Françoise de Brézé
Françoise de Brézé (1515 - 14 October 1577) was a French courtier. She served as Première dame d'honneur to the queen of France, Catherine de' Medici, from 1547 until 1559, as well as the Governess to the Children of France.
Life
Françoise de Brézé was the daughter of Diane de Poitiers and Louis de Brézé, and married Robert IV de La Marck in 1538. She was appointed Première dame d'honneur or first lady-in-waiting to the queen, as well as royal governess.
Despite being the daughter of Diane de Poitiers, Françoise de Brézé does not seem to have been personally disliked by Catherine de' Medici. She lost her position as Première dame d'honneur and head of the queen's ladies-in-waiting upon the death of king Henry II.[1] However, when queen Catherine became regent in 1560, and was able to appoint her own household, Françoise de Brézé was given a position as lady-in-waiting in the household of the queen, which she kept until 1570.[2]
References
- Alain Sartelet, La Principauté de Sedan, Éditions Terres Ardennaises, 1991, 180 p. ( ISBN 2-905339-17-9), p. 11-12.
- ↑ Una McIlvenna, Scandal and Reputation at the Court of Catherine de Medici, 2016
- ↑ Una McIlvenna, Scandal and Reputation at the Court of Catherine de Medici, 2016
| Court offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by |
Première dame d'honneur to the Queen of France 1547–1559 |
Succeeded by Guillemette de Sarrebruck |
| Preceded by |
Première dame d'honneur to Catherine de' Medici 1547–1559 |
Succeeded by Jacqueline de Longwy |