Madeleine of Valois ~ The ‘Summer Queen of Scots’
Madeleine was born in Saint-Germaine-en-Laye, west of Paris, on the 10th August 1520.
She was the 5th child of Francis I, King of France and Claude Duchess of Brittany.
Madeleine’s health was fragile, so she was raised in the Loire Valley, where the climate was warm.
By the time she was 16, Madeleine had developed Tuberculosis ~ the disease which probably ended her mothers life, when Madeleine was three years old.
In 1517 three years before Madeleine’s birth, the Treaty of Rouen was signed between France and Scotland.
As part of that Treaty, the French King promised marriage between the Scottish King, and one of his daughters.
As King James V was only five years old at the time of the Treaty, the negotiations on the marriage did not begin until 1530.
Madeleine was then the eldest living daughter, however, King Francis was concerned because of her fragile health, she would not survive the harsh Scottish weather.
King Francis proposed an alternative bride from his extended family, Marie of Bourbon.
In 1536, King James V travelled to France to meet his prospective bride, however on meeting Marie he was not impressed by her.
He travelled to the French court, met Madeleine, and the two of them immeadiately fell in love.
Madeleine persuaded her father to agree to the marriage, which he eventually did.
James and Madeleine were married in Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, on 1st January 1537.
It felt appropriate due to Madeleine’s health, to delay their journey to Scotland until the Spring, so the wedding was followed by four months of festivities.
They young couple departed France in a fleet of 10 ships, and arrived in Leith on 19th May 1537.
Madeleine kissed the earth when she arrived in her husband’s kingdom.
In preparation for her arrival, James ordered improvements to Falkland Palace, and the Chapel Royal.
James was also in the process of building new tennis courts, and had added a tower built in a French style to Holyrood Palace.
A coronation was also planned for Madeleine.
However, her health suddenly deteriorated.
A month short of her 17th birthday, she died in the arms of James on 7th July 1537.
James lost his beautiful little bride of six months and seven days, and was devastated.
Madeleine was buried with great pomp and ceremony, in the Royal Chapel of Holyrood Abbey.
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 were decorated with black cloths and trappings.
A year later James married again to Marie of Guise.
He would outlive Madeleine by just five years, dying in 1542 age 30.
James was buried beside his beloved Summer Queen, Madeleine, in Holyrood Abbey.
On James’ death, he left a six day old daughter to succeed to the Scottish throne.
Her name would become well known to history, Mary Queen of Scots……but that is another story.
In 1776, Madeleine’s grave was desecrated by a mob.
Allegedly, her still beautiful head was stolen…….
? Madeleine of Valois by Corneille de Lyon.
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