Jeanne D'Albret - Early Years and First Marriage

Early Years and First Marriage

Jeanne was born in the palace of the royal court at Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France at five o'clock in the afternoon on 16 November 1528, the daughter of Marguerite of Angoulême and Henry II of Navarre. Her mother, the daughter of Louise of Savoy and Charles, Count of Angoulême, was the sister of King Francis I of France. Jeanne spent much of her childhood in Normandy living apart from her parents. Raised by nurses and guardians, she received an excellent education under the tutelage of humanist, Nicolas Bourbon.

Described as having been a "frivolous and high-spirited princess", she also, at an early age, had displayed a tendency to be both stubborn and unyielding. In 1541, when Jeanne was 12, her uncle, King Francis I, forced her to marry William "the Rich", Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg. He was the brother of Anne of Cleves, the fourth wife of Henry VIII of England. Despite having been whipped into obedience, she, nevertheless, continued to protest and had to be carried bodily to the altar by the Constable of France, Anne de Montmorency. A description of Jeanne's appearance at her wedding revealed that she was sumptuously attired, wearing a golden crown, a silver and gold skirt encrusted with precious stones, and a crimson satin cloak richly trimmed with ermine.

This political marriage was annulled four years later on the grounds that it had not been consummated. Until a second marriage could be arranged for her, Jeanne was placed in the custody of King Francis.