Anne of Brittany lived only 36 years old, but managed to become the most popular historical figure in her homeland. As the hereditary ruler of Brittany, she stubbornly defended the independence of her country, pursued an independent policy, and twice married the French kings. Anne of Brittany was known as an educated and sophisticated woman in state affairs, patron of the arts and music. According to legend, it was she who laid the tradition for brides to wear a white dress at the wedding. In France, the castle of Anne of Brittany is called the former residence of the dukes. This is due to the deep trace that her life left in history.
Early years and education
Anna was born in 1477 in the city of Nantes, her father was Francis II, Duke of Brittany. There were no male heirs in the family. The younger sister Isabella died before her majority. Anna from childhood was prepared for the role of a full-fledged ruler of the duchy. Her tutors taught her to speak, read and write in French and Latin.
When Anna was 12 years old, her father and mother were no longer alive. She became an orphan and the sole heiress. In those days, France sought to make Brittany its vassal. ByAccording to legend, on her deathbed, her father forced Anna to promise to preserve the independence of the duchy.
Heiress of Brittany
Since Francis II was the last man in the family and left no sons behind, there was a threat of a dynastic crisis. In that era, there was no clear order of succession to the throne, but the so-called Salic law partially operated. In accordance with it, power could pass to a woman if the male line was completely suppressed. Even during his lifetime, Francis II forced the aristocratic class to recognize Anna of Brittany as the future Duchess.
Engagement and first marriage
The choice of a candidate for the hand and heart of the heir to the throne was of great political and diplomatic importance. For Duke Francis II, the priority was to save Brittany from foreign domination. The threat of annexation came from France, and he was looking for strong allies to help counter her intentions. The most logical solution in this situation was rapprochement with England. Based on these considerations, Anna, at the age of 4, was officially promised as a wife to the equally young Prince of Wales, Edward. But the fate of the potential spouse turned out to be sad: he went missing. Against the background of the flaring Breton-French war, it was urgent to find a new candidate. The choice fell on King Maximilian of Habsburg of Germany. An absentee marriage was concluded between him and 14-year-old Anna.
Queen
France responded to this stepthe use of military force. The marriage of Anna and the King of Germany ruined the plans for the annexation of Brittany. The French army besieged the city of Rennes, where the young duchess was. King Maximilian was unable to come to the rescue and the Bretons capitulated.
The winners demanded that Anna terminate the absentee marriage and become the wife of the French King Charles VIII. She was forced to agree and went to the castle of Langeai, chosen for the wedding. The marriage was concluded, and its legality was confirmed by the Pope. In accordance with the agreement, in the event of the death of Charles VIII, Anna was to marry his successor. This circumstance made the absorption of Brittany by France inevitable. Anna was crowned and anointed, but her husband did not allow her to participate in politics and government. In addition, he forbade the new queen to bear the title of Duchess of Brittany.
Second marriage
Charles VIII died suddenly in 1498 in an accident. Anne of Brittany had seven pregnancies by the king, but each time either a miscarriage occurred or the child died in infancy. Due to the lack of heirs, the throne passed to Duke Louis of Orleans. According to the terms of the contract, Anna was to become his wife. The difficulty was that the new King Louis XII was already married. Divorce required permission from the Pope. Waiting for the pontiff's sanction took several months, which Anne used to return to Brittany and reassert her direct authority over the duchy. Marriage to Louistook place in 1499. During wedding ceremonies, Anna wore a white dress, which in medieval Europe was considered mourning. Subsequently, such a bride's outfit became a universal tradition.
Political Struggle
As Queen of France, Anne of Brittany, married to Charles VIII, had no real power. Having received the crown for the second time, she was determined to seek her independence in decision-making. In addition, Anna did not leave the hope of ridding Brittany of French rule. Louis XII differed from Charles in that he was a flexible politician who was able to compromise. He allowed Anne to directly rule Brittany and recognized her title of Duchess. However, this did not mean the end of the vassalage of the country in relation to France.
Anne's marriage to Louis produced two daughters, Claude and Rene. Apart from them, the duchess had no surviving children. Anna tried to arrange the future marriage of her eldest daughter with one of the Habsburgs in order to weaken the power of France over Brittany, but she met strong opposition from her husband.
Death and memory of descendants
The Queen died in 1514 from kidney stones. Numerous pregnancies and miscarriages exhausted her body. The body of Anne of Brittany was buried with extraordinary honors in the royal tomb of the Basilica of Saint-Denis. Fulfilling the last will of the deceased, her heart in a golden vessel was taken to her native city of Nantes. The biography of Anna of Brittany caused the same admiration among the wrestlersfor the independence of the duchy and supporters of an indivisible France. For the first, it has become a symbol of the desire for independence, for the second - the embodiment of a peaceful union.
