- Archduchess Margaret of Austria
Infobox Austrian Royalty|archduchess
name =Archduchess Margaret of Austria
title =Princess of Asturias
Duchess consort of Savoy
caption =Portrait of Margaret of Austria, dressed as a widow, byBernard van Orley
spouse =Juan, Prince of Asturias Philibert II, Duke of Savoy
royal house =House of Savoy House of Trastámara House of Habsburg
father =Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor
mother =Mary, Duchess of Burgundy
date of birth =Birth date|1480|1|10|df=yes
place of birth =
date of death =death date and age|1530|12|1|1480|1|10
place of death =
place of burial =The Archduchess Margaret (Margaretha) of Austria (
10 January 1480 –1 December 1530 ) was aHabsburg princess, the daughter ofMaximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor andMary of Burgundy .Early life
In 1483, she was betrothed to the
Dauphin of France , later KingCharles VIII of France , bringing with her a dowry ofFranche-Comté andArtois , and was transferred to the guardianship of KingLouis XI of France (seeTreaty of Arras (1482) ). After Charles renounced the treaty and marriedAnne, Duchess of Brittany , Margaret was returned to her father in 1493.Marriages
First Marriage
In 1497, she was married to
Juan, Prince of Asturias ,Infante ofSpain (1478–1497), the son and heir of KingFerdinand II of Aragon and QueenIsabella I of Castile . The marriage was part of a double alliance, also including her brotherPhilip the Handsome marrying Infanta Joan. Juan of Asturias died after only six months. Juan left her pregnant, but she gave birth to a stillborn child. She returned to the Netherlands early in 1500.econd Marriage
In 1501, she married
Philibert II, Duke of Savoy (1480–1504), who died three years later. This marriage had been childless as well. After his death, she vowed never to marry again. Her court historian and poetJean Lemaire de Belges gave her the title "Dame de deuil" (Lady of Mourning) [Gonkdo, Michal (2006). Dame de Deuil. Musical Offerings for Marguerite of Austria (1480-1530), 3. CD Booklet KTC 4011] .Political Role
She was appointed for the first time as
governor of theHabsburg Netherlands (1507–1515) and guardian of her young nephew Charles (the futureCharles V, Holy Roman Emperor ).Margaret acted as intermediary between her father and his subjects in the Netherlands, negotiated a treaty of commerce withEngland favorable to the Flemish cloth interests, and played a role in the formation of theLeague of Cambrai (1508).After his majority in 1515, Charles rebelled against her influence, but he soon recognized her as one of his wisest advisers, and she was again governor of the Netherlands (1519–30) intermittently until her death. In 1529, together withLouise of Savoy , she negotiated the Treaty of Cambrai, the so-called "Ladies' Peace".Her reign was a period of relative peace and prosperity for the Netherlands, although the
Protestant Reformation started to take root, especially in the northern Netherlands. The first Protestant martyrs were burnt at the stake in 1524 and 1525. She had some difficulty in keeping Duke Charles of Guelders under control. She could make him sign theTreaty of Gorinchem in 1528, but the problem was not finally dealt with during her reign.Patroness of the Arts
Margaret had received a fine education. She played serval instruments, was well read and wrote poetry. Her court at
Mechelen was visited by the great humanists of her time, includingErasmus [Triest, Monica (2000). "Macht, vrouwen en politiek 1477-1558. Maria van Bourgondië, Margaretha van Oostenrijk, Maria van Hongarije". Leuven, Van Halewijck.] . She possessed a rich library, consisting mostly ofmissal s, historical and ethical treatises (among which the works ofChristine de Pizan ) and poetry. It included the famous illuminatedTrès Riches Heures du duc de Berry [Schreurs, Eugeen; Vendrix; Philippe (2005). "The sweet melancholy of Margaret", translated by Celia Skrine, 11. CD Booklet MEW 0525. ] . She ordered several splendid music manuscripts fromPierre Alamire [Kellman, Herbert (ed.) (1999). The Treasury of Petrus Alamire. Music and Art in Flemish Court Manustricpts 1500-1535. Leuven, Die Keure.] to send them as gifts to members and her family and to her political relations, and possessed several "Chansonniers" herself [Schreurs, Eugeen (1998). "Margarete – Maximilian I", translated by Stratton Bull, 14. CD Booklet ORF CD 265. ] . They contained works byJosquin Desprez ,Johannes Ockeghem ,Jacob Obrecht andPierre de la Rue , who was her favourite composer.Death
She died at
Mechelen , betweenAntwerp andBrussels , her main place of residence in the Netherlands, after appointing her nephew, Charles V, as her universal and sole heir. She is buried atBourg-en-Bresse , [department of l'Ain, Rhone-Alpes] in the magnificent mausoleum that she ordered for her second husband (Philibert) and her.There is a statue of her next to the cathedral of Mechelen.Ancestry
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1= 1. Margaret of Habsburg
2= 2.Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor
3= 3.Mary of Burgundy
4= 4.Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor
5= 5. Eleanor of Portugal
6= 6. Charles I, Duke of Burgundy
7= 7.Isabella of Bourbon
8= 8.Ernest, Duke of Austria
9= 9.Cymburgis of Masovia
10= 10.Edward of Portugal
11= 11. Leonor of Aragon
12= 12. Philip III, Duke of Burgundy
13= 13. Isabel of Portugal
14= 14.Charles I, Duke of Bourbon
15= 15.Agnes of Burgundy
16= 16.Leopold III, Duke of Austria
17= 17. Viridis Visconti
18= 18.Siemowit IV, Duke of Masovia
19= 19.Alexandra of Lithuania
20= 20.John I of Portugal
21= 21.Philippa of Lancaster
22= 22.Ferdinand I of Aragon
23= 23.Eleanor of Alburquerque
24= 24. John II, Duke of Burgundy
25= 25.Margaret of Bavaria
26= 26.John I of Portugal (= 20)
27= 27.Philippa of Lancaster (= 21)
28= 28.John I, Duke of Bourbon
29= 29.Marie, Duchess of Auvergne
30= 30. John II, Duke of Burgundy (= 24)
31= 31.Margaret of Bavaria (= 25)-
Recordings
*"Margarete - Maximilian I. Musik um 1500,"
Capilla Flamenca with La Caccia, Schola Cantorum Cantate Domino Aalst, Schola Gregoriana Lovaniensis, 1998, ORF Shop CD 265 (2 CDs).
*"Dulcis Melancholia, Biographie musicale de Marguerite d'Autriche,"Capilla Flamenca , 2005 (MEW 0525).
*"Dame de Deuil. Musical Offerings for Marguerite of Austria," La Morra, 2005 (KTC 4011).References
Commonscat|Margaret of Austria
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