513–1542 (Tuckwell, 1996), p. 282.</ref>

Less than a year after her death, following negotiations completed by David Beaton, James V married the widowed Mary of Guise. She had attended his wedding to Madeleine, and perhaps her uncle, Jean, Cardinal of Lorraine, suggested her to Francis I as a bride for the Scottish king.<ref>Dana Bentley-Cranch & Rosalind K. Marshall, 'Iconography and Literature', Janet Hadley Williams, Stewart Style, 1513–1542 (Tuckwell, 1996), pp. 283–84.</ref> Twenty years later, listed amongst the treasures in Edinburgh Castle were two little gold cups, an agate basin, a jasper vase, and crystal jug given to Madeleine when she was a child in France.<ref>Thomson, Thomas, A Collection of Inventories (Bannatyne Club, 1815), p. 63.</ref>

External links

• Portrait of Madeleine by Corneille de Lyon, Agnews
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